The European Parliament gives the green light to increase bluefin tuna fishing

The European Parliament's plenary session gave the final green light to a management plan for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic and Mediterranean that would increase fishing capacity and bycatch limits above 2018 thresholds. Under the new rules, EU countries with bluefin quotas must establish an annual fishery plan that sets the number of vessels, with purse seiner capacity increasing to 20% compared to 2018 limits. Bycatch should not exceed 20% of the total catch on board at the end of each trip. The annual fisheries plan should also pay special attention to the artisanal and small-scale vessels that are allowed to fish for the species, and member states should make greater efforts to ensure a fair and transparent distribution of fishing opportunities between artisanal and industrial fleets. The longline pelagic longline fishing season for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic and Mediterranean lasts from 1 January to 31 May, while purse seine fishing is permitted from 26 May to 1 July. ...