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Progress at Tuna Commission Overshadowed by Quota Increase

GLAND, Switzerland -- The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) ended its annual meeting today (November 29) in San Sebastian, Spain, having made progress in curbing illegal fishing for the world's most prized fish - bluefin tuna - but failing to address the recovery of depleted stocks in the western Atlantic, said WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature and the Ocean Wildlife Campaign.

"ICCAT has finally taken action that will help stop years of rampant overfishing by member and non-member nations alike," said Michael Sutton, Director of WWF's Endangered Seas Campaign. "But sadly, the Commission stopped far short of establishing a bona fide recovery plan for bluefin tuna. This raises serious doubts about ICCAT's commitment to responsible fisheries."

The bluefin tuna population in the Atlantic and Mediterranean has declined by more than 80 percent since 1975. At the same time, certain countries in the east Atlantic and Mediterranean have reported large catches of juvenile bluefin - below the minimum 6.4 kg limit set by ICCAT itself. This species can actually reach a maximum size of 700 kg and a length of over three metres and can pursue its prey at speeds of more than 70 km an hour.

Despite calls for restraint by ICCAT, the total reported catch of northern bluefin tuna has been steadily increasing, from 29,951 metric tonnes (MT) in 1993 to 41,616 MT in 1995. Unreported catches add a significant amount to these figures.

The Commission did make its first serious attempt to limit catches of bluefin tuna in the East Atlantic and Mediterranean, where the vast majority of this species is caught. ICCAT has previously recommended that catches in this region, which set a new record of nearly 40,000 MT in 1995, be significantly reduced. Annual catch targets discussed at the meeting were approximately 25,000 MT, down nearly 15,000 MT from the 1995 catch. The Commission is depending on the new compliance measures to enforce these levels.

But in the western Atlantic, where the species is in the most serious trouble, the United States proposed a quota increase of more than 1,000 fish (154 MT), up to 2,354 MT in 1996 from 2,200 MT in 1995. The other fishing nations, Canada and Japan, quickly followed the U.S. lead and agreed to the increase.

"By implementing a quota increase for western Atlantic bluefin, the Commission appears to have thrown caution to the winds," said David Wilmot, Director of the Ocean Wildlife Campaign. "We cannot understand how ICCAT, and the United States in particular, can possibly justify quota increases in such a severely-depleted fishery."

The FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the U.N. Agreement on Straddling Fish

Stocks & Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, both signed in 1995, require nations to implement the so-called 'precautionary approach' by setting conservative catch limits and rebuilding depleted fisheries.

Under the Commission's newly agreed compliance mechanism, ICCAT member nations are obliged to report any excess over quotas or catch limits. A penalty of 100 percent would be levied against any country that reports catching more than its quota or limit of fish. That is, 100 percent of the excess amount would be subtracted from that country's quota or limit for the following year. Finally, if the penalty doesn't work, additional penalties of upto 125 per cent could be levied and ultimately ICCAT could authorize trade sanctions against the offending country.

ICCAT also agreed to authorize trade sanctions against three non-member nations for undermining the effectiveness of the Commission's conservation program in the Mediterranean. Belize and Honduras were cited for allowing their flag vessels to fish illegally for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean. This should help Japan use its new legislative authority to embargo bluefin imports from these three countries. In addition, ICCAT sent letters of warning to several other non-member nations e.g., Trinidad & Tobago, Greece, and Croatia. However, none of these nations was identified for possible trade sanctions next year.

For more information, please call Someshwar Singh at +41 22 364 9553 or Michael Sutton at +44 1483 412507.