Bluefin/Cites Article - Not good

[KP161]

I hope that everyone here is paying attention to how hard that group is pushing for CITES so if it does happen, and you cannot fish anymore, you will know who to blame. I wish they would just stick to billfish. I applaud RFA for fighting against this, they are the only ones smart enough to know how bad CITES will be for recreational fishermen.

And I love how in their little press release they are not mentioning the fact that the US did not co-sponsor, as they all were hoping for, and made it sound like they got exactly what they wanted.

Doesn't sound like too many people are interested in this thing. I'll go pure catch and release. Fine by me.

[little round]

I bet you won't even be able to go catch and release if it gets listed.

[KP161]

I bet you won't even be able to go catch and release if it gets listed.

I hear you. I'll be "shark fishing". Oops caught another tuna. Damn pesky tuna.

[twofinbluna]

A comment from Rich that is going out to ABTA, but wanted to post here for those who care (and hopefully KP is wrong and plenty of you do care!)...

A Clarification of the CITES and ICCAT Situation

There has been much confusion in the press reports due to the dueling press releases from the Department of Interior/U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the NOAA’s Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenko about the Monaco CITES 1 bluefin tuna listing which would ban on international trade.

The part of the US decision that was important at this point was that the U.S. did NOT cosponsor the Monaco listing proposal at this time. That would have irreversibly committed the US to support the listing. The US statements of "support" in the press releases are really not the key issue right now because that support is only rhetorical (a bone to PEW and other radical green groups) and can be withdrawn pending sufficient ICCAT action--as was made clear in the US NOAA and FWS statements.

Taking this position (non-co-sponsorship) was critical and very positive (a win for US industry) in that it preserves US options to put max pressure on ICCAT (where this issue and that pressure belongs) and then the US can decide what it really wants to do about CITES after ICCAT. If ICCAT does a very good job, the US can (and I think/hope likely) will withdraw its support for the CITES listing. If ICCAT fails, then we will have a serious time preventing the US and others from approving the listing and the ban on trade.

Further, the vote at CITES depends heavily on what the block of EU nations decide to do. They have separate votes at CITES but must vote as a block (they get 27 votes) per EU rules. They also bring with them many votes outside the EU around the world. So, if they can get something done at ICCAT that can pass the red face test -- at least within EU circles--then they have the political cover to vote NO at CITES as a block. The minimum most believe will give them and us a chance to avoid the CITES listing is that they reduce the total allowable catch to reflect the scientific advice: somewhere between 8,500 mt anf 15,000 mt.

A CITES listing proposal requires a 2/3rds majority to adopt--so, assuming ICCAT does its job--between EU and their coattail nations voting NO at CITES--and the Asian block (which you can bet will vote NO regardless of what ICCAT does) -- the chances of Monaco proposal passing --even if US supports it will be difficult.

ICCAT has massive, unprecedented pressure on it and the US position on CITES added to that significantly. The US position is not really any different at all than what the EU position is--ie. 'don't cosponsor Monaco proposal but we'll have to consider CITES seriously if ICCAT fails--so all eyes are on ICCAT to do its job--or else'. (Google EU fisheries minister Joe BORG for his statements after the EU similarly decided not to cosponsor a couple of weeks ago).

The chances of a successful CITES listing will also be reduced if the EC extends the Med spawning time/area closure. What is also key is for them to agree to punish (through ICCAT Compliance Committee process which the US Chairs) those nations that have been in violation.

We will continue to update you as more info comes along and certainly once the Brazil ICCAT meeting has concluded on on November 16.

Rich

[KP161]

I hope I'm wrong too.

Definitely a good thing that U.S. did not co-sponsor the Monaco listing and a nice victory. Like Rich said gives U.S. the ability to reverse their decision pending ICCAT reducing the Eastern quota.

U.S. playing hard ball with ICCAT. It's about time. All up to ICCAT in November now.

[CaptainAlex]

Sounds like more letters / emails should be sent to solidify US pressure at ICCAT in Nov ... or should we sit on our hands ...? (you know how big a peppergrinder you can make out of a 130?)
Standing By ...

[twofinbluna]

Sounds like more letters / emails should be sent to solidify US pressure at ICCAT in Nov ... or should we sit on our hands ...? (you know how big a peppergrinder you can make out of a 130?)
Standing By ...

The more letters and comments the better!

[ElMar2530]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/21/opinion/21sat4.html

Thoughts on this from the faithful??

[happytuna]

NOAA issued the following statement about the outcome of the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The ICCAT meeting concluded last night in Brazil. STATEMENT"As a member of ICCAT, the United States entered this meeting seeking the strongest possible agreement for the conservation of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna," said Dr. Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.

The ICCAT agreement on eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna is a marked improvement over the current rules, but it is insufficient to guarantee the long-term viability of either the fish or the fishery. While we are disappointed that the total allowable catch is not lower, we strongly support the commitment to set future catch levels in line with scientific advice, shorten the fishing season, reduce capacity, and close the fishery if the stocks continue to decline. We remain committed to pursuing every legitimate avenue to recover Atlantic bluefin tuna and ensure their long-term survival.

Dr. Rebecca Lent, director of the Office of International Affairs at NOAA's Fisheries Service and the head of the U.S. delegation at ICCAT said, "Negotiations were extremely challenging this year at ICCAT. The United States sought a package of measures for eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna that would halt overfishing and provide for rebuilding by 2023 with a high probability of success. The science indicates that a total quota level of 8,000 metric tons or lower would have achieved that. While I am pleased with the commitments for significantly lower quotas next year, I am disappointed that parties did not take immediate measures to significantly reduce the quota for the 2010 season."

Importantly though, under U.S. leadership in the Compliance Committee, ICCAT made unprecedented progress and held countries accountable for compliance infractions through formal identifications. These identifications can be the basis for future sanctions and are intended to, among other things, help reduce illegal fishing and improve submission of fishing data, which is crucial for scientific projections. In addition, ICCAT adopted a U.S-sponsored framework for presentation of future scientific advice that will facilitate the use of a precautionary management approach.




Background:This year, as in years past, U.S. negotiators sought a suite of management measures that would end overfishing and help rebuild stocks of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Over the past decade, countries that fished in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean did so at two to three times the sustainable level, causing a significant and rapid decline in the stock.

At its annual meeting, which ended late Sunday November 15, ICCAT adopted the following agreements:
ICCAT has agreed to a total allowable catch limit of 13,500 metric tons for eastern Atlantic Mediterranean bluefin tuna, down from the 2009 limit of 22,000 metric tons. Importantly, this measure also commits to a science-based catch level for 2011 to 2013 with a 60 percent probability of rebuilding the stock to healthy levels by 2023, lengthens the existing purse seine fishing closure for 30 days during the critical spawning period, freezes all joint fishing operations to enhance compliance, and commits to reducing fishing capacity.

ICCAT adopted a science-based rebuilding program for northern albacore tuna intended to rebuild the stock within 10 years and strong conservation and management measures for Bigeye tuna that reduces harvest levels in line with scientific advice.

ICCAT adopted a binding measure to prohibit retention of bigeye thresher sharks which are considered highly vulnerable by scientists.

ICCAT lowered the quota for North Atlantic swordfish to 13,700 metric tons to comply with scientific advice and extended the allocation arrangement that was previously in place. As part of this measure, the United States and Canada committed to develop a joint scientific program to examine ways to reduce sea-turtle bycatch in the swordfish fishery. Results will be presented at the 2010 ICCAT meeting.

ICCAT adopted a new process for providing scientific advice that will give managers clear information on the levels of risk and the timeframes involved in meeting fisheries management goals. This is a key step towards better incorporating precautionary and science-based management approaches. END

ABTA attended the New England Fishery Management Council yesterday to garner support against the CITES listing still threatening our fishery. Rich Ruais, Steve Weiner and Ralph Pratt spoke on behalf of ABTA and with Council member David Prebble 's support the council unanimously agreed to write to Dr. Jane Lubchenco (under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator) and request the agency to oppose the listing of Bluefin under CITIES in March.

There is a scheduled CITIES meeting December 2nd in DC, attached is the federal register notice, all should attend that can. The headway made made at ICCAT should not be muted by a CITIES listing. Ralph

Ralph Prattt, American Bluefin Tuna Association, Board of Directors

[eppefour]

Preliminary meeting on US position on bluefin at CITES

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The Peta people and other groups will be here pushing for ban on bluefin. Fishermen need to have a voice too.


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R9–IA–2009–N176] [96300–1671–0000
FY09R4]
Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES); Fifteenth Regular
Meeting; Provisional Agenda;
Announcement of Public Meeting
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The United States, as a Party
to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES), will attend the
fifteenth regular meeting of the
Conference of the Parties to CITES
(CoP15) in Doha, Qatar, March 13-25,
2010. Currently, the United States is
developing its negotiating positions on
proposed resolutions, decisions, and
amendments to the CITES Appendices
(species proposals), as well as other
agenda items that have been submitted
by other Party countries and the CITES
Secretariat for consideration at CoP15.
With this notice we announce the
provisional agenda for CoP15, solicit
your comments on the items on the
provisional agenda, and announce a
public meeting to discuss the items on
the provisional agenda.
DATES: The public meeting will be held
on December 2, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. In
developing the U.S. negotiating
positions on proposed resolutions,
decisions, and species proposals, and
other agenda items submitted by other
Party countries and the CITES
Secretariat for consideration at CoP15,
we will consider written information
and comments you submit if we receive
them by January 4, 2010.
ADDRESSES:
Public Meeting
The public meeting will be held in the
Sidney Yates Auditorium at the
Department of the Interior at 18th and
C Streets, NW, Washington, DC.