European Union Fisheries Commission Maria Damanaki on Wednesday reacted to a new Pew Environment Group report claiming that the amount of eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna traded globally last year exceeded the official quota by 141 percent, up from 31 percent in 2008.
“We are concerned about the figures mentioned in the Pew study,” said Damanaki in a brief statement. “Proper control and compliance are key to a successful policy.”
In response to Pew urging that an electronic catch documentation system be develop to more quickly and accurately identify illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Damanaki said the EU will table the recommendation at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas’ (ICCAT) annual meeting in Istanbul next month. The electronic system would replace paper-based catch documentation system in 2008 in place since 2008.
“This is one of the weaknesses of the present control system,” admitted Damanaki.
Titled “Mind the Gap,” the report was released on Monday.
