The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) has accepted a new management regime for bigeye and other species of tropical tunas. A South African delegation was there to introduce and promote the new conservation measure.
Bigeye tuna, overfished in the Atlantic Ocean for years, is an important catch of South Africa’s tuna fishing industry. There is massive potential to grow and provide jobs and economic opportunities. However, the management of bigeye and other tuna stocks is largely out of South Africa’s hands.
Tunas are migratory species, fished by numerous nations as they move through different regions of the world’s oceans.
In the Atlantic Ocean, tunas are managed by ICCAT. Until last month the management regime put in place by ICCAT was considered to be ineffective.
Bigeye tunas are known to be heavily overfished. Recent catch limits set by ICCAT for big eye tuna have been exceeded by more than 20%.
The adoption by ICCAT of an Interim Conservation and Management Measure for the Tropical Tunas represents a remarkable improvement to reduce the catch of juvenile bigeye and other tropical tunas. The goal is to establish sustainable tuna fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean.
SA’s role
At the closing session of last month’s ICCAT meeting, the South African delegation was robustly applauded. This for leading negotiations and lobbying for a new management regime aligned with the advice of ICCAT’s scientific body.
Heading the South African delegation is Saasa Pheeha, Director of Offshore and High Seas Fisheries Management, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF).
He said: “South Africa is a founding member of ICCAT. We are proud to have played an integral role in moving a much-needed agreement forward, while standing strong on ensuring equitable and responsible management of our common resources.”
New management measures
Among the new management measures adopted by ICCAT is a reduction in catch limit for big eye tuna from 78000 tons per year to 62500 tons in 2020, and a further cut to 61 500 in 2021.
Importantly, the number of fish aggregating devices (FADs) that may be deployed by fishing nations using purse seine nets to catch tropical tunas, has been reduced from 500 per vessel to 350 per vessel in 2020, and 300 per vessel in 2021.
FADs are used to attract and aggregate shoals of tuna and other deep-sea fish such as marlin.
Purse seine nets are then used to encircle and trap the fish.
Most FADs deployed by modern purse seine vessels consist of buoys attached to plastic floats that can be tracked by the vessels.
The use of FADs, known to result in the capture of high numbers of juvenile tunas, also entangle other marine species, most notably turtles and sharks.
Restricting the deployment of FADs will reduce the catch of juvenile tunas – a practice that has obvious and serious implications for the productivity of tuna stocks.
Two month closure
A significant measure included in the newly adopted Conservation and Management Measure for the Tropical Tunas is the complete closure of the Atlantic Ocean to FAD-associated tuna fishing by purse seine vessels for two months in 2020 and three months in 2021.
“By closing the FAD fishery, you’re giving the stock a greater chance of maturing and reproducing,” explains Qayiso Mketsu, Deputy Director of Pelagic and High Seas Fisheries Management within the DEFF and a key member of the South African delegation to ICCAT.
Increase in number of observers
The newly adopted ICCAT Conservation and Management Measure for the Tropical Tunas includes a significant increase in the number of scientific observers deployed on longline and purse seine fishing vessels in the Atlantic Ocean.
The observers gather data and note infringements of management measures and so increased observer coverage translates into improved compliance with fishing rules and regulations on the high seas.
The newly adopted Conservation and Management Measure for the Tropical Tunas will regulate catches of tropical tunas in the Atlantic Ocean for a period of two years.
During this period, the Measure is expected to be reviewed and refined. The ultimate goal is to substantially reduce overfishing of tunas in the Atlantic Ocean.
Dr Sven Kerwath, Chairman of the Large Pelagic Fishery’s Scientific Working Group of DEFF completed the delegation of South African government officials in attendance at ICCAT.
Industry comment
South African Tuna Association President, Clyde Bodenham and Chair Pheobius Mullins, together with the South African Tuna Longline Association Chair, Trevor Wilson, attended ICCAT.
They said it was inspiring to be part of the DEFF sector management team and at the forefront of driving change at an international level.
“This is a huge international achievement,” says Bodenham.
“The tuna fishing industry is immensely proud to have been part of the South African Delegation to ICCAT. Officials from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries put in a superhuman effort, often working through the night to gain consensus and support for this new management regime.”
