How are bluefin tuna stocks managed?

In the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas (including the Mediterranean), the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) which is in charge of the conservation and sustainable exploitation of all tuna species and other pelagic commercial species living in the area (swordfish, marlin, sharks). Based on scientific evidence, this regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO) diagnoses the state of populations, produces recommendations so that signatory countries can negotiate binding agreements, define fishing quotas (the famous “TAC”, for “Total Allowable Catch”) and adopt measures to limit by-catch. For Atlantic bluefin tuna, ICCAT considers two distinct management entities, the ” Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean ” (which accounts for more than 90% of the total Atlantic bluefin tuna catch and population) and the ” Western Atlantic “.