20% increase in bluefin tuna quota risks collapsing fish stocks - NGO

Environmental NGO fish4tomorrow has expressed concerns over the recent 20% increase in the quota for Bluefin tuna, saying that such a large increase risks undermining conservation efforts.

The EU Common Fisheries Policy, in 2013, set a goal to heed scientific advice when setting fishing quotas, such as that for the endangered Bluefin tuna.

A recent report published by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) stated that Bluefin tuna stocks were recovering thanks to efforts put in place by the Commission.

The report repeatedly stressed that significant gaps in the data must be addressed before a truly clear picture of the situation can be taken especially with regards to the current levels of potentially devastating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The report concluded by advising that current quotas should either be maintained or increased gradually and well monitored in order to avoid another collapse.

An ICCAT meeting in Genoa, held this week, saw 50 fishing nations agree to increase the quota for Bluefin by 20% over the next three years, increasing from 13,500 tonnes this year to 19,296 tonnes in 2016. The EU considers this a ‘moderate and gradual’ increase, bringing it in line with last month’s report.

Fish4tomorrow however feels that this increase puts the endangered species at further risk, even after much effort was put into helping it recover.

“Unfortunately it seems like the progress that has been made regarding the recovery of bluefin tuna is in jeopardy thanks to the same body that has worked so hard to achieve everything it has done so far.” JD Farrugia, a member of fish4tomorrow’s core team, noted.

“Rather than placing more emphasis on better data collection methods and finding effective ways of tackling illegal fishing, governments have agreed on increasing quotas by 20% over three years and are trying to pass it off as being moderate.”