Significant progress on tropical tuna management

The adoption of catch limits for skipjack and bigeye, following the previous establishment of management procedures for these stocks, marks a notable advancement towards an efficient, science-based management framework for tropical tunas. With all three major tropical tuna species now under catch limit regimes, the IOTC has laid the groundwork for long-term sustainability.

To complete this framework, IOTC must now take advantage of the good status of yellowfin tuna stock to develop an inclusive management plan and avoid unilateral actions that could compromise sustainable exploitation of tropical tunas in the Indian Ocean.

“This is a milestone for the region,” stated Anne-France Mattlet, Director of the Europêche Tuna Group. “We now have the tools to ensure the long-term sustainability of skipjack, bigeye, and yellowfin——now we need consistent, inclusive implementation across all fleets to make it happen.”

A measure on sharks was also finally adopted, which strengthens fighting against shark finning and improve shark management.

Voting procedure, a threat to the RFMO’s future

While the IOTC remains an essential forum for multilateral cooperation, the adoption of the skipjack measure through a voting procedure—rather than consensus—reflects a broader shift that could challenge the effectiveness of future IOTC measures. Although voting is foreseen in the IOTC rules, the increased use of this mechanism risks a rise in formal objections, weakening the cohesion and enforceability of conservation measures.

Control loopholes and uneven obligations

Of particular concern is the decision to exempt Indonesia from the requirement to deploy IOTC-certified independent observers on at-sea transhipments (IOTC Regional Observer Programme). Given the crucial role of observers in verifying compliance and collecting reliable data, such exemptions may create significant loopholes in monitoring and increase the risk of IUU fishing.

More generally, once again, discussions on high-seas boarding and inspection, shark finning bans, and improved monitoring of gillnet fisheries failed to advance, largely due to persistent opposition from a small group of countries. Despite the EU proposal, crew labour standards were regrettably also absent from the discussions.

Finally, despite clear and repeated signals from the Scientific Committee regarding the poor status of several minor tuna and billfish stocks, IOTC failed to reach agreement on even the most basic measures to address their depletion.

“The growing divide between fleets bound by strict oversight and those operating with minimal controls is extremely worrying,” warned Xavier Leduc, President of the Europêche Tuna Group. “We are witnessing the emergence of a two-speed IOTC: one where certain fleets are held to the highest standards of transparency and sustainability, and another where loopholes and leniency prevail. Sustainable management depends on uniform rules, applied consistently and backed by robust control mechanisms. Without this, we risk eroding the very principles on which the organisation was built.”

Press contacts:

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director: +33 6 78 11 63 01 anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 489 26 81 07 daniel.voces@europeche.org

EP Press Release – IOTC

With yellowfin and skipjack tuna currently in healthy condition and bigeye tuna showing signs of recovery under quota and catch allocation management, it is the time for the IOTC to take bold steps to protect the gains achieved —especially by aligning all fleets under the same rigorous standards.

European tuna vessels operate with the highest social and environmental safeguards worldwide, including 100% onboard observer coverage, full application of EU control regulations, prohibition of at-sea transhipments, and certification under both the MSC environmental standard and social standards AENOR (APR) and AFNOR.

“Crew welfare is non-negotiable,” said Anne-France Mattlet, Director of ETG. “Our fleet is audited against the International Labour Organization Convention 188, APR (Atún de Pesca Responsable) or AFNOR labels, ensuring decent work and safety at sea. These standards must become the baseline across all RFMOs, including IOTC. We urge all contracting parties to ratify ILO 188.”

The European fleet also play a key role in supporting local economies and food security in Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar—countries that rely on these vessels for over 90% of tuna raw material needed by local canneries.

To maintain a level playing field and ensure the efficiency of IOTC resolutions, effective implementation of robust control measures across all fleets is essential.

“Monitoring and transparency are the backbone of sustainable fisheries,” stated Xavier Leduc, President of ETG. “We need a regional VMS system, accurate vessel registration—including for fleets under 24 metres—and high seas inspections to close control gaps and ensure everyone plays by the same rules. All fleets—large-scale and artisanal—are accountable for their impacts on tuna stocks.”

Press contacts:

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director: +33 6 78 11 63 01 anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 489 26 81 07 daniel.voces@europeche.org

EP Press Release – Recommendations IOTC

Anne-France Mattlet, Director of Europêche Tuna Group, deeply regrets that “all measures proposed that were meant to improve transparency and better data for scientific analysis were either rejected or deeply weakened: this includes the Seychellean proposals to improve data collection and reporting, catch and effort, tropical tuna discard ban, the European Union’s High Sea Boarding and Inspection Scheme and observer coverage increase. We believe that monitoring, control and surveillance, as well as data transparency, are the key for good management and urge IOTC members and other stakeholders to work in that sense during the intersessional period until the next Commission meeting in April 2025.”

As discussions were focused as always on FAD measures, not much time was devoted to try to revert the overfishing and overexploitation of yellowfin tuna: the fisheries closure has been rejected and several states keep objecting to the recovery plan for yellowfin tuna, strictly observed by the European purse seine fleet, that also have 24/7 satellite monitoring (VMS), 100% observer coverage, and apply the whole EU control regulations.

On the contrary, IOTC was extremely diligent in multiplying FAD measures that will have absolutely no effect of the yellowfin tuna stock recovery, as the purse seine fishery represent barely more than 20% of the catches and while a quota, respected by the European fleet, is already in place. Cuts in FAD numbers per vessels were adopted, down to 225 by 2028, while the organisation was already the stricter one in the world with 300 FADs per vessel. Exemptions have been granted to Small Island Developing States and countries with a limited number of purse seiners, such as Korea, but not to other developing or less developed states. This creates a significant disparity, disadvantaging notably European fleets and disrupting the level playing field.

Additionally, IOTC continues to reduce the number of supply vessels allowed per flag state without any scientific justification. This policy discriminates against shipowners with only one or two purse seiners within the same flag state, as they may lose their supply vessels. Coupled with the prohibition on registering new supply vessels in the IOTC’s authorized vessel register, this measure also hinders developing states from expanding their fleets. Supply vessels are crucial for the purse seine fishery, as they help manage and recover deployed FADs and reduce fleet fuel consumption—a vital factor given the current surge in global fuel prices. Therefore, they play a key role in the fleet’s decarbonization strategy. These measures are threatening the economic viability of the EU purse seine fleet in the Indian Ocean, with little to no effect on the recovery of yellowfin tuna.

Xavier Leduc, president of Europêche Tuna Group, questions this approach: “Despite assurances from DG Mare’s Director General Vitcheva that the EU would commit to preserving a level playing field in the IOTC, the European delegation, under pressure from pole-and-line states[1], continues to accept non-science-based exemptions and reductions in FADs and supply vessels, which only exacerbate the inequality.” See Orthongel press release on Bloom and IPNLF’s influence in IOTC.

There is some hope for IOTC as a management measure for skipjack and a full FAD biodegradability calendar, both required by the Tuna Freezers for a long time, have been successfully adopted. Mattlet concludes: “It is excellent news, though not a surprise as they essentially affect countries having purse seiners, which are definitely in favour of better management and science. As long as the usual objectors and non-complying states are not affected, there is no problem for IOTC to adopt science-based innovative management measures”.

Press contacts:

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director: +33 6 78 11 63 01 anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 489 26 81 07 daniel.voces@europeche.org

EP Press Release – IOTC

Following last year’s adoption of a global catch limit for bigeye tuna, IOTC, driven by EU and Japan, adopted individual catch limits as well as catch reductions for the biggest harvesters. Anne-France Mattlet, director of Europêche Tuna Group, fully endorses this decision: “Adopting catch limits for bigeye is paramount to ensure the fishery’s sustainability. We only hope that small-scale operators, who have been given the possibility to harvest up to 2 000 tons annually in the next two years, will also play the game and not go beyond without asking to redistribute the TAC, as it was the case for yellowfin tuna”.

The European multi-specie proposal on tropical tuna, however, was rejected and no compromise could be found on yellowfin tuna, that would have brought objectors to the measure onboard. Mattlet stated: “We regret the total unwillingness of several States to adopt catch limits for yellowfin and skipjack at levels that allow their sustainable exploitation. The European Union’s multi-species proposal made it possible to achieve this while ensuring more favorable conditions for developing coastal states but was met with strong opposition earlier this week. How is it possible that most parties, including developing coastal states which would come out on top, have not even considered it?”.

Regarding Fishing Aggregated Devices (FADs), a working group was created at the initiative of Korea, to study the impacts and possible new management measures based on science.

An important step was also taken for data accuracy: the IOTC adopted guidelines for electronic monitoring systems (EMS). Fleets will now be allowed to complete human on-board observers with EMS, including for small-scale vessels. Xavier Leduc, president of Europêche Tuna Group, concluded: “At last, EMS guidelines are adopted, so all fleets will be able to increase their observer coverage. Right now, only the European purse seine fleet apply voluntarily 100% observer coverage. Other fleets, including industrial Asian longliners, barely reach the 5% compulsory coverage.”.

However, there is still a long way to go to increase viability and quality of the data. The Seychellean proposals to improve catch reporting and statistics, including on FADs, has been rejected by developing coastal states and Japan. The latter also pushed back the Maldivian proposal on sharks, which would have definitely banned shark finning in this important ocean. Europêche notes with great disappointment this new objection to a measure aiming at protecting sharks and remind that shark fining has been forbidden in EU since 2013. The European proposal on a mechanism for boarding and inspection was also rejected by China.

Press contacts:

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48 daniel.voces@europeche.org

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director: anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

EP Press Release – ETG IOTC 27th

As the meeting was hybrid, in case of a secret ballot, only participants present in the room would be allowed to vote. The proponents of the ban, conveniently asked the vote to be secret, petition which could not be refused according to IOTC’s rules of procedure. Not surprisingly, Oman, that was attending the meeting remotely but was denied the right to vote, has already objected the measure.

Out of the eleven proponents, none has developed a purse seine fishery, which is the only one targeted by the IOTC decision. The new measure approved not only brings an unfair burden on purse seiners’ flag states, including Seychelles, Mauritius, Oman, Tanzania, Korea, France and Spain, but it also lacks the necessary technical knowledge on the fishery it is supposed to manage. It makes several points of the measure impossible to apply. It is not a question of opposition between developing coastal states and distant water fishing nations, as some present it. Small Island Developing States developed its own purse seine fishery and are benefiting from it. Crushing purse seine fisheries implies damaging Small Island Developing Countries’ economies and destroying thousands of employments generated by the purse seine catch and processing industries. Kenya, in particular states in its objection: “an important component of the development plans that our country has [is] in relation to tuna fishing. We consider that IOTC CPCs should work in a collaborative spirit, looking to adapt the measures by consensus, as a ratification of that cooperative spirit. Forcing a vote has never been on that cooperative spirit that Kenya is trying to promote at IOTC”.

Anne-France Mattlet, director of Europêche Tuna Group, regretted IOTC decision: “This proposal supposedly designed to help rebuilding the yellowfin tuna stock, is partial and biased. First, because it exclusively targets the tuna purse seine fleet which endured hefty effort reductions and can hardly be the sole responsible for this situation. Second, because the proponents refused to base their proposal on any scientific advice while the FAD purse seine fishery is well documented.” In parallel, several of the proponent countries, including Iran, India, Somalia, Indonesia, Madagascar and Pakistan[5], objected a plan for rebuilding the Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna stock in the IOTC area of competence.

Europêche tuna group fully endorses the concern voiced by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) at the end of the 6th Special Session for “the lack of a shared effort by all IOTC delegations in working together toward the realization of scientific advice. The general breakdown of communication and negotiation that was evident at the IOTC Special Session sets an unwelcome precedent for future meetings and, ultimately, the sustainable use of Indian Ocean tuna fisheries.” Anne-France Mattlet concluded: “For the IOTC not to fall into poor governance, adjusting its course quickly is paramount. We look forward that the IOTC takes advantage of its meeting in May to further work towards consensus on measures that address the impacts of all fisheries on IOTC stocks, including FAD measures that are acceptable to all, especially those countries having purse seine fisheries. Otherwise, IOTC governance will remain highly compromised and credible.”

[1] https://iotc.org/documents/objection-comoros-iotc-resolution-2302

[2] https://iotc.org/documents/objection-oman-iotc-resolution-2302

[3] https://iotc.org/documents/objection-kenya-iotc-resolution-2302

[4] https://iotc.org/documents/objection-somalia-iotc-resolution-2302

[5] Pakistan informed the IOTC that he objected the resolution 21/01 but this is not referenced in the IOTC website.

Press contacts:

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48 daniel.voces@europeche.org

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director: anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

EP Press Release – Coastal states seriously concerned by IOTC’s vote for a FAD ban

During the Special Session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) that took place in Kenya from February 3^rd to 5^th, eleven states (including recurrent objectors to important management and conservation measures such as Somalia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Madagascar, India, Iran and Australia) had a clear target: end FAD fisheries and expel Europeans from those waters. As part of the measures imposed by secret vote, the majority of members of the IOTC (not using FADs) agreed to rapidly phase out drifting FADs which will destroy the purse seine fleets and undermine the economies of the developing states that depend on it. For instance, Seychelles and Mauritius’ canneries might not survive this decision, which is binding, since their supply depend on the landings from these vessels. The eleven proponents were driven by Indonesia, which objected the yellowfin tuna management plan and has increased its catches by more than 250% since 2014.

FADs are floating objects that have been employed for hundreds of years in both commercial and recreational tuna fisheries. FADs typically consist of rafts with buoys attached for its location that could be drifting in the ocean or anchored at the sea floor to improve efficiency, reduce costs and emissions. The whole of the EU long distance tuna fleet extensively use this method.

The Mauritian delegate in the meeting explained: “Mauritius is not a big fishing nation yet. It is a processing nation. For that Mauritius needs raw material. The purse seine fishery contributes 20 000 jobs and guarantees the access to the EU market, which brings good opportunities to Mauritius, to enhance its economy.” The representative from Comoros was also opposing the Indonesian proposal, and claimed its preference for the European one, which was improving traceability, transparency and biodegradability while protecting local economies: “Comoros supports the EU proposal because it has an industry that must function. Small countries are also waiting for supplies brought by these large boats”.

According to Europêche Tuna Group, while other fishing fleets catch more than half of the total tuna catches in the IOTC area, the whole burden is placed on purse seiner fleets. This is, 46 vessels which employ hundreds of sailors, including from Africa and create employment in processing plants, shipyards and port facilities in the Indian Ocean. The delegate from Seychelles also strongly opposed this measure: “Having a moratorium on one particular gear, without any scientific advice, is unfair and discriminatory”.

Europêche Tuna group stresses that the EU, Seychelles, Mauritius, Comoros and other contracting parties were not opposing the introduction of further FAD measures. These countries were only requesting specific scientific advice, to be delivered in the next scientific committee in December 2023, for the IOTC to take a science-based decision in 2024. No more, no less.

Anne-France Mattlet, Director of the Europêche Tuna Group, regretted this decision: “No science to base the decision on, no consideration for local economies, and above all, no possibility given to the EU and other opposed developing countries to discuss and find a compromise. The proponents only agreed to meet once for less than two hours in three days. Just a vote that imposed measures that will threaten the whole EU long-distance tuna fleet and the purse-seine dependent economies of the region. Can it be something else than a geopolitical issue? We are strongly asking the EU to challenge this decision, in line with the affected developing countries, to save the purse seine fleet and support its developing partner states. The contrary will hand over our tuna supply to non-EU fleets and foreign interests”.

Europêche Tuna Group is concerned about the influence exerted by the International Pole and Line Foundation, a UK-based charity that represents tuna fisheries and supply-chain, in this decision. The companies represented by this organization are close to acquire a monopoly on certified (MSC) tuna in the UK market. An attractive market for the EU purse seine fleet which is also certified. Its representative, John Burton, has recently be the object of a very accusative declaration from Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Tuna, an agreement of little Pacific Islands which controls most of the Western and Central Pacific tuna supply. UK, which is a contracting party to IOTC through the Chagos Islands, strongly expressed its support to the proposal from Indonesia during the meeting and asked for the strongest package possible, which goes against the interests of the EU fleet.

Press contacts:

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48 daniel.voces@europeche.org

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director: anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

EP Press Release – Purse seine fleets and associated SIDS economies swept up in geopolitical storm

Photo credit: Seychelles News Agency

The Seychellean Department of Blue Economy has been collaborating with the tuna industry for some time to promote the recycling of end-of-life fishing nets used by purse seiners operating in Seychelles. As part of the effort, OPAGAC has financed since 2019 an evaluation project in consultation with the local stakeholders to find feasible solutions. The BRIKOLE start-up is the joint achievement of this long run work.

Sustainability for Seychelles highlights that  “all parties involved want to limit the impact of fishing on the environment and so they want to address the issue of end-of-life fishing nets in Seychelles through sustainable business operations“. In a press statement, BRIKOLE insists that there will be a “first phase whereby the net repair yard would be cleared [of old nets and tools], followed by a second phase with the construction of a local recycling facility [where] the nets will be processed, maximizing the economic value from previously unwanted material“, creating new jobs in Seychelles.

Dr Julio Morón, managing director of OPAGAC, believes that “this is a groundbreaking project to which OPAGAC companies are proud to contribute by donating end-of-life fishing nets for effective recycling, generating added value in Seychelles. The project confirms the commitment of the tuna industry with sustainable practices and with local economic development”.

ORTHONGEL, representing French and Italian tuna purse seiners, has joined this initiative. Its president Xavier Leduc said that “this cooperation with an innovative startup involved in the circular and blue economy of Seychelles will not only prevent the waste of old fishing nets but also guarantee that they are recycled”. 

BRIKOLE can rely on the donation of end-of-life nets from a total of 29 vessels: 8 from Spain, 6 from Seychelles, 11 from France, 3 from Mauritius and 1 from Italy. That will help BRIKOLE to start operations soon and progress in the development of the recycling process. The project is still open to other purse seine operators.

The project is yet another encouraging example of the purse seine fleet improving the sustainability of its fishing operations, this time through the collaboration with local partners such as Sustainability for Seychelles and the drive of the Seychellean Blue Economy Department.

[1] The signature of the Memorandum of Understanding was witnessed by Mr. Nicol Elizabeth, the Seychelles Fishing Authority CEO, Mr. Philippe Micheaud, Counsellor for the Minister of Fishing and Blue Economy and Mr. Lyderich Chetty, representative of Seaward, a local shipping agency.

Press contact: 

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48 daniel.voces@europeche.org

EP Press Release – BRIKOLE Recycling

The European fishing industry represented by Europêche urges the EU not to co-sign a Panama’s proposal to include blue shark in Appendix II of CITES. This country is seeking support from the international community to adopt trade restrictions for this and other shark species at the 19^th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Panama City, 14-25 November 2022). Furthermore, according to the sector, the proposal lacks both the necessary scientific and legal basis. Blue sharks are sufficiently protected and regulated to ensure its sustainable exploitation and legal trade, rendering unnecessary additional CITES measures.

The fishing sector recognises the work of CITES to ensure that the international trade does not threaten the survival of marine species. However, the sector notes with concern that some countries like Panama consider the need to heavily restrict the commercialization of blue sharks, just because there is a “visual resemblance” with other shark species which are protected.

Daniel Voces, managing director of Europêche, declared: “Regardless of the fact that this approach completely disregards the good state, control and management of the stock, we are shocked to learn that a government is seriously considering restricting trade just because it looks like other sharks for the untrained eye. First, blue sharks, including their fins, have clearly distinguishable biological characteristics that can be verified by fisheries inspectors and DNA tests. Second, in the EU and many other parts of the world, the fins must remain attached to the body up until the place of landing. Once landed and then exported, governments issue a catch certificate that accompanies the fish up until it reaches the consumer.”

Europêche reminds that before taken a decision with an impact on commercial fish stocks, the EU is bound by the Common Fisheries Policy. This Regulation requires the EU to take decisions based on scientific advice, including a socio-economic impact assessment, and following consultation with the stakeholders. Regrettably, none of these steps have been taken so far.

Daniel Voces concluded: “The listing of blue shark in Appendix II of CITES, would bring about unnecessary red tape and adverse socio-economic effects to the fleet. The EU should instead put a stop to irrational and disproportionate proposals of dubious credibility. It should be reminded that the initiative comes from a country against which the European Commission has reissued for the second time a yellow card, warning that it is not doing enough to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.“

The EU sector has been working on a Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP BLUES) since 2019, covering 90% of the EU blue shark catches. This project is the first of its kind in the world that includes the blue shark and monitors the status of the stocks, currently meeting high sustainability levels.

Abstract about blue sharks’ biology (BSH)

The biological characteristics of the species are not at all comparable to those of other species of the family or genera/species specifically named in the Panama proposal. The available scientific literature identifies BSH as the most abundant, most widely distributed, most fertile and fastest growing species of elasmobranchs, this species being one of the most tolerant to exploitation compared to other shark species, including to other species of its own family. Its reproductive strategy with average litters of about 30 individuals (but with levels of up to 60 individuals or more per litter) explains the success and high abundance of this species in different oceans, with a very wide geographic distribution.

The fin of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) is easily distinguishable, even separated from the body, due to its characteristic metallic blue coloration, because it lacks spines at the base of the fin and presents a typical indentation (keel) in the peduncle.

CITES, as any other responsible fisheries decision-making body, should analyse each species on a case-by-case basis, and not families. RFMOs such as ICCAT or IOTC, are better suited in this case to closely monitor the state and progress of blue shark stocks and to regulate the species accordingly.

Press contacts:

Rosalie Tukker, Policy Advisor of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48  rosalie.tukker@europeche.org

EP Press Release – Blue Shark CITES

Regarding yellowfin tuna, despite all the efforts from European Union and Seychelles, most of the objecting parties – Oman, India, Indonesia, Iran, Madagascar and Somalia, whose catches represent 40% of the IOTC yellowfin catches – did not join the efforts of others and still refuse to apply the reductions imposed by the management plan of 2021. No consensus was achieved either on skipjack tuna: “The European Union and Maldives had both proposed to limit the catches of skipjack to comply with the Harvest Control Rule adopted in 2021. However, while the EU made a step forward, increasing catch limitations on the main harvesters but alleviating the burden on least developed countries, Maldives made a step backward, proposing even more drastic reductions solely addressed to the EU fleet to relieve all other countries of any effort, including the eight other main harvesters. Too many contracting parties (CPCs) where unwilling to accept any limitation”, regretted Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director.

Similarly, the European Union proposal on fishing aggregated devices (FADs) would have been the most ambitious ever adopted in IOTC, allowing a better scientific analysis of the data transmitted by the buoys but unfortunately, no consensus was reached.

Those two major topics might be debated again in future intersession meetings. Other major improvement proposed to the monitoring and control system were not so lucky. EU proposals to establish an inspection scheme in the high sea and to improve mandatory statistical reporting requirements were firmly rejected. Anne-France Mattlet is confident: “We are convinced that the European Union and Seychelles’ teams will keep on proposing improvements on monitoring, control and surveillance issues and find a way to get support from other CPCs to address these major issues”.

Europêche Tuna Group appeals to the responsibility of the objecting countries on the interim rebuilding plan for Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna, to lift their objections, and look for compromises at the IOTC negotiation table.

Press contacts: 

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48 daniel.voces@europeche.org

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director: anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

EP Press Release – 26th Session of IOTC

The report uses non-reliable data based on estimates and assumptions to unfairly accuse the EU tuna fleet of non-compliance with rules.

While negotiations on tuna stocks are going in high gear in the IOTC’s 26^th session, one country referred to the report « Fishing outside the lines », mainly accusing EU fleets of illegal fishing. Europêche tuna group rejects the findings of this report given the fact that there was no accusation, and even no suspicion of illegal fishing from EU, Seychelles or Mauritius authorities last week in the IOTC compliance committee.

As per EU, Seychelles and Mauritius fisheries control processes, catches declared in logbooks by fishers are collected, crosschecked, by national scientific institutes with VMS (vessel monitoring system), the official fisheries positioning control tool, transmitted to the flag states and verified by their control services, sent to the EU authorities and provided to IOTC’s Secretariat and Compliance Committee, to be finally published and discussed among country members. None of these authorities have accused of illegal fishing the EU, Seychelles or Mauritius, targeted by Blue Marine Foundation. Quite the contrary: many refer to the quality of purse seine data. Europêche challenges the findings of the report since it would mean that all those actors would have missed such big and obvious IUU fishing activities in no less than eight coastal states’ waters, none of them claiming any illegal activity from the three fleets either.

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director, declared: “Before spending so much time and effort on this fallacious report, what if Blue Marine Foundation had simply contacted IOTC’s Secretariat, EU, Seychelles or Mauritius authorities, contracting parties or even fishermen organisations before publishing it? Any rational and credible organisation should double check its sources or methods and consult the affected parties”. For the Europêche Tuna Group, it is clear that the report contains a number of statements which are demonstrably untrue and contrary to the fisheries reality. No fishing took place from EU vessels in any coastal state waters without agreement in place. In this context, the Europêche Tuna Group is currently studying the opportunity to mission a law firm to answer to Blue Marine Foundation’s defamation if they do not take back their accusations.

Europêche reminds that the purse seine fleet is responsible for one third of yellowfin catches in the Indian Ocean and has decreased its catches by more than 20% since 2014 while the whole IOTC catches have increased by more than 6% in this period. Mrs Mattlet commented “Let’s not forget that the EU, Seychelles and Mauritius are the only main harvester that have not objected the yellowfin tuna management plan and do respect its clauses. Despite these facts, they and their associated purse seine fleets are unfairly designated by Blue Marine Foundation as “the largest contributor to overfishing” in the Indian Ocean. It is shocking to read that out of the 32 pages, the report grants only 5 lines to the denunciation of entanglement of cetaceans and the catch of 4.1 million cetaceans y gillnet, without mentioning nonetheless that those are supposed to be illegal.”

Europêche Tuna Group also argues that purse seine fleets flagged under other coastal states heavily contribute to their economies and development in a sustainable manner. Besides, any coastal state is free of entering into direct fishing agreement if it wishes to and there is nothing “clandestine” about it, as implied by the report.

Press contacts: 

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48 daniel.voces@europeche.org

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director: anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

EP Press Release – ETG slams report accusing the EU fleet of illegal fishing in the Indian Ocean