Conservation of southern bluefin tuna
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EU prohibits targeted fishing of southern bluefin tuna by EU vessels
Regulation (EU) 2023/675 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2023 laying down conservation and management measures for the conservation of southern bluefin tuna
Update
The Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna was adopted in 2020. This Regulation implements relevant resolutions of the Convention into EU law. It applies to EU fishing vessels that fish in the area of distribution of southern bluefin tuna under the Convention, and to EU Member States importing, exporting or re-exporting southern bluefin tuna.
Impacted Products
southern bluefin tuna
What is changing?
Management, conservation and control measures established under the Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna are now binding for fishing vessels under EU law.
Timeline
Date of entry into force: 13 April 2023.
What are the major implications for exporting countries?
Southern bluefin tuna imported into the EU must be accompanied by a catch certificate in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 and by an export or re-export form, as applicable.
CCSBT’s record of authorised fishing vessels is only open to Members and Cooperating Non-Members. Fishing vessels not on the record are not authorised to fish for, retain on board, tranship, or land southern bluefin tuna. The EU does not accept imports or domestic landings of southern bluefin tuna product from vessels that are not on these lists.
Background
Council Decision (EU) 2015/2437 established the EU as a Contracting Party to the Convention. The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) promotes the Convention’s aims to cooperate in the conservation and management of southern bluefin tuna.
EU fishing vessels do not target southern bluefin tuna, but the area of distribution of this species overlaps with other convention areas where the EU long-line fleet targets tropical tunas and other tuna-like species. In these areas, the EU has reported accidental by-catch of southern bluefin tuna in the past. EU fishing vessels are only authorised to have such by-catch when they are included in the CCSBT Record of Vessels authorised to fish for, or carry, southern bluefin tuna. Vessels not on that record are prohibited from retaining southern bluefin tuna on board, or transhipping or exporting it.
Resources
Council Decision (EU) 2015/2437 concerning the membership of the Union in the Extended Commission of the Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna
Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
Sources
Regulation (EU) 2023/675
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