THE ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA – EASTERN STOCK – STATUS UPDATE

Dr. Simeon Deguara FEAP Tuna Commission 16th March 2011 PECH Committee Meeting

The 2010 East-BFT Stock Assessment • As a result of the many management measures introduced by ICCAT, there has been a noticeable positive change in the status of the East Atlantic BFT stock as compared to the negative situation portrayed by the previous Stock Assessment and leading up to the CITES meeting in Doha. • The result of this improvement in the stock is clearly apparent in the tone of the SCRS report and recommendations. • Previous reports from the SCRS have rang the alarm bells and pushed heavily for, amongst other things, a reduction in fishing capacity, a time-area closure (including partial or full closure during the spawning season) and a heavy reduction in TAC levels.

The 2010 East-BFT Stock Assessment • Many positive outcomes were observed from both fisheries-dependent and fisheries-independent indicators. • The overall message from the 2010 Stock Assessment was that the stock is improving and that with the current measures in place, and even at the level of the 13,500 MT TAC applied in 2010, the stock will continue to improve. • Nonetheless, in order to further strengthen the status of the stock, CPCs in Paris 2010 chose to further reduce the TAC for 2011 as well as to add further management measures. • Additionally, the Compliance Committee was given more powers in determining whether or not a CPC could prevail itself of its fishing opportunities.

2010 Stock Assessment Results •

Based on more up to date data, the SCRS found a significantly different Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) than had been found with the previous 2008 assessment and the pre-CITES analysis. •

2008/2009 Analysis

SCRS 2008 Report

The pre-CITES analysis carried out by the SCRS did not consider the changes in the stock resulting from the implementation of ICCAT Recommendations 06-05, 0805, 09-06 since only data up to the 2006 fishing season was used because data for 2007 was unavailable. SSB was calculated to be below 100,000 MT.

2010 Stock Assessment Results •

The Stock Assessment carried out in 2010 used data up to 2009, and therefore did not incorporate the effects of the measures taken for the 2010 fishing season (including the drastic drop in TAC).

2010 Analysis

2008/2009 Analysis

SCRS 2008/2010 Reports

• The SCRS analysis indicated that recent (2007-2009) Standing Stock Biomass (SSB) is about 57% of the highest SSB levels (1957-1959) nearly double that determined in the previous Stock Assessment and in the lead up to CITES).

2010 Stock Assessment Results

SCRS 2010 Report

• Indicators from Spanish and Moroccon traps targeting large fish (spawners) in the East Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea displayed a recent increase after a general decline since the mid-1970s.

2010 Stock Assessment Results • The indicator from Japanese LLs targeting large fish in the E Atl and the Med Sea displayed a recent increase after a general decline since the mid-1970s, and the indicator from LLs targeting medium to large fish in the NE Atl also showed an increasing trend in recent years.

SCRS 2010 Report

2010 Stock Assessment Results • Analyses of the size and age composition of catches show important changes in selectivity patterns over the last three years for several fleets. This partly results from the enforcement of minimum size regulations and subsequently a steep increase in the annual mean-weight in the catches since 2007 SCRS 2010 Report

2010 Stock Assessment Results • Aerial survey results conducted in 2009 indicated a higher abundance/concentration of small BFT in the NW Med than found in surveys conducted between 2000-2003.

SCRS /2009/142

2010 Stock Assessment Results • Although the budget was limited and operations were hampered by bad weather conditions and by partial restricted access, the aerial survey carried out as part of the ICCAT GBYP observed a minimum estimated weight of SSB of approximately 18,000 MT.

Di Natale, GBYP, 2010

2010 Stock Assessment Results • Croatia reported in their Official Report that preliminary results from the 2010 BFT fishing season and small pelagic fishing indicated a higher abundance of both juvenile and adult BFT in the Adriatic Sea than in previous years. • In 2010 there were also many reports of BFT appearing in locations where fish had not previously been seen before or in significantly increased numbers, such as in Malta, Spain and Greece. • In 2009 and in 2010 many thousands of BFT were released from traps in Morocco, Portugal (2010) and Spain.

Courtesy FMAP, 2010

2010 Stock Assessment Results • The SCRS calculated from the vessel fishing capacities that the catches in 2009 (18,308 MT) were actually lower than the reported catches (19,701 MT). • The SCRS declared that even considering the uncertainties in the analyses, the outlook derived from the 2010 assessment had improved in comparison to previous assessments. • Thus, whilst acknowledging these limitations, in 2010 the SCRS report clearly stated that the SCRS believed that the ICCAT objectives could be achieved sustainably under the prevalent management regime and even with a TAC level of 13,500 MT. • The SCRS indicated that the long-term potential yield at F0.1 was about 50,000 MT.

2010 Stock Assessment Results •

Kobe II Strategy Matrix for E BFT. Probabilities of stock rebuilding at SSBF0.1 by years and TAC levels. The difference in grey colour underlines the catch (TAC) at which the 60% probability would not be anymore achieved.

SCRS 2010 Report

2010 Stock Assessment Results • In 2010 the SCRS report did not recommend the closure of the spawning areas of the BFT in the Med. • In previous years, the SCRS had given great importance to management strategies involving a time-area closure including partial or full closure during the spawning season; this was not the case in the report of the 2010 stock assessment. • It should also be kept in mind that, in reality, partial closure of the spawning season has already taken place, with a very greatly reduced fishing season, which in the case of purse seiners is only of one month and heavily subject to weather and environmental conditions, as experienced last year. • The GBYP will provide a more refined and comprehensive evaluation of spawning areas.

Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) Report: Review of Scientific Advice for 2011 • In their Review, the STECF also presented a Table showing Year and probability of BFT fishing mortality being less than F0.1 for a range of TACs (The shaded areas indicate the year and TAC where F is expected to be at or below the target of F0.1 with 50 % (light green) 90% probability (dark green).

STECF Report , EU 2010

ICCAT Recommendation 10-04 • ICCAT Recommendation 10-04 introduced additional measures to those provided for previously: • Observer (National) on towing vessels. • Requirement to implement measures and studies to further improve accuracy of estimation of catch (numbers and tonnage). • Further reduction in fishing capacity to be commensurate with fishing opportunity. • Requirement for each CPC to present fishing, inspection and capacity reduction plans at COC meeting in Barcelona for endorsement. • At COC meeting in Barcelona did not endorse the plans of a number of CPCs, instead agreeing to send Letter for Further Information, at the risk of that CPC losing its fishing rights for 2011.

ICCAT Recommendation 10-04 • Rec 10-04 reduced quota to 12,900 MT. • Of which EU has 1,510 MT payback. • Resulting quota available 11,500 MT • Other CPCs risk losing quotas: Albania, China, Egypt, Iceland, Libya, Syria (ca. 1200 MT).

COC-006/i2011

The ICCAT GBYP Programme • The objectives of the GBYP research programme is to improve the knowledge and information available on the BFT. • This is to be achieved by the use of coordinated and improved aerial surveys, biological sampling and tagging. • All the information should be available for use in the forthcoming Stock Assessments, starting with that due to take place in 2012. • This programme requires a large amount of funding. The farming industry is already participating and will continue to participate in the discussions and the activities of GBYP. The industry is not only providing direct funding but also funding in-kind.

Contribution of Industry to the Knowledge of BFT • BFT Farms have already contributed to the discussions and knowledge of BFT through: • Provision and access to BFT biometric data from the cages. • Growth experiments in cages and product yield data for the determination of appropriate conversion factors. • Studies into the reproduction in captivity of BFT in cages and during towing. • Samples from BFT held in cages for genetic studies and age determination.

Contribution of Industry to the Knowledge of BFT • BFT farms have been participating in the EU funded BFT reproduction projects Selfdott and Reprodott. • It has been shown that spawning can take place even during towing. Reprodott Final Report, 2010

Contribution of Industry to the Knowledge of BFT •

•

•

Farm trials have proven the growth potential of the BFT after capture in the cages as a result of: An increase in the condition of the fish and Structural somatic growth. SCRS 2009 Report/SCRS/2009/192

Contribution of Industry to the Knowledge of BFT • Research on farms has shown that, as a result of intensive feeding, with high quality (and high omega-3) bait fish, the fat content is significantly increased. • The research has proven that the Condition Factor and weight of BFT increases significantly after caging. SCRS/2010/108

Contribution of Industry to the Knowledge of BFT • Farm-based data has been instrumental in providing updated conversion values applicable to farmed fillet and loin products (to RWT).

SCRS/2009/132

Final Comments • The industry is committed to continue improving the knowledge of BFT by contributing to the GBYP programme and other research activities. • The industry continues to support the activities of ICCAT, based on scientific advice, with the ultimate objective of making sustainable use of this fishery resource.

Thank You