E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2012-2013 (I)
Appendix 4 to ANNEX 10
Statement by the Observer from WWF to the Compliance Committee
Firstly, WWF expresses its gratitude for the responses from Contracting Parties to the cases that we
have raised in the Compliance Committee making use of our right established by Recommendation
08-09.
In this regard, we would like to inform the honorable Delegates that WWF has always been especially
careful as regards the control of procedures established when transmitting information to ICCAT,
including the supply of triplicate information to the Executive Secretary, the Chairman and the Chair
of the Compliance Committee.
In the case of information received outside the deadlines established by Recommendation 08-09, this
was also notified in triplicate, assuming that the competent ICCAT authorities would act officially
carrying out the pertinent measures with the Contracting Parties concerned.
Furthermore, we understand that the ICCAT Compliance Committee has no jurisdiction as regards the
communication policy of an observer entity, and even less, the interpretations carried out by specific
media in their press releases. In any event, WWF’s communication policy is very strict as regards its
content and it is institutionally fair towards ICCAT, and we welcome any interested Contracting Party
to compare our original press releases.
Finally, we understand that some of the data reported by WWF to the ICCAT Compliance Committee
this year is significant, and therefore it is essential that the Contracting Parties concerned should find
the necessary time for this end.
We are at your entire availability for any further clarification.
Second statement by the Observer WWF to the Compliance Committee
East Atlantic and Mediterranean Tuna
Appendix 5 to ANNEX 10
Even if there is consensus at the ICCAT SCRS that total catches (and associated fishing mortality) on the East
Atlantic and Mediterranean stock of the bluefin tuna (BFT) has substantially declined in the last few years,
information from very different sources point to IUU catches still being substantial. Adequate controls and
compliance are essential to ensure the recovery of this stock, which equates to nothing less than meeting the
objectives of the ICCAT Convention.
This year WWF has formally raised several cases to the attention of the Compliance Committee under the terms
of ICCAT Recommendation 08-09 addressing a wide range of issues, from fishing activities to farming and
markets. We thank those concerned CPCs that have already submitted written responses to ICCAT Secretariat
and would like to encourage the remaining ones to provide their explanations during the course of discussions at
the ICCAT Compliance Committee taking place this year in Agadir. The WWF observer delegation is fully
ready to work with the concerned CPCs to provide any further clarifications whenever possible.
Finally, WWF has submitted to ICCAT and some CPCs a recent study pointing to potential irregularities in the
reporting of the international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna during the last decade. Concretely, it suggests large
amounts of bluefin tuna might have been re-exported through Panama to the final market without having been
properly covered by the ICCAT Bluefin Tuna Statistical Program. This information having been uncovered after
the deadline for submissions by Observers under Rec. 08-09 had been met, this case is not included in the current
Agenda of the Compliance Committee for discussion this year. For the sake of transparency, and given the
obvious relevance of the issue, WWF encourages those concerned CPCs to voluntarily bring the issue to the
discussion at the Compliance Committee this year.
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