E - Iccat

PWG REPORT
During its 2003 review, the Commission was reminded that the European Community, an ICCAT member, has
imported swordfish from Mauritania in 2002 and that vessels flagged to Mauritania and carrying swordfish and
bluefin tuna have attempted to call at EC ports in the recent past. To date, Mauritania has reported no catch data
to ICCAT. In addition, the Commission has not established a catch limit for Mauritania for any ICCAT stock.
Any harvests of ICCAT species by Mauritanian flag vessels are taking place outside the ICCAT management
regime. Thus, the Commission regarded this trade and landing information with concern.
The Commission requests the Government of Mauritania to provide ICCAT with information regarding the
export and landing activities mentioned above as well as any other Atlantic swordfish or tuna harvests by its
vessels, including the geographic area of the catch. The Commission also requests information on measures
Mauritania has in place to ensure full implementation of ICCAT´s conservation and management measures,
including details on monitoring, control, and surveillance programs. Relevant information concerning these
matters should be submitted to ICCAT as soon as possible so that the Commission can take it into consideration
during its next meeting, scheduled for November 15-21, 2004, in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
For your use and information, I am enclosing herewith a Compendium of ICCAT´s Management
Recommendations and Resolutions. Please note that it includes an important 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 when such measures are warranted. 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.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Please accept assurances of my highest consideration.
5.13 Letter to Netherlands Antilles: Advising no consensus to grant Cooperating Status; expressing strong
concerns regarding bigeye tuna catches
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) met for its annual meeting from
November 17-24, 2003, in Dublin, Ireland. At that meeting, the Commission conducted its annual review of
fishery related information for the Convention area pertaining to both ICCAT members and non-members.
During its 2003 review, the Commission received information that there are five vessels flagged to the
Netherlands Antilles operating in the Convention area. The fleet consists of large-scale tuna vessels, three of
which are purse seiners and two of which are baitboats. Catch data as reported by the Netherlands Antilles
indicate significant harvest levels of bigeye tuna beginning in 1996 and continuing through 2002, the last year
for which data were available.
The Commission welcomed the fact that the Netherlands Antilles has been reporting its catch data and vessel
information to ICCAT and has been participating in ICCAT meetings as an observer. Nevertheless, the
Commission expressed serious concern about the high catch levels of bigeye tuna by vessels flagged to the
Netherlands Antilles. The Commission wishes to stress that ICCAT members have been operating under a strict
management regime of time and area closures, capacity limitations, and catch limits since the late 1990s. The
Commission would like to see significant reductions in the bigeye tuna catch levels of the Netherlands Antilles.
In considering the request of the Netherlands Antilles for Cooperating Status, the Commission could not reach a
consensus on the matter at its 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], (enclosed). This measure
clarifies the process for granting Cooperating Status and specifies the information that must be provided by
applicants to receive consideration.
In support of the Commission’s review of requests for Cooperating Status under the new Recommendation, I
would ask that the Netherlands Antilles write to ICCAT as soon as feasible confirming its continued interest in
receiving Cooperating Status and addressing directly the requirements contained in paragraphs 3 and 4 of said
Recommendation. Toward that end, specific information on the monitoring, control, and surveillance scheme for
your fleet should be provided.
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