E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2012-2013 (I)
Joint Statement by the Observers from WWF, OCEANA and APCCR to Panel 2
Common Position to Protect Young Bluefin Tuna across their Entire Atlantic Range
Appendix 9 to ANNEX 9
Taking into account that the distribution of Atlantic bluefin tuna juveniles hatched in the Mediterranean Sea
extends across the entire Atlantic Ocean, the above-mentioned Organizations strongly support the establishment
of the same level of protection for these young bluefin tuna across their distribution range. We strongly call upon
ICCAT CPCs to take a strong stance for the protection of the early life stages of this species.
For the sake of coherence, the signing Organizations ask, in particular, for the establishment of the same
minimum catch size for bluefin tuna across the entire ICCAT Convention area, thereby granting the most
restrictive tolerance allowance for minimum catching size that is currently in force, hence the one that currently
applies to the eastern stock.
Information Note to Panel 4 on the EU Commission Study on Sharks
Appendix 10 to ANNEX 9
The European Union delegation would like to inform that the European Commission is developing a study, with
the participation of several EU Member States Scientific Institutes, to obtain scientific advice for the purpose of
implementing the EU Plan of Action on Sharks as regards the facilitation of monitoring fisheries and shark stock
assessment in the high seas managed by Tuna RFMOs.
The focus of the project is to collate and examine historical fisheries data especially on species composition of
catches, realized catches and effort and to identify gaps in the current knowledge of the biology and ecology of
sharks that should be filled in order to support advice provided to RFMOs on sustainable management of
elasmobranch fisheries.
This work will be carried out until April 2013. The research project comprises two phases:
• Phase 1: Data collection phase. The project team will collate fishery data on shark on species specific
levels for main shark species in order to identify data availability and gaps in relation to catch and
effort, observer's data, length frequencies and biological/ecological information on main shark species.
• Phase 2: Data analysis phase. The project team will collate and synthesize this information in the form of
reports to identify research needs and data priorities as well as to develop a monitoring framework to
assure the assessment and management of main shark species.
Following the recent completion of Phase I, Phase II of the project (Data analysis and support to scientific
advice) has started. This is the crucial part of the project, as it will allow for the production of a representative
observer scheme of the industrial fleet and will integrate in a workable format all the information collected
through the implementation of phase I. Once the project is concluded, this information will be provided by the
EU Commission to the Scientific Committees of relevant RFMOs in order it is used by them for the formulation
of scientific advice in the management of the main shark species of commercial interest and in particular of blue
shark and shortfin mako. Therefore, the intention of this study is not to substitute the work of RFMOs scientific
bodies, but to facilitate and accelerate their tasks by providing them updated and as much as possible complete
and accurate information on shark species under their respective areas of competence.
The EU wishes to thank the ICCAT Contracting Parties which have responded positively to the EU request for
contribution in providing national data on their shark fisheries.
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Statement by the Observer from Oceana to Panel 4
Appendix 11 to ANNEX 9
The 18 th Special Meeting of the Commission offers excellent opportunities for ICCAT to continue building on its
recent management initiatives for sharks. These efforts represent an important step for responsible shark