E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2002-2003 (II)
Swordfish and billfish recovery plans: In a letter dated 21 July 2003, the CARICOM State of Grenada provided
the Commission Chairman with an update of that country’s continuing contributions to the ICCAT swordfish
recovery plan. These contributions have been very successful in limiting swordfish catches. In addition, Grenada
advised the Commission Chairman of the resumption of biological sampling of billfish catches. CARICOM is
pleased with this positive development in view of the importance of billfish fisheries in Grenada. Grenada’s
longline fishery is largely artisanal in nature (mostly wooden boats with manually operated longline reels). In
view of this, the catch reductions recommended under the present rebuilding plan for blue marlin and white
marlin should not apply to Grenada, but only to large-scale mechanized longline and purse seine fishing
operations. In its letter of 21 July 2003, Grenada has sought formal clarification of this matter. If the current
recommendation makes no distinction between the two types of fisheries, CARICOM asks that the
recommendation be amended to include this distinction, specifically in terms of taking into account the special
interests of developing States and avoidance of a disproportionate burden of conservation action on small,
developing States. This request is entirely fair and in accordance with international law.
General management issues: The issue of the application of the blue marlin and white marlin rebuilding plan to
Grenada draws attention to a general need for texts of ICCAT management recommendations and resolutions to
include clauses that differentiate properly between the conservation actions required of developed and
developing States, and between developed and developing fisheries.
For example, the Commission’s catch quota recommendations should accommodate those catches taken by
artisanal and small-scale fisheries. These fisheries often prove the only source of protein to local coastal
communities. Artisanal fisheries are complex in nature and distribution, and it is widely accepted that they
cannot be adequately sampled. Ignoring their existence and impact on Atlantic tuna resources just because the
countries are not members of ICCAT would appear to be injudicious, especially if ICCAT´s responsibility
covers the overall conservation of Atlantic tuna and tuna-like resources, and is not restricted to conserving catch
quotas for ICCAT Contracting Parties.
In the case of minimum size regulations and tolerance limits, ICCAT needs to consider the restricted range in
which artisanal and small-scale fisheries operate. In the CARICOM region, these fisheries are usually limited to
coastal waters, where the harvest of certain amounts of juvenile fish is unavoidable. Considering the limited
capacity of artisanal and small-scale fishers within the CARICOM region to change their traditional fishing areas
and methods, and recognizing the essential role they play in ensuring food security of the countries concerned,
ICCAT minimum size regulations should accommodate for higher tolerance levels in these fisheries. In contrast,
minimum size regulations and associated catch tolerance levels should be stricter in the large-scale fisheries that
operate further offshore, and which do not have the capacity to modify their fishing areas and methods.
The implementation of stock rebuilding programs should consider compromises that are practical and take into
account developmental difference among States. In the case of developed fisheries that are already operating at
full capacity, rebuilding actions requires catch quota reductions. In contrast, developing fisheries, particularly
those in developing States, should be requested only to limit their fishing effort and catches to present levels.
Imposing catch quota reductions on developing fisheries doubles the burden of conservation action required: the
countries concerned suffer (i) economic losses in the same way as those with developed fisheries, as well as (ii) a
halt on economic development. This is inequitable, especially where developing States are involved, and in view
of the fact that the stock declines are really the result of excessive harvesting activities by the developed
fisheries.
These comments merit careful consideration by the Commission, and I thank you for your time and attention.
Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)
The observer mission of the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency sincerely appreciates the invitation from the
Chairman, on behalf of the Members, to attend this meeting. Our attendance at this meeting provides a welcome
opportunity for us to observe first-hand how you deal with issues that are of great interest to FFA members, and
to meet with you informally to discuss matters of mutual interest.
Our observer mission comprises Mr. Sautia Maluofenua, Director of Fisheries for the Government of Tuvalu,
and Mr. John Atwood, the Legal Counsel based at the Agency’s Secretariat in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) was established in 1979 to help coordinate and advance the efforts of Pacific
Island countries in their management of their fisheries resources. It comprises 17 Pacific Island members. The
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