This recommendation amends provisions of Rec. 17-06 that shall be extended through 2021. The amendments includes establishing the annual total allowable catch (TAC), inclusive of dead discards, of 2,350 t for 2021. The proposed amendments modify the timelines for management and scientific review. The Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) will now refine the Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) and continue testing candidate management procedures, with the Commission selecting one for adoption by 2021 if possible, and no later than 2022. The stock assessment for the western Atlantic bluefin tuna is moved from 2020 to 2021 to incorporate the most recent data, which will include an external expert review, and no assessment is required in 2022 unless the 2021 assessment cannot be performed. The reporting deadline for the SCRS on Contracting Parties and Cooperating non-Contracting Parties, Entities and Fishing Entities (CPCs)' efforts to enhance the collection of biological samples for research is changed from 2020 to 2021.
2020-01-01