November 28, 2017 — The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas concluded its annual conference in Morocco last week, and while the decision to raise bluefin tuna catch limits drew the most attention, the commission made decisions – or in one case, didn’t – on a few other important issues as well.
The commission’s decision to implement harvest control rules as part of its management plan for North Atlantic albacore tuna drew praise from environmental groups. Under terms of the agreement, ICCAT will implement “severe management actions” to reduce the mortality rate if the spawning stock biomass falls below certain triggers. Those actions include closing the fishery until it can create a rebuilding program to ensure the albacore’s sustainability.