25th Regular Meeting of the Commission for ICCAT Erika Perrier & Hubert Nicholas APC Annual Fisheries Conference & Awards Banquet January 24, 2018 www.apcfnc.ca
What is ICCAT? International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas 2 Responsible for fisheries management of tuna, swordfish, and other large pelagic fish within the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO), which: Under international law, countries are required to cooperate to manage high seas, straddling and highly migratory fish stocks. The main purpose of regional fisheries management organizations is to manage, conserve and protect these fish stocks within the mandate of their respective convention. ICCAT has 51 member countries http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/international/dip-rfmo-eng.htm www.apcfnc.ca
Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs 5
How does ICCAT fit into Canadian Fisheries Management? ALPAC (Domestic) Bi-lateral ALPAC meeting with Indigenous organizations Industry meetings 6 ICCAT Advisory Committee (Domestic) Led by DFO HQ First Nation organization, Industry Reps, and engos Include DFO Gulf, Maritimes, Quebec & Newfoundland ICCAT (International) SCRS (Standing Committee on Research and Statistics) It is the SCRS' task to ensure that the Commission has available at all times the most complete and current statistics concerning fishing activities in the Convention area as well as biological information on the stocks that are fished. The SCRS also coordinates various national research activities, develops plans for special international cooperative research programs, carries out stock assessments, and advises the Commission on the need for specific conservation and management measures. https://www.iccat.int/en/scrs.htm w
Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) Science committee that is responsible for providing science advice regarding several topics, including: Stock assessments Identifying spawning grounds and conservation measures Management Strategy Evaluation design Research activities 7 DFO Scientist are a part of SCRS Gary Melvin is Chair for Western BFT Nick Duprey is part of Northern Albacore MSE process
How does ICCAT fit into Canadian Fisheries Management? 8 DFO and each member country participates in SCRS process DFO Minister takes advice from SCRS, engos, industry and DFO managers to develop a position that Canada will have at ICCAT. Overall Canada receives 24% of the Western Bluefin Tuna TAC which is then divided among the various fleets based on historical catch levels between 1993 and 2002. First Nations problem is- no recognized history, no recognized catch = no First Nation fleet with own allocation. Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs
Fleet Shares in Atlantic Canada 9 Fleet Percentage of Inshore Quota Prince Edward Island 30.02% Newfoundland and Labrador 12.84% Gulf New Brunswick 7.82% Quebec 5.08% Gulf Nova Scotia 11.27% Southwest Nova Scotia 21.70% St. Margaret s Bay 11.27% Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC)
Tuna Licences 10 Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC)
25th Regular Meeting of the Commission 11 Marrakech, Morocco November 14-21st, 2017 Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs
Marrakech, Morocco 12
Plenary Panel 1 Tropical Tunas ICCAT Topics Yellowfin tuna, Bigeye tuna, Skipjack tuna Panel 2 Temperate tunas, North Northern Albacore tuna, Bluefin tuna North Panel 3 Temperate tunas, South Southern Albacore tuna, Bluefin tuna south Panel 4 Other Species Bonito, Swordfish, Billfish, and other species (sharks, sea turtles etc.) Permanent Working Group for the Improvement of ICCAT Statistics and Conservation Measures (PWG) Conservation and Management Measures Compliance Committee (COC) Standing Committee on Finance and Administration (STACFAD) 13
Consensus driven 51 countries ICCAT Process 14 Simultaneous translations in: English, French, Spanish, and Arabic Countries can submit proposals online during the ICCAT process Negotiations between Countries is where majority of key decisions are made prior to as well as during the commission Most is before or during the conference Key factor in decision-making processes throughout conference
ICCAT Process Head Delegates for each Country are able to speak at floor. 15 Delegation asks as support staff to head delegate on various issues. Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC)
ICCAT Process (cont d) 16 Observers pay $500 fee to be in meeting room; however, they are only able to speak if there is enough time. Can have side discussions with Delegations outside of main meeting
25 th Regular Meeting Key Topics Affecting Canada Convention Amendments 17 Western Bluefin tuna quota Decision Northern Swordfish quota decision Shortfin mako conservation measure
Key Outcomes Western Bluefin tuna decision = 2350t Increase of 350t TAC constant for 2018, 2019, 2020 Moving towards MSE approach Japan Clause TAC= 2453t 2700t, receives 100% of quota 18 Northern Swordfish TAC = 13,500t Decrease of 200t TAC constant for 2018-2020 Changed to 4 year cycle to avoid conflict with BFT TAC never reached Allocation stayed the same, with a conservation trigger if TAC reached
Key Outcomes (cont d) Shark Fins Naturally Attached proposal died on the floor for 14th year Canada signed on to support the proposal 19 Circle Hooks proposal for sea turtle conservation died on the floor Shortfin Mako received conservation measure Canada co-sponsored Highly watered down measure Decision was between having a measure or not having a measure by end of negotiations Allows us to revisit the measure in future ICCAT has few shark measure that are passed
Opportunities for First Nation Participation 20 First Nations are encouraged to provide your opinions, input and concerns into any of these processes to have your say on how this international species is managed. It is never too late to have your say and possibly influence the outcome when ICCAT countries meet to determine the TAC. Formal Processes: ICCAT Commissioner New application process launched in 2017 Tentatively decision to be announced in April 2018 Canadian Delegation Participate in Scotia Fundy Large Pelagic, ALPAC and ICCAT Advisory meetings Observer $500 fee and travel expenses Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs
What we learned? Important to have First Nation input on Canadian Position throughout the entire ICCAT process 21 Very few other Countries have Indigenous Representation; closest link would be artisanal fisheries Important to have a First Nation perspective to allow participating in Advisory Committees Key to having measures adopted is negotiations with other countries Canada s position informs decisions but can alter through bi-lateral negotiations
Overall 22 Process was a bit overwhelming with formality, long meetings, and new culture Educational and beneficial to learn about the process Need increased First Nation participation in ALPAC and ICCAT Need increased First Nation participation in other RFMOs, such as NAFO, NASCO, NAMMCO etc. Beneficial to develop relationships with DFO, industry, and engo contacts in large pelagic fisheries
Next Years Conference 23 Member Countries voted to host the next ICCAT meeting in Croatia, November 2018 Commissioner to be in place Not as many key decisions to be taking place affecting Canadian fisheries SCRS completing MSE for Bluefin Tuna (Western & Eastern) Hoping to have Convention Amendments completed
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Questions 25 Erika Perrier Fisheries Policy Analyst erika.perrier@apcfnc.ca Phone: (902) 435-8021 Cell/text: (902) 817-0907 www.apcfnc.ca