Atlantic Fisheries Management – Good News for Swordfish

     Over the past two weeks, Sciaena participated in the annual meetings of two major Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) in the Atlantic Ocean. While decisions regarding swordfish and tuna were positive from a conservation and sustainable stock management perspective—particularly with the adoption of a multiannual management plan for swordfish—further north, discussions were marred by the difficulty of making binding decisions, jeopardizing the environmental health of ecosystems and species and the ability to ensure sustainable fisheries.

     From November 11 to 18, the 24th Special Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) was held in Limassol, Cyprus. Portugal, part of the European Union (EU) delegation, was one of over 70 countries gathered to discuss and decide on the management of ecologically and economically vital stocks such as swordfish and tuna.

     The meeting saw a landmark decision for ICCAT with particular relevance for Portugal. One of the most important stocks for the national fleet and North Atlantic ecosystems—swordfish—will be managed starting in 2025 through a multiannual management procedure. This approach, regarded as “fisheries management 2.0,” enhances predictability and precaution in setting catch limits while integrating conservation goals and climate change considerations. ICCAT is at the forefront of adopting such measures. Beginning next year, ICCAT will also take the first steps toward implementing management procedures for three tropical tuna species, which are equally critical for Portugal, particularly for the Madeira and Azores archipelagos.

     Regarding tropical tuna, particularly bigeye tuna, the meeting achieved another notable decision. After nearly five years of no concrete progress, ICCAT finally adopted a new three-year management measure allowing the involved countries to increase their catches. However, to secure this agreement, some measures that would ensure the sustainability of these fisheries—such as restrictions on fish aggregating devices (FADs) and longline vessel monitoring—were diluted, increasing the risk of overfishing in the near future.

     On combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, ICCAT adopted critical decisions on observer safety and welfare, electronic monitoring, and transshipments, reinforcing its role in effectively combating IUU fishing.

     Another notable development was the adoption of a work plan addressing climate change and ecosystem considerations. Beginning in 2025, these issues will be discussed in the Standing Working Group on Dialogue Between Scientists and Fisheries Managers (SWGSM), with the goal of advancing Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM). This approach aims to ensure ICCAT’s contributions to healthy, resilient Atlantic ecosystems.

     In parallel, the Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) held its annual meeting in London from November 12 to 15. NEAFC is responsible for managing stocks of small pelagics like mackerel and blue whiting, as well as various deep-sea species and ecosystems. The ongoing impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continued to hinder the commission’s work, underscoring the need to address the lack of transparency in bilateral agreements made during Coastal States negotiations, which are typically closed to observers. Moreover, ensuring observer access to the compliance committee (PECMAC) remains a pressing issue.

     Despite these challenges, consensus was reached on some Total Allowable Catches (TACs), such as for haddock. However, no agreement was reached for herring, blue whiting, or mackerel, with several coastal states strongly opposing the inability to properly enforce catch limits for these stocks. In the case of elasmobranch management, NEAFC unanimously decided to maintain protections for the porbeagle, for yet another year. However, this precautionary approach was not extended to the spurdog, with NEAFC setting catch limits at the upper bounds of scientific advice despite NGO warnings to adopt a precautionary TAC.

     A notable milestone of the NEAFC meeting was the first NGO-led side event in over a decade, organized by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) in partnership with Pew Charitable Trusts and supported by Sciaena. The event reflected on NEAFC’s progress in marine spatial protection and emphasized the path ahead. It featured a diverse panel discussing EBFM implementation and NEAFC’s role in multi-sectoral deep-sea protection, such as safeguarding seamounts as indicators of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) and preventing biodiversity loss through overfishing.

     Still in terms of habitat protection, NEAFC declared its intent to contribute to the 30×30 marine protected areas target under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by recommending that VME closed areas, under its remmit, be designated as OECMs.

     In conclusion, while ICCAT’s meeting yielded several positive outcomes in a transparent and constructive context with NGO participation, NEAFC’s 2023 meeting underscored the need for substantial reform. Despite progress in biodiversity protection, NEAFC’s commitment to transparency in decision-making remains far from ideal.