Source: Halifax.mediacoop.ca
The 23rd Regular Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, or ICCAT, concluded today in Cape Town, South Africa. Canada and the other ICCAT contracting parties fishing for western Atlantic bluefin tuna agreed to maintain to the quota within scientific advice, at 1750 metric tonnes, for the 2014 fishing year. Contracting parties also agreed to keep the quota the same, at 13,400 metric tonnes, for the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. However, ICCAT failed again, to agree to protections for sharks. Bluefin tuna quotas held for 2014
“We are pleased that ICCAT parties, including Canada, decided to hold the line on western bluefin tuna for another year,”said Katie Schleit, Marine Campaign Coordinator at the Ecology Action Centre based in Halifax, Nova Scotia who is attending the meeting as the only Canadian civil society group. “They made the right decision for the benefit of the species and the fishery. Under proper management, there is hope that the stock will rebuild.”
Maintaining the quota at the level agreed upon by ICCAT parties is expected by ICCAT scientists to allow western bluefin tuna populations to continue to increase. Concerns were raised by environmental groups leading up to the meeting that Canada requested a higher quota at ICCAT last year, at the same time that western Atlantic bluefin tuna population is at just 36 percent of the 1970 levels and is undergoing review for listing on Canada’s Species at Risk Act, or SARA. The independent science body responsible for advising the federal Environment Minister under SARA assessed Atlantic bluefin tuna as endangered in 2011. A decision on listing is expected in mid-2014.
“We look forward to further action by Canada to rebuild this stock through national measures, regardless if it is listed or not,” said Schleit. “Next year, ICCAT parties will come together to renegotiate a quota based on a new scientific assessment. Once more, the fate of the species will depend on parties agreeing not to increase fishing pressure above scientific advice."
No progress on sharks
For the fourth year running, Canada was one of a few countries blocking a measure that would prohibit porbeagle shark from being retained on fishing vessels. This species is often called Canada’s shark, as it spends the majority of its time in the country’s waters. Canada reported almost 40 tonnes of porbeagle bycatch last year, with the majority caught in the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified Atlantic Canadian swordfish longline fishery. More....
The 23rd Regular Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, or ICCAT, concluded today in Cape Town, South Africa. Canada and the other ICCAT contracting parties fishing for western Atlantic bluefin tuna agreed to maintain to the quota within scientific advice, at 1750 metric tonnes, for the 2014 fishing year. Contracting parties also agreed to keep the quota the same, at 13,400 metric tonnes, for the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. However, ICCAT failed again, to agree to protections for sharks. Bluefin tuna quotas held for 2014
“We are pleased that ICCAT parties, including Canada, decided to hold the line on western bluefin tuna for another year,”said Katie Schleit, Marine Campaign Coordinator at the Ecology Action Centre based in Halifax, Nova Scotia who is attending the meeting as the only Canadian civil society group. “They made the right decision for the benefit of the species and the fishery. Under proper management, there is hope that the stock will rebuild.”
Maintaining the quota at the level agreed upon by ICCAT parties is expected by ICCAT scientists to allow western bluefin tuna populations to continue to increase. Concerns were raised by environmental groups leading up to the meeting that Canada requested a higher quota at ICCAT last year, at the same time that western Atlantic bluefin tuna population is at just 36 percent of the 1970 levels and is undergoing review for listing on Canada’s Species at Risk Act, or SARA. The independent science body responsible for advising the federal Environment Minister under SARA assessed Atlantic bluefin tuna as endangered in 2011. A decision on listing is expected in mid-2014.
“We look forward to further action by Canada to rebuild this stock through national measures, regardless if it is listed or not,” said Schleit. “Next year, ICCAT parties will come together to renegotiate a quota based on a new scientific assessment. Once more, the fate of the species will depend on parties agreeing not to increase fishing pressure above scientific advice."
No progress on sharks
For the fourth year running, Canada was one of a few countries blocking a measure that would prohibit porbeagle shark from being retained on fishing vessels. This species is often called Canada’s shark, as it spends the majority of its time in the country’s waters. Canada reported almost 40 tonnes of porbeagle bycatch last year, with the majority caught in the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified Atlantic Canadian swordfish longline fishery. More....
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