E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2012-2013 (I)
The Plan has been growing more and more stringent, and some of the measures have proven to be difficult to
implement. Some have yielded doubts as to their efficiency. Thus, we believe that now is the right time to
reconsider some of the elements. We are all aware of the positive impact of the plan, but Croatia also fully shares
the views that it should be further strengthened in some elements in order to make sure that its further
implementation yields even better results in the future.
As Croatia has stated in previous years, we believe that regional specificities of population structure and
dynamics govern the nature of the fishery, and these specificities should be taken into consideration when
discussing seasons, sizes, capacities or any other management measures. With the specificities of its fishery,
Croatia has some concerns as to the underlying assumptions in the methodology of capacity measures. With a
different type of fishery in the Adriatic from the one operated in the Mediterranean, and with the capacity cuts
already taken, we are concerned as to the viability of the activity as a whole.
Croatia believes that albeit a small increase, reverting to the 2010. TAC of 13,500 t should be the course to take.
It will be a signal to everybody that the hard and difficult sacrifices made do pay off, and that continuation and
strengthening of the plan for the forthcoming period may yield even better results leading to further increases in
the TAC.
European Union
The European Union would like to express its deep appreciation to the Kingdom of Morocco for hosting the 18 th
Special ICCAT Meeting in this beautiful city of Agadir. We would also like to praise the hard and excellent
work done by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Meski, and the Secretariat throughout the year and for the
preparation of this meeting, as well as wish all the best to our new Chair, Mr. Miyahara.
Over the last few years, ICCAT has substantially improved its performance and as such has rightfully raised high
expectations from the civil society and the fishing industry on its role and capacity to manage fish stocks under
its competence. The European Union firmly believes that ICCAT should keep up the momentum and continue
promoting measures that further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Organisation, and thus the
sustainable management of resources under its purview.
To that end, the European Union believes that ICCAT should give priority to the core element of a sound
fisheries management system: Science. ICCAT showed its commitment over the past few years in getting the
best possible science, and the SCRS is providing managers with high quality scientific advice. This does not
mean that we cannot do better. The Resolution by ICCAT on Best Available Science [Res. 11-17] adopted last
year paves the way for even better science and therefore we should make sure this year that ICCAT lives up to
the commitments made last year.
On the conservation side, ICCAT will focus on bluefin tuna as the multi-annual recovery plan is due for review
this year. The European Union welcomes the positive signs concerning the recovery of the stock. This suggests
that the current management measures and the substantial efforts undertaken by the Contracting Parties are
paying off. However, scientific advice stays cautious in view of the many uncertainties around the stock
assessment. We hope therefore, that ICCAT Contracting Parties will be strongly committed to ensuring a
continued trend in the recovery of the stock. Besides, the bluefin tuna recovery plan needs to be adapted to new
realities and to the development of the fishery. Measures to better control farming activities and initiatives to
further improve the traceability for this species should be envisaged. Launching the full implementation of an
electronic Catch Documentation Scheme (eBCD) will be an important step in that regard and pave the way for
similar traceability schemes for other species.
Still, on the conservation side, we hope that ICCAT will continue promoting the protection of vulnerable sharks
species, in particular porbeagle and shortfin mako. The European Union is confident that its inter-sessional
efforts to find consensus on its porbeagle proposal will yield success. The European Union also hopes that
ICCAT adopts rebuilding measures for marlins that take into account all causes of mortalities, as outlined by the
scientific advice for both blue marlin and white marlin.
To make sure that conservation measures yield success, the European Union expects ICCAT to further enhance
monitoring and control measures this year and commends the Working Group on Integrated Monitoring
Measures for the proposals submitted to the ICCAT Commission. Establishing an in-port inspection scheme will
be a significant step towards the implementation of the FAO Port State Measures Agreement and introducing
traceability for species other than bluefin tuna will further advance ICCAT in its fight against IUU. In recent
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