Several NGOs call for a cautious approach to bluefin tuna quota rise. (Photo Credit: WWF)
Malta's government’s intention to be granted bluefin tuna quota increase has not been welcomed by conservation organization World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and by the coalition of Maltese NGOs Fish4tomorrow.
Agriculture parliamentary secretary Roderick Galdes’ request, presented in the Ministers' Council in Luxembourg, followed a recent report published by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna’s (ICCAT) Standing Committee on Research and Statistics stating that bluefin tuna populations are recovering, reportedMaltaToday.
“The stock is no longer at risk of collapse, and this is a direct result of the current recovery plan,” WWF Mediterranean’s Head of Fisheries Sergi Tudela pointed out. “However, strong concerns remain, particularly regarding the traceability of the fish,” Tudela stressed.
Furthermore, WWF’s scientist Gemma Quilez Badia, who attended the stock assessment meeting in Madrid, explained that to ensure a sustainable fishery reliable data it is important to fight illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU).
According to WWF, the Bluefin Tuna Catch Document (BCD) system remains “plagued with shortcomings that compromise its ability to keep illegal bluefin products out of the market” and it does not meet the minimum standards required under EU regulations.
To the NGO, reforming ICCAT’s BCD is urgent to eradicate the illegal practices that have been plaguing this fishery, by ensuring only legal fish enters the global markets.
Meanwhile, Fish4tomorrow urged decision makers to maintain the current TAC as well as improve data collection techniques.
“This would ensure that, when the time is right, quotas may be increased without consequence. We would also like to continue to stress the importance of small scale fishing operations as these are the future for ensuring sustainable fisheries rather than the current industrial operations which are ultimately responsible for this collapse,” the coalition remarked.
On the other hand, the Federation of Maltese Aquaculture Producers (FMAP) joined Galdes in calling for an increase in Malta’s bluefin tuna quota, stating that the gradual increase in the catch quota over a period of years will allow the tuna population to keep on recovering.
“The present assessment has concluded that the stock of Bluefin tuna is looking very good and that even a strong increase in the total allowable catch will not affect the recovery plan which is presently in place,” the FMAP said in a statement. “
The total allowable catch for 2015 will be set at this year’s ICCAT annual meeting between 10-17 November in Genova, Italy.