E - Iccat

PANEL 2
in the “Fishing, Inspection and Capacity Management Plans for 2013”. The Recommendation further stipulated
that such system shall be reviewed at the 2012 annual meeting of the Commission. Given that the recovery plan
was being reviewed it was agreed that the plans would be approved at an intersessional meeting of either the
Compliance Committee or Panel 2 in 2013.
The European Union tabled a revised version of the recovery plan for eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin
tuna. This proposal set the TAC for 2013 at 13,400 t with an additional 100 t being given to Algeria. Algeria
objected to this on the basis that it wanted its historical allocation key restored. Turkey and Egypt also objected
on the basis that they considered they should have more quota. Chinese Taipei gave Egypt an additional 10 t.
Libya requested that it be allowed to fish for its 2011 quota retrospectively as it had not been possible to do so at
the time due to the civil war. It was agreed that this issue and that of Algeria would be looked at again in 2013.
Following discussion on these issues, along with requests for amendments to technical details of the proposal
requested by Iceland, Norway, Japan, China and Korea, the Recommendation by ICCAT Amending the
Recommendation by ICCAT to Establish a Multi-annual Recovery Plan for Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Atlantic
and Mediterranean was adopted and forwarded to the Commission for final adoption (see ANNEX 5 [Rec. 12-
03]).
Japan tabled a proposal regarding the recovery plan, including the TAC, to be rolled over and for the SCRS to
answer a range of questions concerning the impact on the stock if fishing mortality was at different levels.
Although this was not adopted the proposed amended recovery plan tabled by the EU contained an Annex which
asked similar questions and called for the SCRS to provide updated advice on the stock in 2013. The
“Commission’s Request to SCRS” submitted jointly by the EU and Japan is attached as Appendix 3 to ANNEX
9.
Canada tabled a proposal for the western stock which would see the TAC increased to 2,000 t. The United States
tabled a counter proposal which provided a rollover of 1,750 t. Both proposals had revised conditions under
which the TAC could be fished. These two proposals were combined and Supplemental Recommendation by
ICCAT Concerning the Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Rebuilding Program was adopted and forwarded to the
Commission for final adoption (see ANNEX 5 [Rec. 12-02]. It was also agreed that an intersessional meeting
would be held to discuss issues such as stock dynamics and uncertainty, which Japan offered to host.
7. Other matters
Two draft recommendations were submitted to establish a scheme for the funding of the Atlantic wide Research
Programme for Bluefin Tuna (GBYP), one by the SCRS and one by Japan. It was agreed that this issue would be
considered next year.
In the SCRS proposal, in order to secure multi-year funding for the GBYP research activities, a multi-annual
scientific quota would be set at 300 t per year, for the period 2013-2016. This quota would be sold according to
the “Management of the Scientific Quota”, and the funds generated will be used to fund the GBYP research
activities. The funds available through the scientific quota would provide a basic funding level to the GBYP,
without preventing any additional voluntary contribution by the CPCs.
In the proposal by Japan, each CPC would pay 10 cents (Euro)/1 kg of bluefin tuna allocation for the period
2013-2016 for funding of the GBYP.
Many CPCs commented on these proposals. They all supported the GBYP initiative; however, before they could
commit on funding, they needed more time to evaluate and consult on the funding scheme. This proposal will be
tabled again next year.
The statement submitted to Panel 2 by Turkey is attached as Appendix 4 to ANNEX 9, as well as various
statements from observers from APCCR, the Pew Environment Group, the Tuna Producers Association, WWF
and a joint statement by the Observers from WWF, OCEANA and APCCR to Panel 2, attached as Appendices 5
to 9 to ANNEX 9, respectively.
8. Adoption of the Report
The meeting of Panel 2 was adjourned.
The Report of Panel 2 was adopted by correspondence.
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