Gibraltar Tuna Fishing Group Reacts To Quota Increase And GSD Press Release
The Gibraltar Tuna Fishing Group (GTFG) has welcomed the increase in the tuna catch quota announced by the Government and argued that some of the GSD’s recent statements on the matter are “factually incorrect.”
A spokesperson said: “The Gibraltar Tuna Fishing Group (GTFG) would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government and in particular the Department of Environment for taking on board their feedback and increasing the quota accordingly.
“Recent evidence especially from the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) suggests that the population of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT) is firmly on its way to recovery. This had led to several large-scale increases in the total allowable catch ‘TAC’ of each member state under ICCAT. It is therefore only just that Gibraltar should also see an increase after 3 years of an unchanged quota of 15.5 tonnes.
“We would also like to take this opportunity to direct readers to an article published in Tuesday 6 August’s Gibraltar Chronicle by Samuel Marrache which sets out to dispel common myths with regards to tuna fishing in Gibraltar.
“In relation to the GSD’s press release issued on the 6 August, this Group would like to rebut some of the claims made in the press release.
“Firstly, we believe that the manner in which the GSD has paired supposedly illegal net fishing and local tuna fishermen is completely uncalled for. Tuna fishermen have fought long and hard to improve their image and should the GSD want to tackle the issue of supposed netting, they should do so separately to their unfounded claims about the tuna fishing fraternity.
“Secondly, the GSD says that there has now been “annual increases in the Tuna fishing quota within Gibraltar waters”. This is a factually incorrect claim by the GSD. The tuna quota remained at 15.5 tonnes in the 2017, 2018 and the start of the 2019 season. This means that it was only after the start of 3 seasons that the quota was increased mid-season and not “annually” as the GSD state.
“Thirdly they state that “it makes no sense whatsoever for the quota to be routinely increased”. Once again this is an incorrect statement. Scientific evidence (some of which can be found in the aforementioned Chronicle article) proves that the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna species is increasing in number and improving in status. Additionally, ICCAT have steadily increased their quota for several years now and plan to do so once again from 2019 to 2020. We therefore find it inexplicable as to why the GSD believe that Gibraltarian fishermen should be treated differently to the rest of the world’s fishermen.
“Fourthly, the Hon Trevor Hammond is quoted as saying that this increase “is at odds” with the policy of environmental protection. Once again scientific evidence, especially that from ICCAT, recommends that the most sustainable form of fishing tuna is by hand and with a limit of one fish per day per boat. That is exactly what is conducted in Gibraltar and what the Hon member should be fighting against are the commercial netting programmes which are capable of removing five times or more of our total quota in one day.
“The Group look forward to continuing to work with the Government to enact further changes which will improve fishermen’s lives as well as help protect and conserve the ABT species. We will be suggesting a range of improvements including less harmful ‘catch and release’ methods, as well as better facilities to safely process each catch.”
