E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2002-2003 (II)
by ICCAT on Vessel Chartering [Ref. 02-21], but that the information would be submitted to the Secretariat after
the meeting.
The Delegate of Brazil stated that information relating to vessels chartered by Brazil was contained in the
information included in the record of vessels greater than 24 meters that Brazil had submitted to the Secretariat.
There was no discussion on the “List of Vessels Participating in a Directed Fishery for Northern Albacore”. *
The appropriateness of the proviso concerning the possibility of changing the draft Compliance Tables only on
the first day of the Commission meeting was noted. The Committee agreed that similar arrangements will be
followed in the future: in 2004 the Secretariat will send the reques t for information in March, Contracting Parties
and Cooperating non-Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing Entities will submit their data, at the latest, one
month before the next annual meeting; then three weeks prior to the meeting the Secretariat will circulate the
Compliance Tables to the Contracting Parties and the Cooperating non-Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing
Entities. Again, the latest date for changes to the tables will be the first day of the annual meeting.
Review of the Compliance Tables
In reviewing the Compliance Tables, the Committee addressed a number of interpretative issues concerning
applicable recommendations. A review was made on a species by species basis.
North Atlantic albacore
The Delegate of the United States noted the general decline in catches for this species and the excessive amount
of carry-over by some Contracting Parties. He noted this issue should be addressed by the relevant Panel.
South Atlantic albacore
The Delegates of the United States, Japan, and Brazil expressed their concerns about the high level of catches in
recent years and about the lack of procedures to stop the fishery in due time. The three Delegates agreed that
some new measures should be developed to control this fishery.
Mr. Kebe from the ICCAT Secretariat pointed out the difficulties involved in applying the Recommendation on
this species. Most of the data on catches are declared when the catch limit concerned has already been exceeded.
The Observer of Chinese Taipei noted that Chinese Taipei is respecting the Recommendation and declaring its
catches every two months.
The Chair decided to direct further discussion on this topic to the relevant Panel.
Billfishes
The Delegate of the United States asked for some clarification from the Secretariat about the lack of entries for
this species, and addressed specific questions to other Contracting Parties about their catch declarations. Mr.
Kebe explained that the figures in the tables were from two different sources: (i) from the declarations made by
Contracting Parties, and (ii) from calculations made by the Secretariat based on the application of the
Recommendations. It was noted that, at the request of several Delegates, further modifications to the tables
would be made by the Secretariat.
The Delegate of the United States reiterated his concerns about the figures shown in the tables and invited
Contracting Parties with over-harvests to explain measures being taken to avoid this situation in the future. The
Delegates of Brazil and Mexico explained their respective reasons for the over-harvests indicated on the table
and the measures being taken to control billfish catches in the future. The Chair concluded that some measures
had been taken to remedy the situation and that the relevant Panel should further discuss this topic.
The Delegate of Japan recalled a question on interpretation posed by the Observer from CARICOM and the
Delegate of Trinidad and Tobago in Panel 4, on whether or not the catches of billfishes made by small-scale
longline vessels should be declared under the Recommendation by ICCAT to Amend the Plan to Rebuild Blue
Marlin and While Marlin Populations [Ref. 02-13]. After some discussion, the Chair concluded and the
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