Management of Bluefin Tuna Fisheries
_ICCAT – The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas is an international
management fishery organization responsible for the conservation of tuna and other species in the Atlantic
Ocean. Their board of international scientists compiles fishery statistics
and uses them to develop science-based management advice. ICCAT manages two stocks in the Atlantic, the western Atlantic stock and the eastern Atlantic/ Mediterranean stock. Both stocks have been depleted to unsustainable levels and still have harvest rates that are too high [13]. This site allows you to look at the ICCAT reports on the tuna catch across their Atlantic range from 2004 - 2009.
Unfortunately, ICCAT has not been as effective as some, most specifically those in conservation groups, had hoped. The organization has been nicknamed "The International Commission to Catch All Tuna" and has been deemed an "international disgrace" and a "travesty of fisheries management". [14] In actuality, ICCAT can only do what those governments connected to Atlantic bluefins instruct and allow it to do. The group has no powers of enforcement or punishment; these remain with the European Union and national governments. For example, the recommendations of scientists at ICCAT to these governments to have quota cuts of 50% were heard but not followed. Instead, quotas were cut by only 20%. [15]
Regardless of their limited powers, ICCAT is also criticized for its management regime. Under their watch, fisheries have committed serious under-reporting and illegal fishing and stocks have dropped by 70 to 80%. [16] The video below was made by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in 2010. It "exposes glaring inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the ICCAT". [17]
Unfortunately, ICCAT has not been as effective as some, most specifically those in conservation groups, had hoped. The organization has been nicknamed "The International Commission to Catch All Tuna" and has been deemed an "international disgrace" and a "travesty of fisheries management". [14] In actuality, ICCAT can only do what those governments connected to Atlantic bluefins instruct and allow it to do. The group has no powers of enforcement or punishment; these remain with the European Union and national governments. For example, the recommendations of scientists at ICCAT to these governments to have quota cuts of 50% were heard but not followed. Instead, quotas were cut by only 20%. [15]
Regardless of their limited powers, ICCAT is also criticized for its management regime. Under their watch, fisheries have committed serious under-reporting and illegal fishing and stocks have dropped by 70 to 80%. [16] The video below was made by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in 2010. It "exposes glaring inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the ICCAT". [17]
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Traditional hooks (top) and weak hooks (bottom).
_NOAA Fisheries
Service of Highly Migratory Species Management Division – This NOAA division manages highly
migratory species as the domestic management sector of Atlantic bluefin tuna and other highly migratory species. This division requires
international cooperation and rebuilding programs that reflect
cooperation with U.S. fishermen. They are also required to comply with
several laws and acts in their management, including the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, Marine Mammal
Protection Act, and others. [18]
This is the specific site for the bluefin tuna sector of the Highly Migratory Species Management Division. The division regulates a number of bluefin tuna fishing factors, including type of boat, method of catching, and size of fish. They have also developed the weak hook, as a method of preventing the catch of bluefin tuna as bycatch. The weak hook bends when a large fish, like a tuna, gets caught on it, which increases the likelihood that this fish will escape. The hook has been shown to cause a 56% decrease in the number of bluefin that are caught as bycatch. [19]
This is the specific site for the bluefin tuna sector of the Highly Migratory Species Management Division. The division regulates a number of bluefin tuna fishing factors, including type of boat, method of catching, and size of fish. They have also developed the weak hook, as a method of preventing the catch of bluefin tuna as bycatch. The weak hook bends when a large fish, like a tuna, gets caught on it, which increases the likelihood that this fish will escape. The hook has been shown to cause a 56% decrease in the number of bluefin that are caught as bycatch. [19]
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Global catch data for Southern bluefin tuna.
_ CCSBT - The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna is the intergovernmental organization responsible for the management of Southern bluefin tuna. Their mission is the management and proper utilization of Southern bluefin throughout their range. Members of the CCSBT include Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand. Cooperating non-members of the organization include South Africa, the Philippines, and the European Union. [20]
At the moment, there are no international regulations or management programs specific to the Pacific bluefin tuna. Domestically, Pacific bluefin fall under the jurisdiction of NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, but currently there are no quotas, bag limits, or minimum size restrictions that apply to the international fishing of Pacific bluefins. Tuna fisheries in the Pacific have long dominated as the catchers of other kinds of tuna (yellowfin, albacore), and have therefore never been the focus of bluefin management. [21] Recently, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission introduced a measure for the conservation and management of Pacific bluefin tuna, which is still under review. [22]
At the moment, there are no international regulations or management programs specific to the Pacific bluefin tuna. Domestically, Pacific bluefin fall under the jurisdiction of NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, but currently there are no quotas, bag limits, or minimum size restrictions that apply to the international fishing of Pacific bluefins. Tuna fisheries in the Pacific have long dominated as the catchers of other kinds of tuna (yellowfin, albacore), and have therefore never been the focus of bluefin management. [21] Recently, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission introduced a measure for the conservation and management of Pacific bluefin tuna, which is still under review. [22]