E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2002-2003 (II)
As explained in previous communications, the Commission reviews annually fishery related information for the
Convention area relative to both ICCAT members and non-members. During its 2003 review, the Commission
received information that large-scale tuna longline vessels continue to be registered to Georgia, although they are
foreign owned. At least one of these vessels has recently operated in the Convention area. Attached please find a
copy of the 2003 ICCAT “List of Large-Scale Longline Vessels Believed to be Engaged in Illegal, Unreported,
and Unregulated Fishing Activities in the ICCAT Convention Area and Other Areas". Additionally, the
Commission again took note of the increasing level of Atlantic bigeye tuna harvests as indicated by trade and
scientific data from 2001 and 2002.
The Commission welcomed Georgia’s response to ICCAT´s November 2002 letter notifying your government
that it had been identified under the Resolution Concerning the Unreported and Unregulated Catches of Tunas
by Large-Scale Longline Vessels in the Convention Area [Ref. 98-18]. Your response, however, was not
sufficient to demonstrate that Georgia has rectified the activities of its flag vessels and has adopted appropriate
measures to monitor and control its fleet.
Given this information, the Commission concluded that large-scale longline vessels of your country continue to
operate in the Convention area in a manner that diminishes the effectiveness of ICCAT conservation and
management measures and recommended the imposition of trade restrictive measures as mentioned above. The
Commission again requests the Government of Georgia to take the necessary actions to rectify the fishing
activities of vessels on its registry and to implement fully ICCAT´s conservation and management measures,
including instituting measures to ensure appropriate monitoring, control, and surveillance of its fleet and
reporting catch and effort data to the Commission. Rectifying actions --including, as necessary, the revocation of
registrations or fishing licenses of those vessels on the enclosed list-- should be reported to the Commission. The
Commission would also appreciate receiving any information you may have concerning the foreign owners of
the vessels registered to your country. Information concerning these matters should be submitted to ICCAT at
least 30 days prior to its next meeting, scheduled for November 15-21, 2004, in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
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 ICCAT 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 the 2003 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 concerning Georgia at its next meeting. Although the 2003 resolution will replace
the Resolution Concerning the Unreported and Unregulated Catches of Tunas by Large-Scale Longline Vessels
in the Convention Area [Ref. 98-18], previous decisions taken in accordance with this measure will remain in
force until otherwise decided by the Commission.
In closing, the Commission would like to invite Georgia to participate in the 2004 ICCAT meeting as an
observer. Information concerning that meeting will be forwarded in due course. Further, the Commission would
remind Georgia that it can join ICCAT or seek Cooperating Status if your country maintains an interest in
exploiting species under the purview of ICCAT. I would draw your attention to the provisions of the newly
adopted Recommendation by ICCAT on Criteria for Attaining the 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.
5.8 Letter to Guatemala: Deferring Cooperating Status decision and seeking information on monitoring,
control and surveillance (MCS) scheme
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) met for its annual meeting from
November 17-24, 2003, in Dublin, Ireland. In considering Guatemala’s request for cooperating status at this
recent meeting, the Commission determined that it was premature to take a decision on this matter and deferred
the issue for consideration at the 2004 ICCAT meeting.
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. Before taking a decision on whether or not to confer such status to Guatemala, the Commission
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