E - Iccat
E - Iccat
E - Iccat
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ICCAT REPORT 2002-2003 (II)<br />
by ICCAT on Vessel Chartering [Ref. 02-21], but that the information would be submitted to the Secretariat after<br />
the meeting.<br />
The Delegate of Brazil stated that information relating to vessels chartered by Brazil was contained in the<br />
information included in the record of vessels greater than 24 meters that Brazil had submitted to the Secretariat.<br />
There was no discussion on the “List of Vessels Participating in a Directed Fishery for Northern Albacore”. *<br />
The appropriateness of the proviso concerning the possibility of changing the draft Compliance Tables only on<br />
the first day of the Commission meeting was noted. The Committee agreed that similar arrangements will be<br />
followed in the future: in 2004 the Secretariat will send the reques t for information in March, Contracting Parties<br />
and Cooperating non-Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing Entities will submit their data, at the latest, one<br />
month before the next annual meeting; then three weeks prior to the meeting the Secretariat will circulate the<br />
Compliance Tables to the Contracting Parties and the Cooperating non-Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing<br />
Entities. Again, the latest date for changes to the tables will be the first day of the annual meeting.<br />
Review of the Compliance Tables<br />
In reviewing the Compliance Tables, the Committee addressed a number of interpretative issues concerning<br />
applicable recommendations. A review was made on a species by species basis.<br />
North Atlantic albacore<br />
The Delegate of the United States noted the general decline in catches for this species and the excessive amount<br />
of carry-over by some Contracting Parties. He noted this issue should be addressed by the relevant Panel.<br />
South Atlantic albacore<br />
The Delegates of the United States, Japan, and Brazil expressed their concerns about the high level of catches in<br />
recent years and about the lack of procedures to stop the fishery in due time. The three Delegates agreed that<br />
some new measures should be developed to control this fishery.<br />
Mr. Kebe from the ICCAT Secretariat pointed out the difficulties involved in applying the Recommendation on<br />
this species. Most of the data on catches are declared when the catch limit concerned has already been exceeded.<br />
The Observer of Chinese Taipei noted that Chinese Taipei is respecting the Recommendation and declaring its<br />
catches every two months.<br />
The Chair decided to direct further discussion on this topic to the relevant Panel.<br />
Billfishes<br />
The Delegate of the United States asked for some clarification from the Secretariat about the lack of entries for<br />
this species, and addressed specific questions to other Contracting Parties about their catch declarations. Mr.<br />
Kebe explained that the figures in the tables were from two different sources: (i) from the declarations made by<br />
Contracting Parties, and (ii) from calculations made by the Secretariat based on the application of the<br />
Recommendations. It was noted that, at the request of several Delegates, further modifications to the tables<br />
would be made by the Secretariat.<br />
The Delegate of the United States reiterated his concerns about the figures shown in the tables and invited<br />
Contracting Parties with over-harvests to explain measures being taken to avoid this situation in the future. The<br />
Delegates of Brazil and Mexico explained their respective reasons for the over-harvests indicated on the table<br />
and the measures being taken to control billfish catches in the future. The Chair concluded that some measures<br />
had been taken to remedy the situation and that the relevant Panel should further discuss this topic.<br />
The Delegate of Japan recalled a question on interpretation posed by the Observer from CARICOM and the<br />
Delegate of Trinidad and Tobago in Panel 4, on whether or not the catches of billfishes made by small-scale<br />
longline vessels should be declared under the Recommendation by ICCAT to Amend the Plan to Rebuild Blue<br />
Marlin and While Marlin Populations [Ref. 02-13]. After some discussion, the Chair concluded and the<br />
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