Yesterday, Europêche held a constructive meeting with Mrs María Martin-Prat, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade, and her team covering Asia and trade policy coordination. The dialogue focused on securing fair market conditions for EU seafood producers in ongoing trade negotiations — particularly with Thailand and North Atlantic partners — and ensuring that fisheries’ competitiveness, sustainability and social standards are not undermined by trade liberalisation.

Javier Garat, President of Europêche, stated: “We strongly support open and rules-based trade, but not at the expense of the future of our fishers. The EU cannot continue to tighten sustainability obligations on its own fleets while granting duty-free access to products caught or processed under far lower environmental and social conditions. Stronger coordination between DG TRADE and DG MARE is essential to ensure that trade policy upholds the same sustainability and social standards that guide the EU’s fisheries policy and guarantees a true level playing field.”

EU- Thailand Free Trade Agreement between: Prevent unfair competition from low-standard tuna

Thailand is one of the world’s largest tuna processors, producing around 450,000 tonnes annually yet exporting only about 10,000 tonnes to the EU due to existing tariffs. Europêche warned that eliminating or relaxing these tariffs under a future FTA would seriously distort competition, as tuna processed in Thailand often originates from fleets with weak labour and environmental standards, raising risks of IUU fishing and forced labour, but also production costs. It is twice more costly to catch one ton of tuna on a European vessel than on South-East Asian ones.

Europêche calls for applying extremely strict rules of origin, applying only to wholly obtained tuna and excluding cumulative rules, imposing binding ratification of ILO Fundamental Conventions 87 as a precondition for tariff benefits. Equally important is applying enhanced traceability and origin labelling to ensure EU consumers know the true source of imported tuna: the flag of the vessel and catch area.

Trade and Cooperation Agreement with United Kingdom: Ensure post-Brexit mutual access and fairness in marine environmental policies

Europêche welcomed the extension of reciprocal fishing access until 2038 under the EU–UK agreement but expressed concern over new Marine Protected Area restrictions. First implemented in Scottish waters and now projected in Southern UK waters, the impact of these measures falls disproportionately on European vessels, which suffer nearly five times greater economic losses compared to UK vessels operating in the same areas. The organisation urged the Commission to ensure that MPA measures remain proportionate, non-discriminatory and compliant with the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), and to press the UK to reopen the sandeel fishery unjustifiably closed to EU vessels. DG TRADE showed interest in the concerns raised by Europêche and encouraged continued dialogue with DG MARE. The Directorate also expressed interest in receiving additional technical information to further inform its assessment of the issues.

Norway and Coastal States: Protect the EU market from catches originated from unilateral overfishing of shared stocks

Europêche denounced the unilateral quota increases by Norway, the Faroe Islands and Russia on key pelagic stocks, especially mackerel, herring and blue whiting, which have caused overfishing and a 70% drop in mackerel catches for next year. The organisation called on the Commission to trigger the EU’s new Regulation on unsustainable practices against these actions and to also tackle the import of Russian-caught cod transiting through Norway that arrive to our market tariff free.

Furthermore, Europêche believes that time has come to look into the possibility of amending the fisheries cooperation agreement with Norway in a way that ensures EU-fishers access to Norwegian waters even if quotas are not in place by the first of January. This approach should be considered within a broader context of EU-Norway trade and cooperation.

New EU-Morocco trade and fisheries agreement: Preserving a strategic partnership and sustainable fisheries

Europêche welcomes the new EU mandate to negotiate a fisheries agreement with Morocco, a strategic partner for sustainable, science-based fisheries management and food security. For Europêche it is fundamental that future fishing opportunities reflect the good performance and sustainability of stocks in recent years, particularly the pelagic fishery. The sector urges the Commission to base future arrangements on scientific evidence and mutual economic benefit.

United States: Ensure reciprocal market access

The 15% tariff on EU seafood has created a new trade barrier, causing significant economic harm to European companies, while US exporters continue to enjoy duty-free access for a wide range of seafood products. Europêche called on the Commission to secure equivalent tariff exemptions for key European exports such as bluefin tuna, scallops, and hake, ensuring a level playing field and fair competition across the Atlantic. DG TRADE acknowledged that the 15% tariff represents a negotiated compromise, yet expressed openness to hold a technical meeting.

Autonomous Tariff Quotas: Prevent unfair competition

While access to non-EU raw materials is essential where there is no or insufficient EU production, tariff derogations such as Autonomous Tariff Quotas (ATQs) must be strictly linked to sustainability criteria and excluded for tuna, in order to safeguard fair competition and the long-term competitiveness of EU fleets.

Due Diligence: Equal rules for EU and non-EU operators

Europêche expressed concern that reporting obligations for non-EU operators have been postponed indefinitely, while EU fleets and processors will face these requirements from 2027. This asymmetry would undermine the level playing field and distort competition. Europêche urged the Commission to ensure that due diligence rules apply simultaneously and equally to all companies placing seafood on the EU market, regardless of origin.

WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement

Europêche stresses that the next phase must allow essential fleet renewal, safeguard the EU’s sustainable funding model and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements, and enable vital support measures during crises such as COVID or Ukraine.

Press contacts:

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

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

EP Press Release – Meeting DG TRADE

A regulatory evolution that rewards EU fleet excellency

Applicable from 27 January 2026, the new rule requires freezer vessels to demonstrate a validated, continuous process capable of reaching –18 °C in the fish core. Crucially, brine temperature must be monitored electronically in real time, with records available to competent authorities. Only vessels whose capacity has been validated and documented at approval will be entered on an authorised list, a condition for placing tuna on the EU market. This should eliminate fraudulent practices of re-freeze at -18°C tuna that was first frozen at higher temperature and meant for other use, to sell it to consumers as “fresh” or “frozen”. Such practices can make tuna develop dangerous levels of histamine, which poses a serious health risk to consumers.

This new regulation finally aligns market-access conditions with the level of control and investment that characterises the EU fleet. It recognizes the long-term commitment of the EU fleet to measurable performance and verified safety. Long before this regulation, European operators had already equipped their vessels with advanced brine-freezing and monitoring systems, tested and documented under real conditions. The industry did the science and proved the technology to make EU-frozen tuna at –18 °C a global reference for safety and reliability. This is the standard others will now have to match to reach the EU market.

Consumer safety first

The new rule also addresses a public-health concern. When it comes to food safety, alignment of all products sold in the EU with EU standards is a necessity.

Anne-France Mattlet, director of Europêche Tuna Group, insists: “The two latest RASFF alerts in October concerning histamine contamination in tuna from Indonesia and Sri Lanka clearly highlight the need for such a level playing field. European consumers have the right to expect that any tuna sold in the EU is completely safe, regardless of its origin. The high sanitary standards applied by the EU fleet must therefore become the prerequisite for any fleet wishing to access the EU market.”

Press contacts:

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

EP Press Release – Tuna Frozen in Brine

A risk of destabilization of the European tuna market, enhanced by the recent increase of US tariff

With nearly 450 000 tons of canned tuna, Thailand is the world’s leading producer and exporter of canned and preserved tuna, accounting for over 22% of global production and more than 29% of global exports. Between 2020 and 2023, the EU imported nearly 40,000 tons of fishery products from Thailand annually—despite current tariffs of 24% on tuna loins and canned tuna. Even without tariff preferences, Thailand remains one of the top suppliers to the EU market. In addition, the additional duties recently imposed by the United States to Thailand increases even more the need for Thailand to access the EU market duty free as well as the risk for EU tuna producers to face an aggressive competition.

Granting duty-free access to Thai tuna products would severely impact the competitiveness of the EU tuna industry.

A European model threatened by unfair competition

In the ultra-competitive global tuna market, the European tuna purse seiner fleet is recognised as a model of sustainability and responsibility. The fleet respects strict quotas, is monitored 24/7 by VMS, systematically embarks scientific observers meaning 100% observer coverage and applies stringent control, monitoring and control regulation. Besides, the fleet’s environmental and social standards are also certified by MSC label, complying with the ILO C188 requirements verified by the flag state, as well as AENOR (APR) and AFNOR standards. Those rules and standards require a high level of investment and make it the most expensive tuna fleet to run in the world. EU vessels have to compete in international waters and markets with non-EU fleets that do not respect the same standards, or even engage in IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing.

The EU tuna sector supports over 25,000 direct jobs across the EU, particularly in regions highly dependent on fishing. These jobs and investments would be put at risk by tariff liberalisation to Thai tuna products. In addition, this would undermine the EU supply chains established with West and East African partners under the Economic Partnership Agreements, including Côte d’Ivoire, Seychelles, and Mauritius.

The threat of low-quality and standards tuna products entering EU supermarkets

Thailand, has worrying structural shortcomings:

• Its processing industry imports whole tuna massively from countries with opaque practices in terms of sustainability and sanitary compliance (including Taiwan, China, South Korea and Indonesia)
• Despite that Thailand has ratified International Labour Organisation’s Convention 188, it has failed to implement it and ratify other major international conventions on human rights and work at sea (ILO C87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise and ILO C98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining).
• The European Commission’s latest audit in 2023 highlighted persistent flaws in health and food safety from Thailand, revealing its inability to ensure standards that comply with European requirements.

The EU and its contradictions: a call for common sense

European fisheries are coming up against the EU’s paradoxes: while the European Union continues to impose increasingly restrictive regulations on its own companies, it simultaneously allows the import of products that do not meet these same standards.

Faced with this observation, Europêche calls on the European Union to exclude tuna products from the draft free trade agreement with Thailand and maintain a strict rules of origin. This will help preserve the European tuna sector and guarantee a level playing field for EU producers.  If that is not possible, as in other FTAs, it would be mandatory to apply strict rules of origin: only for wholly obtained fish, and with no cumulation.

Xavier Leduc, President of Europêche Tuna Group, explains: “Tuna loins and cans processed in Thailand from low-standard Asian fisheries pose a direct threat to sustainable European fleets, which face higher costs due to their rigorous control, social, and environmental standards. A Free Trade Agreement with Thailand allowing duty-free tuna products into the EU would only deepen the existing imbalance, further disadvantaging European fleets and undermining fair competition.”

Anne-France Mattlet, Director of Europêche Tuna Group, says: “Under current regulations, the EU cannot block low-standard tuna entering EU market—but it must not let it in duty-free.”

Press contact:

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director | phone: +33 678 11 63 01 | e-mail: anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

EP Press Release – Thailand FTA

On the picture: Launch of the International Alliance for the Recovery of FADs in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, signed by four major tuna associations

Following the Scientific Committee’s June 2025 recommendation, the 72-day fishing closure was reduced to 64 days, reflecting the healthy status of skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna stocks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). This first reduction since 2009 underscores the effectiveness of IATTC’s capacity and effort-based management system, which has successfully balanced conservation with the needs of responsible fisheries.

The purse seine fleet, which accounts for 97% of EPO catches, continues to lead in sustainability efforts. The tuna fleet continues to contribute funding to various programmes, including enhanced port sampling, a new tagging initiative in addition to the existing and 100% observer coverage under the Agreement for the Protection and Conservation of Dolphins (AIDCP), ensure robust data collection and stock assessments. These contributions, financed through a per-cubic-meter fee, demonstrate the fleet’s commitment to science-driven management.

Another new measure, proposed by French Polynesia and supported by the fleet, makes it easier for vessels to track their FADs across borders and prevent stranding risks on Pacific islands. A landmark achievement was the launch of the International Alliance for the Recovery of FADs in the EPO, signed by four major tuna associations: ATA (American Tunaboat Association, USA), AGAC (Association of Large Freezer Tuna Vessels, Spain, member of Europêche), ATUNEC (Association of Tuna Vessels of Ecuador) and FIPESCA (International Fisheries Foundation, Panama). This initiative, backed by the MSC-certified purse seine fleet, will finance FAD recovery and stranding prevention projects, reinforcing the sector’s leadership in mitigating environmental impacts.

Unfortunately, the EU’s attempt to increase observer coverage, —aimed in part at levelling the playing field with the Asian longline fleets, whose vessels continue to fall short of minimum coverage requirements—has once again met strong opposition, particularly from China and Japan. . These countries have also refused to implement the shark fins policy, as the European fleet has been doing for 13 years.

“This session reflects years of effort from our fishermen to maintain tuna populations in optimal conditions and being able to have a sustainable way of life over time,” says Julio Morón.  Managing Director of OPAGAC/AGAC and representative of EUROPECHE during these meetings. “Fishermen are the stewards of the sea and the ones who, with initiatives with the creation of this Fund, show leadership and solutions for sustainable purse seine fisheries.”

Press contacts:

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

EP Press Release – IATTC

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

At a time when the European Commission is developing its Future Clean Industrial Deal and Ocean Pact, the event provided key insights into how satellite data, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced maritime equipment are transforming the management of our oceans and the fisheries sector. It also demonstrated that European fisheries drive innovation and strengthen Europe’s technological leadership, positioning fisheries as a key pillar of this Oceans Pact.

Beyond the Fleet: employment, innovation and Europe’s competitive edge

Discussions highlighted that the EU’s distant water fleet accounts for 20% of the seafood landed by the EU fleet. Yet, its impact goes far beyond just the fleet—it drives industrial innovation, fosters technological advancement and supports employment across the EU and globally.

“Operating mainly in the distant waters, far from Europe, the EU long-distance fleet invests and relies on Blue Tech for efficiency, monitoring and sustainability. The companies present at this event embody the core values of the Ocean Pact“ said Anne-France Mattlet, Deputy Managing Director of Europêche. “The EU fleet is not only a provider of seafood but also a catalyst for innovation and technological progress. By supporting the EU fleet, we ensure that these companies, with their cutting-edge technology and high European standards, continue to lead ocean global governance, preventing lower-standard competitors from gaining ground.“

Insights from Blue Tech experts

The first panel, led by Europêche, featured key industry experts who provided real-world examples of how Blue Tech is shaping the future of sustainable high seas fisheries. Representatives from AZTI, CLS, EUSPA, and Satlink (also representing Marine Instruments and Zunibal) discussed how satellite data and AI enhance sustainability and competitiveness in the sector.

Fishing vessels rely on and are major users of the EU Space data, including Galileo and Copernicus, for navigation, security and monitoring; KSAT’s Sentinel-1 imagery to detect icebergs is an example of security tool. CLS’s CATSAT project transforms satellite data into AI-powered oceanographic maps, enabling precise tuna stock predictions and smarter, more sustainable fishing.

Echo sounder buoys from Satlink, Marine Instruments, and Zunibal act as floating data hubs, transmitting real-time GPS and biomass estimates. Data is also transmitted to regulators and scientists. The tuna research institute AZTI uses them to refine tuna stock assessments. The buoy also allows to reduce carbon footprint per ton landed while improving fleet efficiency. Contrary to misconceptions, technological advancements in Europe’s highly regulated fisheries help reduce bycatch, enhance selectivity, and promote crew well-being.

Another panel, led by SEA Europe, highlighted how distant-water fisheries drive industrial innovation. APINA’s air-freezing system ensures top-quality tuna while meeting stringent EU sanitary standards. Pontos AI optimizes vessel efficiency and lowers carbon footprints, while Thalos’ OceanBox boosts satellite connectivity for crews. Shipyards in the Basque Maritime Cluster build fishing vessels with EU design, equipment, steel work and engineering, using more than 50 suppliers, all Europeans.

A call to strengthen Europe’s leadership in fisheries innovation

The discussions reaffirmed that Europe’s high-tech, high-standard fleet is a pillar of industrial innovation, competitiveness and economic strength. Without it, the technological ecosystem that relies on the fleet and drives employment, innovation and competitiveness in the global Blue Economy would be at risk, weakening the EU’s global leadership in sustainable fisheries.

As Eliofotou was affirmative that “EU has the chance to be able to find its own way and shall be proud of its blue tech companies”, SEA Europe called for a dedicated Blue Alliance to finance these advancements, emphasizing that regulatory coherence is crucial. As Europêche stressed: “Financing must align with practical, competitive, and sustainable policies and regulations driven by collaboration between Commission’s different DGs—this should be the spirit of the European Oceans Pact.”

Press contact:

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

Anne-France Mattlet, Deputy Director of Europêche | +33 678 11 63 01 | anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

EP Press Release – Blue Tech

During the meeting, scientists also explained the process that led to two major evolutions in tuna RFMOs.

In September 2024, the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) informed that the TAC and catch limits adopted in 2019 for the bigeye tuna had achieved the recommended catch reductions z, noting that the 72-days FAD closure in the Atlantic was not efficient for bigeye tuna. The SCRS also noted that the yellowfin tuna stock, evaluated in 2014, was healthy, and recommended to maintain catches at around 125 000 metric tons. In the absence of a due allocation to ensure this catch level, the SCRS recommended a one-month full fishery (not only FAD) closure. Many countries, whose fleets operating under other gears than purse seine andwould have been affected by such a closure, opposed to follow this recommendation. Instead, the Commission adopted a 45-day closure on FADs for purse seiners only at its annual meeting in Cyprus (November 2024).[1]

In December 2024, the Scientific Committee of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) indicated that Indian Ocean Yellowfin tuna was no longer in the red, its status being changed to green with 88% probability. Indian Ocean Yellowfin Tuna is now evaluated not to be overfished, or subject to overfishing.

Anne-France Mattlet, director of Europêche Tuna Group Director, indicates: “The Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna stock’s healthy status is a very good news for the European tropical tuna fleet. The vessels have implemented hard catch reductions since 2016, without any compromise on their commitment to contribute to the IOTC science processes through the reporting of good quality data, including FAD echosounder buoys data which are key to better understand tuna stocks.” She adds that the whole Europêche Tuna Group “hopes that the IOTC will endorse the new results, adopting for this stock a management plan, rather than a recovery plan, at its 2025 Session”.

 Xavier Leduc, President of Europêche Tuna Group, underscores the value of such gatherings: “Through constructive dialogue and the transparent exchange of perspectives, scientists and representatives of the purse-seine industry have established a strong foundation of mutual understanding. These sector-science exchanges are a key step toward promoting the European responsible fishing model while, at the same time, calling for an equal regulatory treatment of all fleets.”

[1] See Europêche press release : ICCAT FAD Moratorium reduced in the Atlantic, tuna industry will now try to recover from economic impact

Press contacts:

Anne-France Mattlet, Europêche Tuna Group Director: +33 678116301 anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: 32 489268107 daniel.voces@europeche.org

EP Press Release – Industry-science meeting

ICCAT’s Standing Committee for Research and Statistic (SCRS) could not demonstrate the moratorium’s effectiveness in protecting the bigeye tuna stock and concluded that no moratorium is necessary to maintain the species’ stock health, as the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and its distribution have proven sufficient. However, in the absence of an allocation for yellowfin tuna, the SCRS recommended maintaining a minimum 30-day closure, despite the fact that the recent yellowfin stock assessment indicates that the species is not overfished nor subject to overfishing.

The FAD moratorium has had serious socio-economic consequences, particularly for African canneries, with many, especially in Ivory Coast and Cabo Verde, forced to shut down. This has resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs in Africa, most of which were held by women who supported their families. The moratorium also led to the disappearance of half of the European purse seine fleet operating in ICCAT’s regulated waters. Two of which, operating solely in the Atlantic with no alternatives, were unable to continue. These businesses, which faced unfair competition from Asian interests, were key suppliers of tuna to the European Union.

Anne-France Mattlet, Director of European Tuna Group, indicates: “It is unfortunate that it took such severe socio-economic impact to prompt a reduction in a moratorium whose effectiveness remains unproven. While this decision comes too late for two European shipowners, who have already been forced to cease operations, we hope it will provide some relief to the remaining European tropical tuna purse seine fleet. We also see the European Union’s stand for science-based but also socio-economically proportionate measures as a good sign for the upcoming mandate of Commissioner Costas Kadis.”

After long discussions until the last minute, bigeye tuna catch limits were also agreed among all CPCs.

The Commission has continued its commitment to establishing management objectives and strategies for the three main tropical tuna species, as well as implementing management measures and procedures for North Atlantic swordfish which will ensure the continued sustainable exploitation of the stocks. Additionally, initial operational management goals were set for southern Atlantic albacore.

Europêche welcomes the entry into force of ICCAT’s recommendations on whale sharks and mobulid rays, marking an important step forward in shark conservation. However, despite strong support from European fleets, Europêche expresses deep disappointment over the opposition from China and Japan to recommendations aimed at ensuring the implementation of fins naturally attached policy.

Xavier Leduc, President of Europêche Tuna Group, also highlights the lack of improvement of control and compliance: “To ensure EU fleets are not subject to unfair competition and sustainable fishing practices, it is essential that third countries operating in ICCAT’s waters implement basic control, monitoring, and compliance measures. This includes a comprehensive list of operational vessels, increased observer coverage, and the establishment of a high sea’s inspection and boarding scheme. While we understand that the opposition from some Asian countries prevents from adopting such ICCAT measures, it may be time for the European Union to take stronger action by refusing access to its market to products from fleets that do not adhere to these fundamental measures to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.”

Press contacts:

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

EP Press Release – ICCAT 24th Special Meeting

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