E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2002-2003 (II)
Finally, I would like to turn to the question of the selection of the Executive Secretary. The person who is
selected will be the motor of the executive arm of the organization. He will be responsible for the administrative
and financial well being of the organization. Given the challenges that I have earlier pointed out, this will not be
an easy task. This is not a beauty contest. It is one of the major decisions to be taken at this session, and it is one
that must not be taken lightly. We need a high caliber person for this responsibility, a person who has the
confidence of all members.
I would like to close by reiterating the Community’s commitment to the organization, its desire for transparency,
dialogue, and consultation with our partners in ICCAT. We look forward to a very busy week, which with the
willingness and similar commitment of all around the table should provide the results that we expect from this
leading regional fisheries organization.
Japan
First of all, on behalf of the Japanese Delegation, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to City of Dublin
and the Government of Ireland as well as European Community for hosting this year’s Commission meeting.
I can say that ICCAT is definitely the most productive and capable regional fisheries management organization
in the world and the decisions and activities of this Commission are recognized as a model to lead other fisheries
organizations.
In the long history of ICCAT, last year’s meeting was a particularly remarkable step forward. The Commission
took decisive actions to eliminate IUU fishing activities including the “Positive listing measure”. And the
members agreed to management measures for eastern bluefin tuna and southern swordfish, which had been
problems pending for a long-time. We should concentrate our efforts on the implementation of these measures.
This year, we are facing further challenging matters.
I would like to mention the following specific issues to which Japan assigns priority this year.
First, we are very concerned about the rapid increase of bluefin tuna farming having an adverse impact on the
Commission’s conservation effort for eastern bluefin tuna. An especially serious problem is an expansion of
farming activities to non-Contracting Parties that have no quota for eastern bluefin tuna. Furthermore, the data
on fish transferred to the farming facilities are very unclear and this uncertainty significantly hinders the proper
stock assessment of bluefin tuna. We will raise this issue in Panel 2 and propose a measure to address this
matter.
Second, Japan appreciates the establishment of the Working Group to Develop Integrated and Coordinated
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Management Strategy. For over 20 years, Japan has been questioning the validity of the
two stocks management of Atlantic bluefin tuna based upon the arbitrary boundary of 45 degrees W. The socalled
western stock of bluefin tuna was always at the historically lowest level when it was assessed again and
again for the last two decades. It is time to review fundamentally both the science and the management of
Atlantic bluefin tuna. This is not an easy task and calls for time, effort and patience of all the concerned
members. We are committed to this work and would like to request all the members concerned to contribute to
the goal to adopt sound conservation and management measures of Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Third, this year the Commission has to review the bigeye conservation measures. This matter involves two major
fisheries: longline and purse seine fisheries. We hope that the Commission will establish balanced measures for
both fisheries that will cover the coming three years.
Fourth, the Commission adopted the positive listing measure at the 2002 meeting. We should maintain this
momentum and continue efforts to eliminate IUU fishing in the Convention area. To this end, Japan proposes
some measures to ensure effectiveness of the positive listing measure.
Finally, Japan commits itself to work with the other delegations during these weeks to further improve the
conservation and management programs of ICCAT and produce fruitful results. Thank you.
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