ICCAT Update – November 2021
Atlantic Mako Sharks – 2 Year Landing Prohibition
The member nations, including the U.S., of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the international treaty fishery management organization for Atlantic highly migratory species, approved a two-year prohibition on landing mako sharks. The U.S. will soon implement the prohibition. Whether this will add further to the Atlantic shark depredation of angler-caught fish is yet known.
Bluefin Tuna
Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna – Increased Allocation
At the same recent ICCAT negotiations, an overall increase of 16% in the landing allocation (quota) for western Atlantic bluefin tuna was approved. The U.S. will be authorized to land an increase of between 4 to 5%.
TBF continues to advocate for an increase in the Bluefin tuna allocation to ALL Angling categories, including incidental Trophy-Size bluefin for the Gulf of Mexico. Currently, the allocation of the trophy-size fish is so small that between 5 to 6 bluefin fills the incidental quota, causing a prohibition on any further landing for the year.
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