INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION for the CONSERVATION of ATLANTIC TUNAS R E P O R T for biennial period, 2006-07 PART II (2007) - Vol. 1 English version COM MADRID, SPAIN 2008 FOREWORD The Chairman of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas presents his compliments to the Contracting Parties of the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (signed in Rio de Janeiro, May 14, 1966), as well as to the Delegates and Advisers that represent said Contracting Parties, and has the honor to transmit to them the "Report for the Biennial Period, 2006-2007, Part II (2007)", which describes the activities of the Commission during the second half of said biennial period. This issue of the Biennial Report contains the Report of the 20th Regular Meeting of the Commission (Antalya, Turkey, November 9-18, 2007) and the reports of all the meetings of the Panels, Standing Committees and Sub- Committees, as well as some of the Working Groups. It also includes a summary of the activities of the Secretariat and a series of Annual Reports of the Contracting Parties of the Commission and Observers, relative to their activities in tuna and tuna-like fisheries in the Convention area. The Report for 2007 has been published in three volumes. Volume 1 includes the Secretariat’s Administrative and Financial Reports, the Proceedings of the Commission Meetings and the reports of all the associated meetings (with the exception of the Report of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics-SCRS). Volume 2 contains the Secretariat’s Report on Statistics and Coordination of Research and the Report of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) and its appendices. Volume 3 (starting with this volume, only published electronically) contains the Annual Reports of the Contracting Parties of the Commission and Observers. This Report has been prepared, approved and distributed in accordance with Article III, paragraph 9, and Article IV, paragraph 2-d, of the Convention, and Rule 15 of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission. The Report is available in the three official languages of the Commission: English, French and Spanish. WILLIAM T. HOGARTH Commission Chairman TABLE OF CONTENTS REPORT FOR BIENNIAL PERIOD, 2006-2007, PART II (2007), Vol. 1 SECRETARIAT REPORTS 2007 Administrative Report ............................................................................................................................. 1 2007 Financial Report ..................................................................................................................................... 19 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 20TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION 1. Opening of the meeting ............................................................................................................................ 36 2. Adoption of Agenda and arrangements ................................................................................................... 36 3. Introduction of Contracting Party Delegations ....................................................................................... 36 4. Introduction and admission of Observers ................................................................................................ 36 5. Consideration of the Abridged Compendium of ICCAT Conservation and Management Measures ... 37 6. Consideration of the Report of the 1st Meeting of the Working Group on Capacity and any action contained therein ................................................................................................................... 37 7. Strengthening of ICCAT .......................................................................................................................... 37 8. Summary Report of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) ................................ 37 9. Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Administration (STACFAD) ................................ 38 10. Reports of Panels 1 to 4 and consideration of any proposed recommendations therein......................... 39 11. Report of the Conservation and Management Measures Compliance Committee (COC) and consideration of any proposed recommendations therein ................................................... 39 12. Report of the Permanent Working Group for the Improvement of ICCAT Statistics and Conservation Measures (PWG) and consideration of any proposed recommendations therein ..... 41 13. Assistance to developing coastal States and capacity building activities .............................................. 41 14. Planning for the Working Group on Sport and Recreational Fisheries ................................................. 41 15. Other matters: Regional Observer Program ............................................................................................ 41 16. Date and place of the next meeting of the Commission .......................................................................... 42 17. Election of Chair and Vice-Chairs .......................................................................................................... 42 18. Adoption of the report and adjournment .................................................................................................. 42 ANNEX 1 AGENDA ................................................................................................................................. 43 ANNEX 2 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ................................................................................................... 44 ANNEX 3 OPENING ADDRESSES AND STATEMENTS TO THE PLENARY SESSIONS 3.1 Opening Addresses ................................................................................................................... 68 3.2 Opening Statements by Contracting Parties ............................................................................ 71 3.3 Opening Statements by Cooperating non-Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing Entities ...................................................................................................................... 75 3.4 Opening Statements by Observers from Intergovernmental Organizations ............................ 76 3.5 Opening Statements by Observers from Non-governmental Organizations ............................ 77 3.6 Closing Statements by Contracting Parties ............................................................................... 80 ANNEX 4 REPORTS OF INTER-SESSIONAL MEETINGS 4.1 Report of the Joint Meeting of Tuna RFMOs (Kobe, Japan – January 22-26, 2007) and Report of the Joint Tuna RFMO Working Group on Trade and Catch Documentation Schemes (Raleigh, North Carolina, USA - July 22 To 23, 2007) ............................................ 81 4.2 Report of the Inter-sessional Meeting of Panel 2 to Establish an Allocation Scheme for Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna (Tokyo, Japan – January 29-31, 2007 ..... 89 4.3 Report of the 1st Meeting of the Working Group on Capacity (Raleigh, North Carolina, USA – July 16-18, 2007) ........................................................................................................... 99 4.4 Report of the 4th Meeting of the Working Group on Integrated Monitoring Measures (Raleigh, North Carolina, USA – July 19-21, 2007) ............................................................... 125 i ANNEX 5 RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY ICCAT IN 2007 07-01 Recommendation by ICCAT on Mediterranean Swordfish ..................................................... 149 07-02 Recommendation by ICCAT on North Atlantic Albacore Catch Limits for the Period 2008-2009 .................................................................................................................................. 150 07-03 Recommendation by ICCAT on Southern Albacore Catch Limits for 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 ........................................................................................................................... 151 07-04 Recommendation by ICCAT in Regard to Compliance with the Multi-Annual Recovery Plan for Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean ........................................... 152 07-06 Supplemental Recommendation by ICCAT Concerning Sharks ............................................. 153 07-07 Recommendation by ICCAT on Reducing Incidental By-catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries ..................................................................................................................... 154 07-08 Recommendation by ICCAT Concerning Data Exchange Format and Protocol in Relation to the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for the Bluefin Tuna Fishery in the ICCAT Convention Area ..................................................................................................... 156 07-09 Recommendation by ICCAT Amending ICCAT’s List of Fishing Vessels Presumed to be Engaged in Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Activities in the ICCAT Convention Area and Other Areas................................................................................ 158 07-10 Recommendation by ICCAT on an ICCAT Bluefin Tuna Catch Documentation Program ...................................................................................................................................... 160 ANNEX 6 RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY ICCAT IN 2007 07-05 Resolution by ICCAT for Rebuilding of the Eastern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Stock ................ 170 ANNEX 7 OTHER DECISIONS ADOPTED BY ICCAT IN 2007 7.1 Possible Approach to a Performance Review of ICCAT ........................................................