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Meeting of the Fisheries Consulting Board. (Photo: Junta de Andalucía)
Andalusia supports increased quota for bluefin tuna
SPAIN
Monday, November 10, 2014, 23:40 (GMT + 9)
The Secretariat of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development of the autonomous government of Andalusia will support increased total allowable catch (TAC) of bluefin tuna, which the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA) will advocate in XIX annual ordinary meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
The Director General of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Margarita Perez, is participating in this meeting, which is held from today until 17 November in Genoa (Italy) to "protect the interests of the sector."
"Andalusia will advocate an increase in bluefin tuna TAC," which implies a growth in the Spanish fleet quota, the Andalusian official stated.
Perez stressed the resource stock status improved in recent years due to reduced fishing mortality and increased reproductive biomass.
However, she noted that "ICCAT has not recommended a significant increase in catch limits but it has adopted a precautionary approach."
For this year, a maximum capture of 13,400 tonnes of bluefin tuna for the entire Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, of which 2,504.4 tonnes is for the fishermen from Spain.
Andalusia was assigned 976.1 tonnes: 656.2 tonnes are for the four fish traps that are installed each year in the province of Cádiz, 185.5 tonnes for the 40 boats fishing for tuna with surface longline gear and 134.4 tonnes are for 23 artisanal vessels fishing in the vicinity of the Strait of Gibraltar.
Perez acknowledged "the efforts and sacrifices made by the trap platform industry, the handline and longline fleet of the Strait during these years during which progressive reductions in bluefin tuna TAC has been established" so she considered it would be "very positive for the industry that catches of this species can be caught."
Meanwhile, Josu Santiago, a biologist of the Expert Technology Centre in Marine and Food Research (AZTI-TECNALIA) and Chairperson of ICCAT Scientific Committee said the recovery plan is paying off and that the stock is in strong recovery.
"Our analysis suggests that bluefin tuna is no longer overfished and therefore, we tell managers that a moderate and gradual increase in TAC is possible," he added, according to Deia.
While recent studies by ICCAT technicians ensure that there are "clear signs of a sharp increase in all the trials investigated," from ICCAT it is made clear that "it is necessary to be cautious until these high recruitment estimates can be confirmed."
Related article:
- Govt and industry seek bluefin tuna quota rise
By Analia Murias
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www.seafood.media
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