Total Allowable Catch

At its Sixteenth annual meeting, the CCSBT agreed that the status of the southern bluefin tuna (SBT) stock was at a critical stage and that a meaningful reduction in the total allowable catch (TAC) was necessary in order to recover the stock and work toward reaching an interim rebuilding target reference point of 20% of the original spawning stock. Consequently, the CCSBT reduced the SBT global total allowable catch (TAC) for 2010 and 2011 to an average level over the two years of 80% of the previously allocated global TAC of 11,810 tonnes. Accordingly, the average global TAC for each of the 2010 and 2011 fishing seasons will be 9,449 tonnes. The allocation of the TAC amongst Members and Cooperating Non-Members for the 2010 and 2011 fishing seasons is specified below (in tonnes). To help ensure compliance with the TAC, the CCSBT also adopted a Resolution on Actions Plans to Ensure Compliance with Conservation and Management Measures (PDF 22Kb):-

Members (for the 2010 and 2011 fishing seasons)
The “Nominal Catch” listed below is the catch before any reductions are applied, the “Allocated Catch” is the reduced catch allocated for 2010 and 2011 and the “Effective Catch Limit” is the effective catch after additional agreed voluntary reductions have been applied.

Cooperating Non-Members (for 2010 and 2011)

In addition to the reduced TAC, CCSBT 16 decided that CCSBT would work toward implementing a management procedure (MP) in 2011 and that the MP would be the basis for TAC setting in 2012 and beyond. An emergency rule will be developed as part of the MP for exceptional circumstances such as recruitment levels lower than historically low levels. Finally, the CCSBT has agreed to set a TAC of 5,000t-6,000t for the 2012 fishing season in the event that an MP cannot be finalised by 2012, unless the Extended Commission decides otherwise based upon the new stock assessment.

More complete information on the total catch and its allocation is provided in paragraphs 45 to 61 and Attachment 13 of the CCSBT16 Report (PDF 815Kb).

Stock Assessment

A summary of the stock assessment and stock status results from the 2009 and 2010 meetings of the CCSBT’s Extended Scientific Committee (ESC) is as follows:-

• The 2009 ESC meeting reported the status of the SBT stock in 2009 based on the reconditioned CCSBT Operating Model (OM). The reference set OM and six plausible scenarios all indicated that the spawning stock biomass (SSB) remained at a very low level; typically about 5% or less of SSB₀.
• As reported in the 2009 ESC, recruitments during the last two decades were estimated to be well below the levels over 1950-1980. Recruitment in the 1990s fluctuated at a low level without any overall trend, but recruitments for 2000 to 2002 were poor. The two following year classes were somewhat stronger, though still below the average 1990s level. Recruitment since 2005 cannot be estimated precisely as yet. Although some data give positive signals, it remains probable that at least some of these year classes were as weak as in 1999-2002.
• The 2009 ESC recommended a reduction to the current TAC in order to rebuild the spawning stock and thereby also reduce the risk in the short term of further poor recruitments. Based on this recommendation, the Extended Commission reduced the effective catch limit by about 20% to 9449 t (average annual catch for 2010-11).
• Since the assessment in 2009, there have been several positive signals about the outlook for the stock. These include:
  • Reduction in the total reported global catch;
  • Confirmation of increases in longline CPUE since 2007 (as checked in the inter-sessional CPUE analyses); and
  • Increased scientific aerial survey and SAPUE indices (reflective of potentially improved recruitment of recent year classes).
• Increases in a number of CPUE indices in the most recent years, such as the New Zealand domestic fishery and Japanese longline fishery for age classes 4 and 5 suggest stronger year classes in recent years. Caution should nevertheless continue to be exercised in interpreting the longline CPUE data, where there is underlying uncertainty in the past data and regarding potential changes in fishing operation patterns since 2006, which remains to be resolved.
• The 2010 ESC advice on the estimated status of the stock based on indicators in 2009-10, remains unchanged from the advice provided by the ESC in 2009. The current SSB remains very low, however, the outlook for the stock may be more positive due to the factors described above.

A summary of the advice from the 2010 ESC meeting is that:-

• If the Management Procedure (MP) is implemented in 2011 with a 1-year lag, the ESC recommends that the current TAC of 9449t remain for 2012. If the MP is implemented in 2011 with no lag, the ESC recommends that the MP guide the TAC setting for 2012.
• Noting the Extended Commission’s intent to adopt an MP at its 2010 annual meeting, the ESC recommends that the Extended Commission take steps to ensure accurate future catch and effort reporting.

Management Procedure

An initial meeting was held to steer the Commission's course on a management strategy in May 2000 in Tokyo, Japan. The Commission agreed that a procedure should be developed as a set of rules, agreed in advance, to dictate how a Total Allowable Catch for the SBT fishery would be adjusted as data becomes available. The management procedure will have three components: (1) a list of data as inputs, (2) an algorithm or model to process the data and (3) rules to translate the algorithm output into a Total Allowable Catch.

From March 2002 to September 2005, the CCSBT developed an operating model for the SBT fishery, tested several candidate decision rules and finally selected a management procedure for the fishery. However, reviews of SBT data during 2006 suggested that southern bluefin tuna catches may have been substantially under-reported over the previous 10-20 years. The impact of unreported catches on the estimates of past total catch and CPUE meant that it was not possible to proceed with the chosen Management Procedure, and that the Management Procedure needed to be re-evaluated.

Work has recommenced on developing the management procedure and it is planned that the management procedure be implementation in 2011.

Catch Documentation Scheme

The CCSBT Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) came into effect on 1 January 2010 and replaced the Statistical Document Programme (Trade Information Scheme) which operated since 1 June 2000. The CDS provides for tracking and validation of legitimate SBT product flow from catch to the point of first sale on domestic or export markets. As part of the CDS, all transhipments, landings of domestic product, exports, imports and re-exports of SBT must be accompanied by the appropriate CCSBT CDS Document(s), which will include a Catch Monitoring Form and possibly a Re-Export/Export After Landing of Domestic Product Form. Similarly, transfers of SBT into and between farms must be documented on either a Farm Stocking Form or a Farm Transfer Form as appropriate. In addition, each whole SBT that is transhipped, landed as domestic product, exported, imported or re-exported must have a uniquely numbered tag attached to it and the tag numbers of all SBT (together with other details) will be recorded on a Catch Tagging Form. Copies of all documents issued and received will be provided to the CCSBT Secretariat on a quarterly basis for compiling to an electronic database, analysis, identification of discrepancies, reconciliation and reporting.

Full details of the CCSBT CDS are available from the Resolution on the implementation of a CCSBT Catch Documentation Scheme (PDF 426Kb).

Monitoring of SBT Transhipments at Sea

The CCSBT Transhipment monitoring program came into effect on 1 April 2009. The program applies to transhipments at sea from tuna longline fishing vessels with freezing capacity (referred to as “LSTLVs”). It requires, amongst other things, for carrier vessels that receive SBT transhipments at sea from LSTLVs to be authorised to receive such transhipments and for a CCSBT observer to be on board the carrier vessel during the transhipment. The CCSBT transhipment program is harmonised and operated in conjunction with those of ICCAT and IOTC to avoid duplication of the same measures. ICCAT or IOTC observers on a transhipment vessel that is authorised to receive SBT are deemed to be CCSBT observers provided that the CCSBT standards are met.

Full details of the CCSBT transhipment program are available from the Resolution on establishing a Program for Transhipment by Large-Scale Fishing Vessels  (PDF 28Kb).

List of Approved Vessels and Farms

The CCSBT has established records for:

• Authorised SBT vessels;
• Authorised SBT carrier vessels; and
• Authorised SBT farms.

Members and Cooperating Non-Members of the CCSBT will not allow the landing or trade etc. of SBT caught by fishing vessels and farms, or transhipped to carrier vessels that are not on these lists..

Vessel Monitoring System

The CCSBT Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) came into effect immediately after the Fifteenth Annual Meeting of the Commission, on 17 October 2008. It requires CCSBT Members and Cooperating Non-Members to adopt and implement satellite-linked VMS for vessels fishing for SBT that complies with the IOTC, WCPFC, CCAMLR, or ICCAT VMS requirements according to the respective convention area in which the SBT fishing is being conducted. For fishing outside of these areas, the IOTC VMS requirements must be followed.

Full details of the CCSBT VMS are available from the Resolution on establishing the CCSBT Vessel Monitoring System (15Kb).

Action Plan

In the past, significant and increasing volumes of SBT were being taken by flag of convenience vessels. This had been of major concern to the CCSBT where the stock needs to be carefully managed and where the actions of these vessels undermines the conservation measures already taken by Members. The Commission has sought the cooperation of these countries in supporting its management and conservation measures. They have also been advised that if cooperation is not forthcoming, the Commission will consider measures, including trade restrictive measures, to be taken against them in accordance with the Action Plan (PDF 7Kb)