E - Iccat

PANEL APPENDICES
Despite this very fact, Turkey has made a great sacrifice, within the context of ICCAT’s “Multi-Annual Recovery
Plan for Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean” through its planned capacity reduction scheme.
In other words, neither its heavy dependence on exploitation of marine sources, nor its developing country status
has kept Turkey away from playing its part in the most constructive way, to comply with ICCAT obligations.
Based on new quota allocation and reduced number of fishing vessels, fishing capacity of the Turkish bluefin
fleet has considerably (almost 90%) been reduced without any special compensation to the fishermen and their
families.
During its membership period, Turkey has complied with its membership obligations not only in terms of
reduction of its fishing capacity but also through its dedication of many financial and “in kind” resources to
ICCAT’s conservation and management efforts.
Despite this background, it is Turkey’s deserved right to once more state the fact that the Turkish State,
fishermen and fishing industry have fulfilled their obligations stemming from membership to ICCAT. In every
sense, Turkey’s sacrifice in this period has been remarkable.
In spite of meeting each and every criterion cited in the “ICCAT Criteria for Allocation of Fishing Possibilities”,
Turkey has regretfully observed throughout the years that the allocation criteria were not properly implemented,
resulting in sharing arrangements that are neither fair nor equitable.
Turkey’s dissatisfaction commenced with the Dublin meeting, where, the allocation of quotas was decided to be
determined in accordance with the catch figures of CPCs in the years 1993 and 1994. In fact, according to catch
figures presented by CPCs, Turkey was the 4th in rank in catch levels for these years. Unfortunately, neither the
duly presented figures of Turkey for these years, nor the succeeding ones were taken into consideration during
quota allocation.
Hence, as a first step of its legitimate rights, Turkey lodged an objection to the quota allocation scheme for the
period 2007-2012. Nevertheless, despite its rightful objection, Turkey still abided by the quota allocated and
managed its bluefin tuna fishing accordingly, to contribute to the adopted conservation and management
measures.
Now, Turkey (once more) holds the view that the proposed allocation scheme from the year 2013, ignoring the
previously notified historical catch records and fishing rights of Turkey, is not acceptable since the required
allocation criteria (as set the ICCAT Criteria for the Allocation of Fishing Possibilities [Ref. 01-25]) have not
been properly implemented.
Considering the present unfair and non-equitable allocation of bluefin tuna quotas and having believed that it has
been acted unjustly in the above-mentioned process of allocation, Turkey shall lodge an objection to the
allocation scheme.
Despite her rightful objection, Turkey plans to abide by the quota level allocated to her (as 556.66 metric tons)
and to manage its bluefin tuna fishing accordingly, in order not to hamper the effectiveness of ICCAT’s
conservation and management measures currently in place.
Turkey now calls on all the ICCAT Parties to oppose to the deviation from the relevant ICCAT decisions and
definitions with a view to ensuring their proper implementation and request this Panel and Commission to revisit
quota allocation issue as a matter of principle and priority.
In conclusion, Turkey would like to emphasize that it stands firm on its request for a fair and equitable
percentage of quota allocation, commensurate with its high performance in terms of the quota allocation criteria.
257