Press Release: Commission closes EU bluefin tuna fishery for 2007

The Commission decided on 19 September 2007 to close the fishery for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean for 2007. On the basis of the catch returns received from the Member States to date, the EU 2007 quota for bluefin tuna of 16,779.5 tonnes has been exhausted. The Commission must therefore close the whole EU fishery. This closure concerns Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Spain as the other two Member States involved, Italy and France, closed their own fisheries in July and August respectively. The Commission has noted failings in the reporting of catch data necessary to monitor the uptake of the EU quota in real time. It shortly intends to take measures against such failings. The Commission will also come forward with measures in time for the 2008 fishery to prevent the problems experienced this year.