Support for pole-and-line fishing in the Azores

Subject: Support for pole-and-line fishing in the Azores

Intensive tuna fishing methods have had an adverse impact on ecosystems and stocks. In recent years in particular, the relocation of purse-seine tuna fishing vessels has been affecting the abundance of tuna in the waters off the Azores.

The European Commission has received requests from various quarters to take action within the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to secure tighter restrictions on the use of FADs (fish aggregating devices) and limits on the operation of purse-seine vessels in the tuna fishing sector to prevent overfishing.

What is the Commission’s assessment of current tuna management and what measures can be taken to discriminate in favour of more selective fishing techniques, such as pole-and-line fishing with live bait, used by the Azorean tuna fleet and by many other fleets internationally, reflecting a concern for sustainable fishing methods?

Answer given by Mr Vella on behalf of the European Commission

(21 May 2019)

Improving the management of tropical tuna in the Atlantic is very high on the EU agenda in the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

ICCAT members met in July 2018 at the request of the EU and identified a list of priorities, including the need to reduce the fishing mortality on juvenile tropical tuna through a more rational management of fish aggregating devices (FADs) and related fishing activities. Unfortunately, it proved impossible to agree on new measures during the ICCAT annual meeting.

The Commission continues to believe that better managing the use of FADs is needed to improve the management of tropical tunas in ICCAT, in addition to new provisions to manage the total allowable catch more efficiently, to limit capacity and to improve the control of tropical tuna fisheries.

While the Commission remains very mindful of the importance of preserving the interests of the most artisanal and selective EU fleets segments, the EU position in ICCAT is decided by Member States in the Council. It is therefore important that the Azorean tuna fleet engage with the Portuguese authorities early in the process of preparation of the EU position for the next ICCAT annual meeting in November 2019.