Legislative Observatory
European Parliament
Please fill in this field to find a procedure

Multi-annual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean

2007/0058(CNS)

PURPOSE: to implement, at Community level, the recovery plan for bluefin tuna adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) for the duration of this recovery plan.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 1559/2007 establishing a multi-annual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean and amending Regulation (EC) No 520/2007.

CONTENT: the Council unanimously adopted a Regulation establishing a multi-annual recovery plan for bluefin tuna (thunnus thynnus) for a period of 15 years. This Regulation lays down the general rules for the application by the Community of a multi-annual recovery plan for bluefin tuna recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of the Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). This Regulation shall apply to bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The objective of that recovery plan shall be to achieve a biomass corresponding to the maximum sustainable yield (Bmsy) with greater than 50 % probability.

The main measures introduced by the plan are as follows:

  • the establishment of controls based on an annual fishing plan to be submitted by each Member State concerned, identifying, inter alia, vessels over 24m fishing bluefin tuna and specifying their individual quotas. Member States whose national quota does not exceed 5% of the Community TAC may, alternatively, submit a specific method for achieving the same controls;
  • technical measures (seasonal restrictions on fishing by large-scale pelagic longline vessels over 24m, purse seine fishing and fishing by bait boats and pelagic trawlers);
  • a ban on the use of aircraft or helicopters for searching for bluefin tuna;
  • the minimum size or weight is 30kg or 115cm (with derogations possible up to 8 kg or 75 cm for bluefin tuna caught in the Atlantic Ocean by bait boats, trolling boats and pelagic trawlers, under certain conditions, and for bluefin tuna caught in the Adriatic Sea for farming purposes);
  • recreational fishing is limited to a catch of one individual bluefin tuna in each sea trip;
  • the marketing of bluefin tuna caught in recreational or sport fishing is prohibited except for charitable purposes;
  • the designation of ports for the landing of bluefin tuna;
  • a ban on transhipment, except for large-scale tuna longline fishing vessels;
  • registration of and the issuing of fishing permits or licences to fishing vessels, depending on their national flag, and for tuna traps.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 25/12/2007.

APPLICATION: from 01/01/2008.