E - Iccat

ADDRESSES & STATEMENTS
Alarming information reported on high rates of illegal catch of Atlantic bluefin tuna above quota
(SCRS/2012/144) is further confirmation that IUU fishing is a pervasive problem for this species. At this
meeting ICCAT members need to:
a) Take action to fully implement the electronic bluefin catch documentation (eBCD) scheme by the start of
the 2013 purse seine fishing season in the Mediterranean Sea, taking whatever steps necessary to first fix
the problems identified during the pilot program;
b) Take action against all vessels that have been identified as using driftnets in violation of Recommendation
03-04; and
c) Eliminate the western bluefin carry-forward provision, as the stock is known to be overfished with
overfishing occurring.
Sharks: It has been three years since ICCAT first prohibited retention of the first shark species, the bigeye
thresher shark, and since then several additional shark species have been added (with associated measures
prohibiting landing, transhipment, and trade). It is now time for ICCAT to review the implementation of and
compliance with its shark conservation and management measures. In addition, 2013 is the first year shortfin
mako fishing is to be prohibited for Parties not submitting catch data under Rec. 10-06. The Compliance
Committee should carefully review which Parties have submitted data and notify those who have not provided
data to stop landing this species beginning January 1, 2013 until data is submitted.
8) Strengthen ICCAT’s port State controls
ICCAT should adopt the Integrated Monitoring Measures Working Group proposal on port State measures to
further efforts to curb illegal fishing. This needs to include prohibiting any vessel found to have violated ICCAT
recommendations from landing, transhipping or having access to port services.
9) Improve the identification of fishing vessels, particularly those fishing for bluefin tuna
In the face of continued illegal fishing operations, particularly in the bluefin tuna fishery, ICCAT must also
improve identification of fishing vessels through the use of International Maritime Organization (IMO) numbers,
particularly vessels fishing for bluefin tuna through the following actions:
a) Require that all ICCAT bluefin tuna vessels that are 20 meters or greater or fish outside the EEZ of their
flag State have an IMO number, and that this number is reported as part of the records of ICCAT vessels
authorised to fish bluefin tuna 1
b) Require effective implementation of the mandate to report a vessel’s IMO number by submitting all the
information required under Recommendations 11-12 and 10-04 before the end of 2012.
c) Require that an IMO number be provided in all relevant Annexes of Recommendation 10-04 and of
Recommendation 11-20 on the Bluefin Tuna Catch Documentation Program.
10) Begin the Formal Process to Amend the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
As an international treaty body operating in the 21st century, it is critical that ICCAT formally embrace
international best practices for fisheries management, as defined by more modern agreements and resolutions,
including the Antigua Convention 2 , the UN Fish Stocks Agreement 3 , and the UN Sustainable Fisheries
Resolution 4 . It is vital that ICCAT’s treaty codify the need to implement both the precautionary principle and
the ecosystem approach to management, as well as explicitly include sharks as managed species, in order to
ensure healthy populations of tunas and sharks into the future.
1 This requirement can be introduced for example as a modification of the reporting requirements established in Recommendation 10-04 or
of those established in Recommendation 11-12. All relevant Annexes of Recommendation 10-04 should be modified so as to include a field
where to provide each vessel’s IMO number.
2 Antigua Convention. 2010. www.iattc.org/IaTTCdocumentationenG.htm
3 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982
Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. 1995.
www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/fish_stocks_agreement/COnF164_37.htm
4 Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory
Fish Stocks, and related instruments. www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_overview_fish_stocks.htm.
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