E - Iccat

PANEL 1
It should be noted that projections indicate that future catches represent the total removals from the bigeye tuna
stock, and not only the TAC of 85,000 t established by ICCAT. Catches made by other fleets not affected by the
catch limits need to be added to the 85,000 t for comparison with future constant catch scenarios. Furthermore,
all future changes in selectivity such as an increase in the relative mortality of small fish, will change and add to
the uncertainty of these projections.
The SCRS is concerned that the recommendation in force includes a fishing possibility scheme which allows
exceeding the 85,000 t TAC. However, this situation has not yet occurred.
The TAC was reduced in 2009 from 90,000 t to 85,000 t, and concern over the catch of small bigeye has led to
the establishment of spatial closures in the gulf of Guinea. Proof of the effectiveness of these closures to reduce
the fishing is not yet available to reduce the fishing mortality of juvenile bigeye tuna.
The SCRS recommends a TAC of 85,000 t or less to achieve a high probability of maintaining stock levels
consistent with the Convention objectives. Lastly, the Commission should be aware of the risk of exceeding the
TAC (100,000 t).
With regard to yellowfin tuna, the last assessment conducted in 2011, 10% of the world production is from the
Atlantic. Historically, catches reached a peak of 194,000 t in 1990, followed by a decreasing trend, subsequent
significant fluctuations with a general decreasing trend and finally a slight increase in recent years. There has
been a generally declining trend in average weight for all gears combined, until recent years, largely due to shifts
in purse seine effort from free schools to FAD associated schools. Average sizes of fish caught by EU purse
seiners have declined to half of those recorded in 1990, which could partly be due to the changes in selectivity
associated with FAD fishing since the 1990s. This change in selectivity affects the MSY.
The yellowfin tuna stock was assessed in 2011. The Kobe matrix shows important uncertainties as regards the
assessment of yellowfin tuna stock status and productivity. 26% of results are consistent with the Convention’s
objectives. Maintaining the TAC at 110,000 t should lead to a biomass above the B MSY in 2016, with a 60%
probability. The reported catches for 2011 are below the TAC (100,277 t). The estimates for biomass trends from
ASPIC indicate a slow trend and continue to recover. The VPA estimates of SSB trend show a recent decline and
corresponding increase in the fishing mortality of mature fish.
In both cases, a continuous increase of catches would slow down the biomass recovery and would speed up the
reduction in SSB. Longer temporary closures and wider areas than those included in the current regulation would
have better effects (a closure between January 1 to February 28 foreseen in Rec. 11-01), if this moratorium is
fully respected.
The SCRS indicates that a level of yellowfin catches equal to or higher than 140,000 t would reduce the results
to less than 50% of the Convention’s objectives, and as a result the SCRS continues to recommend efficient
measures to reduce the mortality of juvenile yellowfin tuna under FADs, as well as other causes of mortality.
Lastly, if the estimates of unreported catches for purse seiners were taken into account, the estimates of stock
status and the projections would be even more pessimistic: it is thus imperative to implement control measures
for the fleets concerned.
The Chair then invited Dr. Santiago to present his recommendations on statistics. These concern the following:
1) Assist Côte d’Ivoire in the development of a Task I and Task II database since 1985. This improvement in
reporting will also be beneficial for Panel 4.
2) An inter-sessional meeting focused on reviewing the objectives of the tropical Atlantic tagging
programme.
3) A skipjack assessment in 2014, in line with the recent catch increase, the expansion of purse seine
towards new areas and the need to update information on biology and statistics.
The responses to the Commission's requests are as follows:
233