Wednesday, November 27, 2019

ICCAT Tuna Conservation - Management Measures (2019)

Yellowfin Tuna | credit: NOAA
In November 2019, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) held its 26th Regular Meeting in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Among the major accomplishments was the adoption of a new multi-annual conservation and management program for tropical tunas.

The Commission agreed a TAC for bigeye tuna of 62,500 t and 61,500 t, for 2020 and 2021, respectively. The annual TAC for yellowfin will remain at the current level of 110,000 t.

In addition, in order to reduce the fishing mortality of juvenile bigeye and yellowfin tuna, it was also agreed to reduce the maximum number of fish aggregating devices (FADs) deployed by vessels and to prohibit the use of FADs for two and three months in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

In early 2020, the Commission will discuss additional measures for the multi-annual conservation and management programme for tropical tunas.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas oversees the conservation and management of a variety of Atlantic marine species, including tunas, swordfish, marlin and sharks, and adopts measures to minimize bycatch of turtles and seabirds associated with these fisheries. This responsibility is shared among ICCAT’s 52 members.

source: International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas

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