E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2002-2003 (II)
Status of Cooperating Non-Contracting Party, Entity, or Fishing Entity in ICCAT [Ref. 03-20]. For your
convenience, this recommendation is included in the attached Compendium.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters. Please accept assurances of my highest consideration.
5.5 Letter to Cuba: Regarding identification in accordance with the Bluefin Tuna Action Plan Resolution
At its 2003 annual meeting, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
undertook its annual review of the fishing activities of various Non-Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing
Entities pursuant to its Resolution Concerning an Action Plan to Ensure the Effectiveness of the Conservation
Program for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna [Ref. 94-3]. This Resolution calls upon the Permanent Working Group for the
Improvement of ICCAT Statistics and Conservation Measures to identify those non-Contracting Parties whose
vessels have fished for Atlantic bluefin tuna in a manner that diminishes the effectiveness of ICCAT
conservation measures. In deciding whether to identify a non-Contracting Party, the Permanent Working Group
reviews catch data compiled the Commission, trade information obtained through national statistics and the
Bluefin Tuna Statistical Document Program, and other relevant information obtained in ports and on the fishing
grounds. ICCAT will request identified Contracting Parties, non-Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing Entities
to take all necessary corrective actions, and will review those actions at its subsequent annual meeting. If those
actions are judged insufficient, ICCAT will recommend effective measures, if necessary including nondiscriminatory
trade restrictive measures, on the subject species.
The review of catch data showed that Cuban vessels harvested 74 tons of over-exploited western Atlantic bluefin
tuna in 2002, even though ICCAT has not established a catch limit for Cuba for this stock. Moreover, Cuba has
not reported catches of bluefin tuna to the Commission for at least 20 years. Based on this information, the
Commission identified Cuba in accordance with the Bluefin Tuna Action Plan referenced above as a non-
Contracting Party whose vessels have been fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna in a manner that diminishes the
effectiveness of ICCAT conservation measures. Accordingly, ICCAT hereby requests Cuba to take effective
measures to rectify its fishing activities so as not to diminish the effectiveness of ICCAT conservation measures
for bluefin tuna and to implement fully ICCAT conservation and management measures, including instituting
measures to ensure appropriate monitoring, control, and surveillance of your fleet and reporting catch and effort
data to the Commission. We would, therefore, be grateful to receive detailed information regarding: (1) the types
of monitoring, control and surveillance methods used by Cuba with respect to its fishing vessels, (2) Cuba’s total
catch of tuna and tuna-like species in 2003 and prior years, (3) the markets to which Cuba exports bluefin tuna
and/or its products, and (4) the maritime areas in which Cuban vessels fished bluefin tuna.
The Commission will review the situation of Cuba at its next meeting, scheduled for November 15-21, 2004, in
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Information concerning these matters should, therefore, be submitted to ICCAT
at least 30 days prior to that meeting. If it is determined that Cuba has not rectified the situation and continues to
diminish the effectiveness of ICCAT, the Commission can recommend that its Contracting Parties take nondiscriminatory
trade restrictive measures on Atlantic bluefin tuna and its products from Cuba.
For your information, I am enclosing herewith a Compendium of ICCAT´s Management Recommendations and
Resolutions. It includes a new instrument entitled Resolution by ICCAT Concerning Trade Measures [Ref. 03-
15], adopted by the Commission at its 2003 meeting. The 2003 Resolution both broadens the scope of ICCAT´s
existing trade regime and establishes a more transparent process for the application of trade restrictive measures.
The Commission will use this new Resolution for the first time in 2004 to guide its review of fishery related
activities in the Convention area. The information requested above will be valuable to the Commission when it
considers trade related matters relative to Cuba pursuant to this review. Although the 2003 Resolution will
replace the Bluefin Tuna Action Plan Resolution [Ref. 94-3], previous decisions taken in accordance with this
measure will remain effective until otherwise decided by the Commission.
With respect to Cuba’s request for Cooperating Status, the Commission felt that, under the circumstances, it was
premature to make a decision regarding this matter during the 2003 meeting. As you may know, the category of
Cooperating Party, Entity or Fishing Entity has been in existence within the Commission since 1994. Those that
are granted Cooperating Status formally accept the obligation to implement fully the conservation and
management measures adopted by the Commission and to abide by data and other reporting requirements. I
would draw your attention to a document adopted in 2003 entitled Recommendation by ICCAT on Criteria for
Attaining the Status of Cooperating Non-Contracting Party, Entity, or Fishing Entity in ICCAT [Ref. 03-20],
which is included in the enclosed Compendium. This measure clarifies the process for granting Cooperating
Status and specifies the information that must be provided by applicants to receive consideration.
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