Algeria’s bluefin tuna fishing quota will be more than doubled within three years to reach 543 tons in 2017 against 243 tons currently, told APS Kamel Naghli Head of the Algerian delegation to the 19th Special Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which wrapped up on Monday in Genoa (Italy).
This increase was attributed to Algeria under the new annual bluefin tuna fishing quota in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean which will reach 23,000 tons in 2017 against 13,400 tones currently.
Indeed, Algeria quota, decided by ICCAT will increase gradually to reach 370 tons in 2015 and 460 tons in 2016 before reaching 543 tons in 2017, said Naghli from Genoa.
"It was very difficult to obtain this quota," says Naghli, noting that Algeria had a "favorable treatment" at this meeting.
The bluefin tuna fishing countries in the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic, meeting last week in Genoa, decided on Monday for the first time since the imposition in 2007 of stringent control measures of catch, to raise the quota fishing by 20% per year over three years.
Their recommendation also provides for regular scientific monitoring of stock over the coming years, with the intention to immediately maintain a quota below the level of the most conservative estimates.
This quota will be reviewed annually on the advice of ICCAT’s Scientific Committee, which consists of 48 members (47 countries plus the European Union).