20 November 2012: The European Commission (EC) has commended conservation measures and catch limits agreed at the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) for Eastern Bluefin tuna, Western Bluefin tuna and Blue and White Marlins. On sharks, the EC called for a process to better define ICCAT’s role in relation to sharks, with the aim of eventually enhancing shark protection.

The EC also reported that its proposal to limit catches of Shortfin Mako and Portbeagle had not been supported by the meeting, which convened in Agadir, Morocco, from 12-19 November 2012.

On other progress, ICCAT adopted a minimum standard for port inspection, and catch documentation schemes for tuna will be rolled out in the near future to enhance ICCAT’s capacity to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).

ICCAT’s objective is to maintain populations of tuna and tuna-like fishes of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean at sustainable levels. [EC press release] [ICCAT website]