Fishing nations meet to plan tuna recovery

The three nations responsible for most of the bluefin catch in the Atlantic are Japan, the United States and Canada

By Environmental News Network staff

(ENN) -- Atlantic tuna fishing nations are meeting this week to discuss rebuilding a recovery program for Atlantic bluefin tuna at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas in Spain.

Fishing nations acknowledged last year that current regulations have failed to protect this species, which has declined by more than 80 percent since 1975. The World Wildlife Fund has called on Atlantic tuna fishing nations to honor their commitment to the plan.

"For years, ICCAT has neglected its responsibility to develop a bluefin tuna recovery plan," said Michael Sutton, director of the WWF Endangered Seas Campaign. "This year represents the best opportunity for fishing nations to take real action and adopt a plan that will restore bluefin tuna to its mid-1970 levels."

ICCAT began its meeting Monday in Santiago de Compostela.

The three nations responsible for most of the bluefin catch in the Atlantic are Japan, the United States and Canada. Spain is also a key ICCAT nation, hosting the secretariat and each annual meeting.

If ICCAT fails to act, other international bodies such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species may have to step in to save these fisheries," said Sutton.

Overfishing is the main cause of the bluefin tuna decline, but rampant violations of ICCAT regulations (catching fish below legal size and exceeding established quotas) has further compounded the problem, according to WWF.

"Even full compliance with the current inadequate conservation regulations will not restore bluefin tuna," said Sutton. "Reduced catch quotas that promote bluefin tuna recovery in the shortest possible time are vital to the species' survival."

This year's ICCAT meeting will also review the status of North Atlantic swordfish, which have declined by 70 percent since the mid-1960s, says WWF. WWF and other conservation organizations are urging governments to support an agreement that would require discarded swordfish to be counted against the catch quota. Such measures would help reduce swordfish mortality and aid in its recovery. ICCAT members are expected to adopt a comprehensive recovery plan for swordfish next year.

For more information, contact Someshwar Singh, WWF, +41 22 364-9553.

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