IATTC Leaves Tropical Tuna Unmanaged Starting Jan. 1
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The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) has failed to reach a consensus on the management of tropical tunas by one vote – with Colombia opposing the resolution – leaving tuna fisheries without any rules starting on 1 January.
The tropical tuna fishery – which includes bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack tuna stocks – includes billions of dollars of catch. With the failure to reach a consensus – the first time in the IATTC’s history – the fishery is left without any form of management, including quotas, gear types, and more. While individual countries can choose to implement regulations matching the proposed IATTC resolution, region-wide rules will end.
Immediately after the failure of the IATTC to continue its current management into 2021, multiple non-governmental organizations – such at The Pew Charitable Trusts and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) – sharply criticized the lack of action.
“For the first time in its 70-year history, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission has completely withdrawn from management of tropical tunas,” The Pew Charitable Trusts Director of International Fisheries Amanda Nickson said in a release.
The lack of management stems from the IATTC failing to enact resolution 17-02 for tropical tuna species.
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