R E P O R T for biennial period, 2006-07 PART I (2006) - Vol ... - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2006-2007 (I)
lead to a number of objections and could jeopardize the integrity of the Commission. Even in the case of no
agreement on eastern bluefin conservation and management measures including TAC and national allocation, it
should be regarded as not non-restrictive fishing conditions but no fishing opportunity at all next year, i.e. we
can neither fish bluefin tuna nor sell or buy it.
Finally, we express our sincere commitment to contribute positively to this meeting to bring about fruitful
results. Thank you.
Mexico
The Mexican Delegation wishes to thank the Authorities of Croatia for the excellent facilities provided to carry
out the 15 th Special Meeting of ICCAT.
At the same time, we express appreciation for the work carried out by the Secretariat to organize this meeting,
and we wish every success to our Chairman, Dr. William Hogarth, who initiates his work before this
Commission.
We would like to express special recognition for the work carried out through the Regional Workshops, and in
particular, that carried out in Belize where diverse interests and concerns of the ICCAT members from the
American Continent were expressed and discussed. This exercise is, without a doubt, a good means to channel
our work and to achieve overall satisfactory results.
For this meeting, the Mexican Delegation recognizes the need and importance of cooperation and coordination in
order to work towards sustained fishing and the agreement of actions to confront our major problems. In this
sense, we insist on the need to take urgent measures for the protection of the species that require special attention
in this forum.
In this respect, the status of the stock of eastern bluefin tuna is urgent and worrying and, without a doubt,
requires additional measures for its protection. In the case of the western bluefin tuna stock, the situation is
different since this stock is showing signs of recovery and this responds to the measures adopted in ICCAT
which have been implemented by the coastal countries in that area.
For this reason, the Government of Mexico considers it necessary to implement additional conservation
measures and compliance actions urgently for bluefin tuna. Further, it considers it essential that these measures
be applied especially in the eastern Atlantic area where this resource is in a particularly critical situation, which
affects the entire stock.
Likewise, the Mexican Delegation will insist on the implementation of the ICCAT Criteria for the Allocation of
Fishing Possibilities for the allocation of match quotas, in which the various elements contained in these Criteria
should be recognized and, particularly, the right of the coastal Status to develop their fisheries, should be a
fundamental element that governs such allocation.
In this sense, we will insist on Mexico’s interest in counting on larger match quota for species such as swordfish
and bluefin tuna. This, in the understanding that we are a coastal State that is highly committed to the ideals of
this Commission which recognizes the efforts our country has made to achieve the responsible fishing of these
species.
We will also insist on the establishment of clear and transparent rules for the transfer of catch quotas, since this
is an allocation method which can affect the conservation of the resources; a review of the mechanisms for quota
underages and overages, which can also jeopardize the stability of the stocks by not taking the natural mortality
of the species into account.
As a priority item, we will support initiatives aimed at strengthening research work and the collection of data that
reinforce our knowledge on the marine resources under ICCAT mandate, and that these initiatives strengthen
national capacities for scientific research and management.
We will also support measures of an administrative nature that are aimed at improving the efficiency of the
Commission, and mechanisms that result in improving the current financial situation.
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