Currently, the global quota for bluefin tuna fishing set by ICCAT amounts to 13,500 tonnes. (Photo: Ifremer)

Brussels doesn't get consensus on bluefin tuna quotas

EUROPEAN UNION
Monday, November 15, 2010, 23:10 (GMT + 9)

Spain, France, Italy and other countries interested in fishing for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, have rejected a reduction in catches as suggested by the European Commission (EC).

Fisheries experts from 27 Member States are still discussing with the EU executive's proposal to cut tuna quotas in 2011 with the purpose of establishing the position of the European bloc in the assembly of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), to be held between 17 and 27 November in Paris, France.

The nations that oppose the project, believe that the ICCAT scientific reports justify maintaining the same level of catches as in 2010.

The Spanish representative mentioned the need to take into account the socioeconomic consequences of the possible reduction of the quota. He also clarified that the plans for the recovery of bluefin tuna require a period of "stability" to get the expected results, reported the EFE.

For its part, France has proposed amendments to the proposal that advocates Brussels, in which they mentioned the maintenance of existing quotas.

Sweden and the UK, meanwhile, supported the catch reduction sought by the EC.

Currently, the global quota for bluefin tuna fishing amounts to 13,500 tonnes, of which 7,104 tonnes belongs to the European fleet.

And of that EU total, Spain commands 2,536 tonnes.

In late October, EU ministers expressed their opposition to the idea proposed by the commissioner of EU Fisheries, Mary Damanaki, to halve the quotas for bluefin tuna in 2011.

Related article:

- Fisheries Ministers refuse to cut bluefin tuna quota

By Analia Murias
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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