Posted on julio, 17 2009

Bogotá, Colombia (July 16, 2009) – WWF, Conservation International (CI), Malpelo Foundation and MarViva Foundation applaud the decision by the Colombian government to endorse conservation measures for tropical tuna as resolved in June 2009 IATTC meeting, sending a message of renewed commitment to the sustainable management of commercial tuna stocks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.   
 
In the eightieth meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), fifteen of the sixteen member countries agreed to a series of conservation measures based on IATTC scientific studies to address progressive deterioration of tuna stocks.  Over the past month, Colombia debated adoption of these conservation measures for Colombia flag fisheries vessels and, yesterday announced the good news; a demonstration of environmental leadership by making the IATTC resolutions a unanimous agreement of all 16 member countries.

Specific fishing closure periods have been agreed for tuna fishing in the Eastern Pacific during 59 days in 2009, 62 days in 2010 and, if affirmed, 73 days in 2011.  These measures agreed to by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) aim to reduce fishing effort especially for bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) whose populations are currently below levels that would produce maximum sustainable yield and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) whose spawning stock is likely to decline under current fishing practices and levels.

Colombia had proposed a phased fishery closure which meant different closure dates in turn for individual vessels.  The downside of this approach is that it does not lead to  as much of a reduction in fishing effort as the agreed IATTC measure needed to generate the desired outcome of reduced mortality and fish population recovery.  A collaborative, regional fisheries management approach is essential for species like tuna that are highly migratory and are not exclusive to the jurisdictional waters of any single country. By endorsing these conservation measures, Colombia shows a good faith effort to contribute to management of shared resources.

It is an economic issue, given that in 2007 almost 70% of Colombian fish captures corresponded to tuna fisheries, with a higher percentage of yellowfin and a lower one of skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), two of the benefited species with the conservation measures.  Additionally, in 2007, Colombia exported over 61 million dollars worth of tuna –37% of total fish exports – to the United States, Ecuador, Panama and Japan, among other countries.  With the endorsement of the IATTC resolutions, Colombia demonstrates its environmental commitment, an essential element of current trade agreement negotiations with the European Union and the United States.

Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMO’s) like IATTC are an important mechanism to promote concerted fisheries management approaches, and this decision by Colombia contributes to a more effective IATTC, at a time when a recent WWF report entitled Progress Made by Tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), highlights the poor performance in the field of tuna stocks conservation and management by almost all member governments of the RFMO.

According to the four environmental organizations, Colombia’s decision represents a great step forward, but can only be effective if other fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) adopt the same approach.  Additionally, they invite all member nations to advance further conservation measures such as the regulation of FAD’s, regulation of other fishing practices and vessel sizes across to assure the long term sustainability of the resource across the Pacific.

ENDS

EDITORS’ NOTES

The IATTC, established by international convention in 1949, is responsible for the conservation and management of fisheries for tuna and tuna-like species in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The member countries of the IATTC are Colombia, France, Nicaragua, Spain, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, United States, Ecuador, Japan, Peru, Vanuatu, El Salvador, Mexico, Republic of Korea and Venezuela.

Multi-year conservation measures to be applied for three consecutive years (2009-2011) were approved by all 16 members of the Commission under Resolution C-09-01 ad referendum. Additionally, 15 countries (Republic of Korea, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, United States of America, France, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela and Vanuatu) endorsed the recommendation C-09 -02 granting full support to IATTC staff to assist them in monitoring the activities on board of fishing vessels; and invite Colombia to withdraw its objection to these measures and sign up.

Resolution C-09-01 calls for annual fishery closure periods for purse seine tuna fishing, Class 4-6 (more than 182 tons carrying capacity in the Eastern Pacific Ocean for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011 throughout 59, 62 and 73 days respectively, during one of two fishing periods that coincide with peaks in reproduction and populations of the two target species.

• 2009:    1 August to 28 September OR 21 November 2009 to 18 January 2010
• 2010:    29 July to 28 September  OR  18 November 2010 to 18 January 2011
• 2011:    18 July to 28 September  OR  7 November 2011 to 18 January 201

Additionally, fishing for bigeye, yellow fin and skipjack in the area to the west of the Galapagos Islands called Corralito will be closed for 30 days each year from 29 September to 29 October.

WWF’s assessment entitled Progress Made by Tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), discusses the following topics: tuna conservation and management; and illegal, unreported and unregulated tuna fishing.

The Maximum sustainable yield corresponds to the major extraction capacity without risking the sustainability of the resource.

Uncertainty remains regarding implementation of the 2009 measures given that Colombia has been the phased closure periods by individual boats since January of this year.

For further information
Carolina Hoyos, International Communications Manager, Conservation International, Mobile: +1 571 236 4223, Email: mchoyos@conservation.org

Karla Miliani, Media Consultant, WWF Colombia, Mobile + 57 312 367 91 51, Email: medios@wwf.org.co and karla.miliani@gmail.com

María Margarita Gaitán, Gerente de Comunicaciones MarViva Foundation, Colombia, Mobile + 57 300 200 92 29, Email: margarita.gaitan@marviva.net

Sandra Bessudo, Executive Director, Malpelo Foundation, Mobile + 57 315 358 39 19, Email: sbessudo@fundacionmalpelo.org