FAD Fisheries Management:The ICCAT Connection

1. FAD Fisheries Management:
The ICCAT Connection
Prepared by CRFM Secretariat for
CRFM CARIFICO Regional Workshop on FAD management
5 December 2014, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

2. INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC TUNAS
ESTABLISHMENT & CONVENTION AREA
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CONVENTION
ADOPTED IN 1966
 FORMALLY ENTERED
INTO FORCE IN 1969
 RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE CONSERVATION OF
TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE
FISH STOCKS IN THE
ATLANTIC OCEAN AND
ADJACENT SEAS
- Headquarters in Madrid, Spain

3. INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC TUNAS
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MANDATE / ROLE
ONLY FISHERIES ORGANIZATION
THAT CAN UNDERTAKE RANGE OF
WORK FOR STUDY & MANAGEMENT
OF ATLANTIC TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE
FISH SPECIES
 COMPILATION OF FISHERY
STATISTICS FROM ALL NATIONS
HARVESTING THESE SPECIES IN
CONVENTION AREA
 INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION
OF RESEARCH & FISH STOCK
ASSESSMENTS
 DEVELOPS SCIENTIFIC-BASED
MANAGEMENT ADVICE APPLICABLE
TO ENTIRE STOCK RANGE
 PROVIDES A MECHANISM FOR
CONTRACTING PARTIES TO AGREE
ON MANAGEMENT MEASURES
All Atlantic tuna and tuna-like
species, and shark species are
now monitored by ICCAT

4. CARICOM/ CRFM participation in ICCAT
I. CARICOM has been observer at ICCAT since 1991
II. Key role in strengthening CARICOM/ CRFM Member State
participation in ICCAT
III. 4 CARICOM States are now members of ICCAT,
2 CARICOM States hold Cooperating Party status
IV. Regional position paper on catch allocation criteria, which was
presented by T&T on behalf of region.
V. Provides support to countries on national positions and in
management negotiations on catch quotas, IUU fishing
allegations, etc.
VI. Assists ICCAT for key collaborative activities

5. ICCAT & FAD Fisheries Management
CONCERN ABOUT INCREASING USE OF FADS & THEIR
IMPACTS:
 HIGH JUVENILE CATCHES OF TROPICAL TUNAS BY
SURFACE FLEETS
 CHANGED COMPOSITION OF FREE SWIMMING SCHOOLS
OF TROPICAL TUNAS
 IMPACT ON SPECIES ECOLOGY
 HIGH BILLFISH CATCHES REPORTED BY ARTISANAL
FISHERIES THAT USE FADS
 BYCATCHES OF TURTLES, SHARKS, DEPENDING ON FAD
MATERIAL

6. ICCAT & FADS – MANAGMEENT MEASURES
1. 2009 - ARTISANAL FISHERIES TO CAP MARLIN CATCHES TO 2006
LEVELS, AND IMPROVE REPORTING OF DATA
2. 2014 - FOR PURSE SEINE AND BAITBOAT FLEETS (TROPICAL
TUNAS)
 MANDATORY REPORTING ON FAD FISHERY ACTIVITIES &
LOGBOOK
 FAD FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN
 ARE/TIME CLOSURE FOR EAST ATLANTIC
 OBSERVER PROGRAM
 NON-ENTANGLING FADS
2. 2014 - AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON FADS

7. ICCAT FAD Working Group Terms of Reference
a) Assess the use of FADs in Tropical Tuna fisheries, & evaluate ways
to improve use of FAD information in stock assessments
b) Given data gaps, review the information available pursuant to the
FAD related management measures
c) Assess the relative contribution of FADs to the overall fishing
mortality in ICCAT tropical tuna fisheries
d) Assessing the developments in FAD-related technology, e.g.
 Technological improvements fishing mortality.
 FAD and buoys marking & id  management tool.
 Reducing FADs ecological impact  improved design.
e) Identify management options, including the regulation of
deployment limits and characteristics of FADs, & take into account
EAF, precautionary approach, and catch efficiency impacts

8. ICCAT FAD Working Group – other provisions
1. 1st meeting of FAD Working Group  2015
2. Working Group should be composed by scientists, fisheries
managers, industry representatives & other interested
stakeholders.
3. Working Group to report and recommend appropriate measures
by 2016 ICCAT Commission Meeting.
4. Chairing arrangements shared by SCRS and Commission. The
chairs to coordinate & establish procedures to ensure a full an
open exchange among all participants.

9. PROCEDURE FOR BECOMING
A CONTRACTING PARTY TO ICCAT (1)
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 Any government that is a member of
the United Nations (UN)
 Any government that is a member
of a Specialized Agency of the UN
 Any inter-governmental economic
Integration organization constituted
by States with competence over the
matters governed by the ICCAT
Convention.
ELIGIBILITY
TO APPLY

10. PROCEDURE FOR BECOMING
A CONTRACTING PARTY TO ICCAT (2)
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APPLICATION
AN INSTRUMENT OF ADHERENCE
TO THE ICCAT CONVENTION MUST BE
DEPOSITED WITH THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL
OF FAO.
Membership becomes effective on the date
that the instrument is deposited.

11. ICCAT MEMBERSHIP - WHY
I. Can directly influence /modify ICCAT regulations
II. Can negotiate directly to obtain equitable catch quotas
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for finite resources
III. Active, regular contribution to ICCAT’s scientific activities
(data and research) enhances responsibility/compliance profile
IV. ICCAT provides financial assistance to developing states
to improve data and research
RESULT :- STABLE & SECURE FUTURE FOR THESE FISHERIES
• FISHERY DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
(EMPLOYMENT, TRADE & FOOD SECURITY)
• PROTECTION OF FISHERY-ASSOCIATED REVENUES
CONTRIBUTIONS TO TOURISM INDUSTRY (RESTAURANT
TRADE & SPORT FISHING REVENUES)

12. ICCAT PARTICIPATION – HOW
COMMISSION ACTIVITIES – MANAGEMENT LEVEL
HOW - DELEGATION COMPOSITION
• Senior Fisheries Administrator
• Legal Advisor
• Scientific Advisor
SCRS ACTIVITIES – SCIENTIFIC LEVEL
HOW - DELEGATION COMPOSITION
• Fish stock assessment scientist, who will also serve as
scientific advisor at Commission meeting
• Other fisheries scientists – fisheries biology, marine ecology,
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statistics

13. ICCAT PARTICIPATION STRATEGY ELEMENTS
Establish National Working Group/ Committee to oversee ICCAT participation
Conduct cost-benefit analysis
Develop large pelagic fisheries management plan (LPFMP)
LPFMP should identify fisheries development plans, list fishery participants and
vessels concerned, identify resources needed to meet ICCAT obligations (there are many),
propose licensing arrangements, licensing fees and other resource rent fees, marketing
arrangements, etc.
Fisheries development plans for specific species, especially regulated ones
Implement LPFMP, and maintain active participation & contribution to ICCAT
Catch quota negotiations are easier with a fisheries development & management
plan.
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Share best practices
Maintain active management cycle, and make use of ICCAT assistance
funds to developing states

14. Eye On ICCAT……
CRFM PWG,
CRFM REPORTS ON ICCAT MEETINGS,
CRFM NEWSLETTER