REPORT for biennial period, 2010-11 PART I (2010) - Vol. 4 ... - Iccat

SECRETARIAT REPORT TO COC - 201034 Meimoun AT 000 TUN 00048 14 12 00035 Jamel AT 000 TUN 00011 - -36 Jannet II AT 000 TUN 00044 20 45 97037 Jannet AT 000 TUN 00012 13 45 97038 Yosri AT 000 TUN 00040 9 9 65039 Yosri II AT 000 TUN 00027 -40 Cartago AT 000 TUN 00069 -41 Mohamed Ali AT 000 TUN 00071 14 8 95042 Futuro AT 000 TUN 00065 -Total 658 1043 580TURKEYFishing activitiesTurkey’s total catch of bluefin tuna (BTF) in 2010 was 409.377 kg 1 , a decrease compared to the previous year(661.445 metric tons in 2009) within the quota allocation framework of ICCAT. Almost all the bluefin tunaquotas were caught by purse seiners and transferred into floating cages for fattening. Fishing operations forbluefin tuna generally took place in the southern territorial waters of Turkey within the fishing periods specifiedby ICCAT.The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) is the competent authority for issuing bluefin tunafishing and transport licenses to the vessels. All authorized bluefin tuna catching vessels and tug boats(transporting bluefin tunas cages) were equipped with an operational vessel monitoring system and weremonitored by MARA during the season. Daily bluefin tuna catch data and reports were collected and assessed byMARA to determine and pre-announce the closure time to the fishing vessels. National and ICCAT regionalobservers have the mandate to observe all bluefin tuna fishing operations and to collect/record statistical datarequired by ICCAT.Geographic distribution of catchFishing operations for bluefin tuna were conducted intensively off Antalya Bay and in the region betweenAntalya (Gazi Paşa) and Cyprus Island. Bluefin tuna fisheries were also conducted in the regions betweenCyprus-Turkey and Cyprus-Syria.Individual quota systemDuring the bluefin tuna fishing season in 2010, a total of 410.400 kg individual quotas were assigned to a total of17 bluefin tuna catching vessels. At the end of the fishing season, 17 catching vessels caught 409.337 kg of livebluefin tuna.Individual quota allocations were made considering “past performances” of fishing vessels and throughdistribution of the total amount in an equal ratio. Before the season, exercising of IQ transferring between vesselswas allowed as well. In order to ensure the respect of the individual quota, MARA stipulated weekly catchreports, observer requirements, remote monitoring systems and made regular inspections and data/report crosschecksduring the season.Bluefin tuna catchesA total of 409.377 kg of live bluefin tuna catch was reported by authorized bluefin tuna catching vessels. Aspecific quota was allocated for the purposes of by-catch and incidental bluefin tuna catches, which is 8.780 kg.Fishing vessels− Fishing capacity reductionIn accordance with paragraph 42 of the Recommendation by ICCAT to Establish a Multi-annual Recovery Planfor Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean [Rec. 08-05], Turkey has limited the number and1 All figures in Turkey’s report are presented using “.” as the decimal separation.277