Conservation of Atlantic tunas: international measures become EU law

On 31 May 2017 the Council agreed with the European Parliament on how to incorporate into EU legislation measures adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

The agreed regulation laying down management, conservation and control measures applicable in the Convention Area of ICCAT not only covers all ICCAT recommendations since 2008, with the exception of the multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean which is subject to a separate transposition process, but also takes account of developments in EU legislation, for instance in the fields of controls and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Fisheries continues to be a high priority for the Maltese presidency. With this agreement we make sure that important decisions on highly migratory species in international fora are fully part of EU law.

Hon. Roderick Galdes, Maltese parliamentary secretary for agriculture, fisheries, and animal rights

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas is an inter-governmental fishery organisation responsible for the conservation of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjoining seas. The European Union has been a contracting party since 1997.

Next steps

The agreement still needs to be approved by the Council's Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper). After formal endorsement by the Council, the new legislation will be submitted to the European Parliament for a vote at first reading and to the Council for final adoption.

This should enable the new regulation to enter into force by the end of 2017.