E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2012-2013 (I)
2) Do not increase any bluefin tuna quotas
Western Atlantic bluefin: The 2012 stock assessment indicates that the western Atlantic bluefin population is just
36% of the 1970 population level (SCRS/2012/033). The SCRS reports that maintaining the western Atlantic
quota at the current level of 1,750 metric tons (t) would allow the population to increase, regardless of
assumptions about the potential long-term productivity of the stock. Recent research also confirms that many of
the fish that the SCRS counted in past assessments as western bluefin were actually eastern bluefin that migrated
to the western Atlantic to feed (Block 2005; Carlsson et al. 2007; Rooker et al. 2008). Updating the stock
assessment will ensure that management decisions accurately reflect the mixing of the eastern and western
populations.
Eastern Atlantic bluefin: A recent study shows that between 2005 and 2011, total catch of eastern Atlantic
bluefin was 62% over quota and increased to 77% over quota from 2008 (SCRS/2012/144). This analysis
confirmed previous reports that showed persistent illegal fishing in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic
despite stricter regulations and increased enforcement efforts (Tudela and Quilez 2012; PEW 2011; ICCAT
2009). The SCRS also expressed concerns that the potential total catch of the existing fleet could easily be in
excess of the current quotas (ICCAT, 2009). Pew urges ICCAT members to follow the SCRS’ precautionary
management advice and not increase quotas for eastern Atlantic bluefin, now and at least until the stock
assessment model reflects a more accurate tally of total fishing mortality.
3) Adopt conservation and management measures to protect sharks
Sharks are among the ocean’s most vulnerable animals. More than half of the shark species taken in high-seas
fisheries are classified on the IUCN Red List as Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened. I CCAT members
must take actions to address sharks at this year’s meeting. Until robust stock assessments are available,
precautionary conservation and management measures should be developed and adopted.
4) Prohibit the retention of porbeagle and other threatened and highly vulnerable shark species
The IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species assessed porbeagle sharks as Vulnerable globally, Critically
Endangered in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, and Endangered in the northwest Atlantic. In addition, the
ICCAT Shark Working Group has recently completed an updated Ecological Risk Analysis (ERA) that shows
the porbeagle to be one of the shark species most vulnerable to ICCAT fisheries, based on its low productivity
and high susceptibility to catch (SCRS/2012/167). Due to its poor conservation status in the ICCAT Convention
Area and vulnerability to ICCAT fisheries, ICCAT should prohibit retaining onboard, transhipping, landing,
storing, selling, or offering for sale porbeagle sharks. ICCAT should also prohibit retaining onboard,
transhipping, landing, storing, selling, or offering for sale other threatened species found to be highly vulnerable
by the ERA including longfin mako sharks (SCRS/2012/167).
5) Establish concrete, precautionary, science-based catch limits for shortfin mako sharks
According to the ERA, the shortfin mako shark is one of the shark species most vulnerable to ICCAT fisheries,
based on its low productivity and high susceptibility to catch (SCRS/2012/167). Based on the ERA and a recent
stock assessment, the SCRS recommended not allowing shortfin mako catch levels to increase. Therefore,
ICCAT should establish concrete precautionary catch limits for shortfin mako sharks to ensure catch does not
increase.
6) Close loopholes in the current shark finning Recommendation
Up to 73 million sharks are killed annually to support the global shark fin trade. ICCAT was the first RFMO to
ban shark finning-the wasteful practice of slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea-but loopholes
still hamper enforcement of the ban. The existing ban on finning can be strengthened by prohibiting the removal
of shark fins at sea, which will also facilitate collection of species-specific catch data and help ensure
compliance with existing ICCAT conservation and management measures for sharks.
7) Improve Compliance with ICCAT measures
ICCAT has developed a set of measures to support compliance with its recommendations. However, its
compliance scheme is by no means complete, nor sufficiently effective to end illegal fishing practices in the
ICCAT Convention area.
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