06 Oct
2006 - Rome, Italy – Evidence that Mediterranean
bluefin tuna fishing is spiralling out of control
emerged today as scientists from around the world
met to discuss the status of the fishery.
The scientists, gathering at
a meeting of the International Commission for
the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) , have
discovered that French fishing fleets are reporting
bluefin tuna catches of more than 50 per cent
in excess of their official quota. The scientists
also launched an alarm call that bluefin tuna
will soon be lost forever from the Mediterranean
if no action is taken.
“This is one more example of
rogue behaviour which has led to the grave threat
of collapse we are now facing," said Paolo
Lombardi, Director of WWF's Mediterranean Programme.
"We suspect that other EU fleets are also
not declaring their real catches."
France’s official quota for
fishing bluefin tuna was 6,192 tonnes in 2005,
yet its fleets reported a staggering 9,455 tonnes
of catches. This equates to well over 3,000 tonnes
being illegally fished in 2005 alone by French
fleets. WWF had already warned in July that France
reported to the EU a similar level of illegal
fishing in 2004. Among the EU tuna fleets, France
has one of the highest quotas set by ICCAT.
"This overfishing is highly
likely to result in the EU as a whole considerably
exceeding its quota," Lombardi added.
The scientists attending the
ICCAT meeting are advocating an extension to the
current seasonal closure of the fishery to cover
the entire spawning period of May through July,
and are calling for a significant increase in
the minimum landing size up to 30kg. The scientists
also estimate that a short-term sustainable catch
across the Mediterranean should be limited to
15,000 tonnes per year — effectively less than
one-third of the current total catch.
“There can now be absolutely
no further doubt as to what needs to be done if
we are serious about saving our tuna,” said Dr
Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at WWF Mediterranean.
“The ICCAT, and in particular, the EU, will be
responsible for the loss of bluefin tuna if it
does not give its full support to plans for stock
recovery.”
Gemma Parkes, Communications
Officer
