The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) recommends an interim conservation and management plan for the western Atlantic bluefin tuna for the 2018-2020 period, anticipating the adoption of a management procedure tested through Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE). Key provisions include a commitment from Contracting Parties and Cooperating non-Contracting Parties, Entities and Fishing Entities (CPCs) to prevent the transfer of fishing effort between the western and eastern Atlantic/Mediterranean , and establishing an annual total allowable catch (TAC) of 2,350 t, inclusive of dead discards, for each of 2018, 2019, and 2020, subject to annual review. CPCs are also subject to rules for carrying forward underharvest and reducing future quotas for overharvest. Other measures include minimum fish size requirements of 30 kg or 115 cm fork length, with limited tolerances, a prohibition on the directed fishery on the spawning stock in the Gulf of Mexico, and a ban on transshipment at sea. The plan also mandates steps towards MSE, development of management procedures, and extensive requirements for scientific research, data collection, and timely reporting of catches.
2017-01-01