Greek, Maltese, Spanish, French and Italian vessels have exhausted their quotas for bluefin tuna and the authorities from the member states concerned have called these fishing vessels back to port.
The European Commission is expected to announce, by the end of the week, the early closing of the 2013 fishing season for this species, normally set to run from 26 May to 24 June.
Greece announced, on 3 June, that its only tuna seiner had used up its fishing quota, along with vessels fitted with other types of gear. Consequently, Greek fishermen may not catch, land or sell any more bluefin tuna this season. The situation is identical for Maltese tuna seiners, which exhausted their quota on 8 June, and for the majority of Spanish, French and Italian seiners.
The Commission adds that it has worked with the member states from the start of the fishing season and applauds their decision to act rapidly and without any intervention on its part.
At this stage, it is checking the data before confirming, probably by the end of this week, the closing of this large scale fishing activity. It will also continue to monitor, together with member states, other bluefin tuna fishing activities (small-scale fishing and using traps).
This is a clear signal, notes the Commission, that the bluefin tuna recovery plan and the tighter controls adopted in 2012 by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the EU are effective and that no vessel will be allowed to remain at sea once quotas are exhausted.