November 12, 2014 — The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) annual meeting is being held November 10-17, 2014 in Genoa, Italy.
The United States is going to ICCAT with the goal of reaching agreement on science-based management measures for shared stocks and applying a precautionary approach where appropriate, while preserving commercial and recreational fishing opportunities for U.S. fishermen.
At the 2014 ICCAT meeting, the United States will be working to:
– Adopt a two-year catch limit for western Atlantic bluefin tuna that is in line with the science advice and supports the goals of the rebuilding program by avoiding overfishing and allowing continued stock growth.
– Ensure that management of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery including monitoring and control measures designed to deter IUU fishing supports stock recovery and long-term sustainability, and is consistent with scientific advice.
– Require that all sharks be landed with their fins naturally attached, and that precautionary and science-based management measures be adopted for sharks caught in ICCAT fisheries.
– Strengthen the science underlying ICCAT management through an enhanced dialogue between scientists and managers, improved statistical data collection, and support for research initiatives needed to reduce uncertainties in stock assessments.
– Continue to strengthen ICCAT's compliance review process and take meaningful actions in response to non-compliance.
– Enhance monitoring of ICCAT fisheries and combat IUU fishing by increasing the minimum rate of polling for vessel monitoring systems, improving the process for cross-listing IUU vessels from different oceans, establishing programs to assist developing state implementation of port inspection responsibilities, and ensuring full and timely implementation of ICCAT’s electronic bluefin tuna catch documentation system.
– Further efforts to amend the ICCAT Convention so that it is in line with modern fisheries management instruments on issues such as the precautionary and ecosystem approaches to fisheries management and clarify the Commission’s management authority for sharks.
Read the Opening Statement of the United States to the 19th Special Meeting of ICCAT