Balfego calls for the ICCAT to take into account some special aspects of the companies that fish and fatten such species. (Photo: FIS)

Balfegó asks ICCAT to withdraw proposal to suppress the 'carry over'

SPAIN
Friday, November 16, 2018, 02:50 (GMT + 9)

Grup Balfegó took advantage of its participation at the 21st Extraordinary Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to ask its managers not to change the market rules every time there is a complaint about infringement. In addition, it warned that prohibiting carry over would violate the free trade principle, produce a negative impact on economic and social aspects, and penalize operators who respect the control measures established by the organization.

"Limiting or prohibiting the so-called carry over -- a practice that allows fresh bluefin tuna trade from fattening farms more than a year after its capture -- violates the free trade principle, restricts competition and only benefits the main buyer of this product to force us to empty our cages regardless of the market situation, and submit to the prices you want to offer," said Juan Serrano, general director of the group.

For the company, including this measure in the future Management Plan would not improve control over the species or end illegal fishing and/or trade of bluefin tuna. On the other hand, it would penalize operators who respect and scrupulously comply with the control measures established by ICCAT, without imposing any restraint on those willing to breach them.

Serrano began his speech at the 21st Extraordinary Meeting of ICCAT congratulating the organization on its effectiveness in the implementation of management and control measures, which have led to the recovery of eastern bluefin tuna four years before the intended target, and have converted this fishery into one of the most regulated and controlled in the world.

The head of Grup Balfegó later reminded ICCAT of the "alleged" breach of these measures by some operators, who have eluded the control that must be exercised by the governments of their respective countries. "It is useless to create regulations in this organization, if later, some countries do not make the same effort to enforce them," Serrano emphasized.

Therefore, Grup Balfegó believes that including in the future Management Plan the measure proposed by the European Commission to limit or prohibit carry over on farms is not the way to end illegal practices. In addition, "it contradicts the resource catch principle in a sustainable manner, not only environmentally, but also economically and socially, since tuna is caught with an exhaustive control of the inspection services of each member country of this organization," Serrano said Thursday to ICCAT members.

According to Grup Balfegó, the novel system of keeping a wild fishing resource alive in cages for breeding and fattening improves the quality of the product, generating a great added value, while allowing regular supply and demand in a sector as difficult as the primary one.

And from the group it has been argued that if what is sought is to avoid the alleged misuse of this commercial practice, a year ago they proposed the EC the creation of international commissions to verify the correct management of carry over, which would guarantee transparency.

On the other hand, Grup Balfegó believes that market rules should not be changed every time someone is reported for committing an infraction or irregularity.

"What is appropriate at that time is to punish those who committed the alleged illegality, in addition to expelling them from the fishery sector. If you have certain evidence, do it, but do not change the rules of the market, to harm the trade of those who scrupulously comply with the resolutions emanating from this organization. Bear in mind, that millions of investments are at stake as well as thousands of jobs, " suggested Serrano.

In short, Grup Balfegó, which advocates a coherent and sustainable management of eastern Atlantic tuna and the Mediterranean once the recovery of the species is certified, urges the withdrawal of the proposal to suppress the so-called carry over in the future Management Plan of ICCAT because "it would not improve commercial control over the species and would harm the legal operator and limit trade." It also calls for the organization to focus on establishing effective control measures and to eradicate any temptation to commercialize this species illegally.

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