05 Jul 2007 - Rome, Italy
– In defiance of international regulations,
European vessels have been seen fishing
illegally for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean
after the fishery was closed for the season
on 1 July.
According to intelligence from WWF field
sources, an Italian fleet of industrial
vessels set sail from Malta to operate in
the Strait of Sicily supported by a spotter
plane during the first days of the month.
Boats tugging cages were also on hand to
transfer any fish caught to Croatian tuna
farms.
WWF has relayed the information to the
European Commission, the new European Community
Fisheries Control Agency and Italian authorities.
The issue is currently under investigation.
“This illegal fishing activity flies in
the face of international legislation,”
said Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries
at WWF Mediterranean.
“The European authorities should investigate
such piracy as a matter of urgency.”
WWF is highly concerned about the management
of the bluefin tuna fishery in Mediterranean
waters. The management measures currently
in force are far too weak to enable long-term
stock recovery and must undergo a radical
overhaul at the next meeting of ICCAT (International
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic
Tunas) in Turkey in November.
"We call on Portugal, which currently
holds the EU Presidency, to urgently push
forward revision of bluefin tuna management
measures at ICCAT," Dr Tudela added.
"This week’s evidence of non-compliance
in Mediterranean waters by EU fleets adds
even greater urgency to the case."
Gemma Parkes, Communications Officer
WWF Mediterranean
