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5. REPORT OF THE SECOND MEETING OF THE AD HOC GFCM/ICCAT WORKING GROUP ON SUSTAINABLE BLUEFIN TUNA FARMING/FATTENING PRACTICES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

Izmir, Turkey, 15-17 December 2003

OPENING OF THE MEETING

1. The meeting was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Izmir. Mr Victor Restrepo, Working Group (WG) Chairman, opened the meeting and welcomed the participants (Appendix 1)[9]. The Chairman expressed the WG's appreciation to the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and to the Turkish Association of Bluefin Tuna Farmers (OYID) for hosting the meeting and for taking care of all the logistical arrangements, including a field tour to visit a bluefin tuna farm.

2. The Chairman explained that one of the main objectives of the second meeting was to finalize the snapshot of the current situation of bluefin tuna (BFT) farming in the Mediterranean as reflected by the "national reports" which had been started at the first meeting of the WG. The other major objective was to make good progress on the drafting of the guidelines in the WG mandate (Appendix 2).

ARRANGEMENTS

3. The Chairman proposed that the first day should be devoted largely to presentations, while the second and third days are devoted largely to drafting and discussions, in smaller groups if necessary. Appendix 3 provides a list of documents distributed at the meeting.

APPOINTMENT OF RAPPORTEURS

4. Mr Alessandro Lovatelli, Technical Secretary of General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean-Committee on Aquaculture (GFCM-CAQ), and the Chairman were asked to share responsibilities for drafting the report.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

5. The Agenda (Appendix 4) was adopted.

PRESENTATION OF "NATIONAL REPORTS"

6. The WG, at its first meeting held in Rome, asked that knowledgeable scientists complete survey forms developed by the WG in order to obtain a picture of the current BFT farming situation (capture fisheries, aquaculture, and marketing) in the Mediterranean. The Chairman explained that for the purpose of facilitating discussions, these surveys are referred to "national reports", but that WG participants should keep in mind that they did not represent official reports from any government agencies.

7. "National reports" were received from Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Malta, Spain and Turkey. Presentations for Croatia, Cyprus, Italy and Turkey were given during the meeting, in some cases as updates to the information that had already been presented following the first meeting in Rome. The WG agreed to give the authors until mid-January, 2004, to make any final updates or corrections to these reports (attached as Appendix 5).

8. The WG expressed its concern for the fact that, no reports were received from countries where either BFT farming, or catching of BFT destined for farming, is taking place (such as Libya or Tunisia). This situation makes it difficult for the WG to fulfil its mandate. The WG asked that the GFCM Secretary make new efforts to invite knowledgeable scientists from these countries to participate in the final meeting of the WG.

PRESENTATION OF SURVEY SUMMARY REPORTS

9. The WG had previously asked three individuals to prepare summaries of the "national reports" in order to facilitate their analysis (Appendix 6):

- Capture fisheries (Ms Andreina Fenech-Farrugia)

- Aquaculture (Mr Alessandro Lovatelli)

- Marketing (Mr Peter Miyake)

10. The WG recognized that the reports received focused largely on the aquaculture component, hence it was difficult to form a comprehensive picture of the flow of bluefin from the capture side, to the farms, to the markets. Mr Jordi Lleonart was asked to lead an effort to obtain an approximate picture of this flow (Appendix 6.4).

PRESENTATION ON THE EUROPEAN TUNA RESEARCH CENTRE (EUTREC) DESIGN STUDY

11. As it is known, some of the most important species to which the tuna fishery is addressed are the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern bluefin tunas. The catches of these species are mainly delivered to sashimi-sushi market and the Atlantic bluefin tuna is considered as the first-class species among them. Therefore, a powerful trend from capture fishery to catching and fattening integration has been developed during the last ten years in order to keep up with the tuna market demand.

12. But, as concerns the Atlantic bluefin tuna, since the catches of this species in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic are considered not to be sustainable, it is desirable that aquaculture activities are developed in the near future. A European Tuna Research Centre, as a land-based infrastructure, could be an opportunity for conducting academic and applied studies on Atlantic bluefin tuna, not only at European level. Such infrastructure could allow a larger range of experimental topics in a secured environment, with the aim to be able to control the whole life cycle of this species in captivity.

13. Of course, an infrastructure supporting European research in Atlantic bluefin tuna has to be previously defined in terms of European partnership, main scientific objectives, infrastructure design definition and costs, setting-up country and site, funding tools and scientific and administrative management. This is why it has been programmed to develop a first step, in the ambit of FP 2003, which allows for arguing the European added-value and demonstrating the need for a feasibility study, explaining the conceptual foundations of a EuTReC and including the design, costs and operational limitations of land-based prototypes.

14. Then, a second step will be developed in the ambit of FP 2005 concerning the Prototypes setting-up and corresponding investigations, EuTReC architectural and operational design. Finally, a third step, which will be developed in the ambit of future FPs will be the EuTReC setting-up.

PRESENTATIONS ON HOW FARMING INDUSTRY CAN HELP BFT RESEARCH

15. Tuna farms as an opportunity for basic & applied research on Thunnus thynnus. ICCAT recommends conducting research on stock identity and reproductive biology of the Atlantic bluefin tuna in order to better manage this resource. The tuna-farms could be a very good opportunity to carry out experiments aimed to solve many of the impasses concerning the problems evidenced during tagging campaigns. Moreover, a more in-depth knowledge of the bluefin tuna reproductive biology could be of great importance in order to develop a closed-cycle aquaculture farming technology. It is desirable, therefore, that all the Mediterranean tuna-farm owners collaborate with the researchers in order to acquire essential knowledge on various aspects of the bluefin tuna biology (behaviour, reproductive biology, growth rates, etc.). The expected cooperation represents the key for a new research strategy that will give advantages both to the scientific community and the tuna farm owners.

16. Environmental effects of a tuna farm. Environmental effects of the AKUA-DEM tuna fish farm located in the vicinity of Cesme (Izmir, Turkey) on the marine ecosystem have been monitored by the Fisheries Faculty of the Aegean University over a 1-year period. Seasonal sampling efforts were performed at three stations, one located under the netcages, and two control sites at a certain distance from the cages. In the study, water quality (temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, salinity, nitrite N, nitrate N, phosphate phosphorus, silica and chlorophyll a), sediment quality (% carbon), flammable substance (%), granulometric analysis) and biological components (phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos and fish fauna) were investigated. The research findings indicate no discernable negative effect of the tuna farms on the marine environment.

OUTCOME OF THE EIGHTEENTH REGULAR MEETING OF ICCAT ON BFT FARMING

17. The Chairman presented two Recommendations that were adopted by ICCAT at its last Commission meeting. Recommendation [03-19] (Appendix 7.1) is an amendment to the ICCAT Bluefin Tuna Statistical Document which requires as new information (a) the calendar year of capture, and (b) information about farming in case the BFT products are from farms. The WG noted that these changes would improve the tractability of BFT products; however, it was noted that it could be useful to amend the Statistical Document program in order to include the requirement that it be implemented for live fish that are traded for input into cages.

18. Recommendation [03-09] (Appendix 7.2) is intended to replace a 2002 Recommendation that specifies requirements for collecting data on inputs to and outputs from farming operations. The newer Recommendation contains several new features that the WG deemed to be useful, such as the establishment of a published record of BFT farms, and the specification of details on farming inputs to be reported at the regional level.

GUIDELINES ACCORDING TO THE WG MANDATE

19. The following discussion leaders/rapporteurs were nominated for different topics: Mr Luca Garibaldi (statistical issues), Ms Francesca Ottolenghi (environmental and biological issues), Ms Vlasta Franièeviæ (social and economic issues), and Mr Corrado Piccinetti, Mr L. Garibaldi and Mr A. Lovatelli (management issues). The WG was subdivided into smaller groups that developed ideas around the issues identified in the WG's mandate, including the listing of potential solutions or potential research. These issues were then discussed and altered during plenary sessions (Appendix 8 contains the results from this process). The WG considered that these should serve as the primary source for the ideas that will eventually become the WG's Guidelines.

FUTURE WORKPLAN FOR THE WORKING GROUP

20. In terms of process, the WG agreed that the final Guidelines should be drafted and adopted during the third meeting, and that the mandate of the WG would then be completed. Mr V. Restrepo and Mr A. Lovatelli were asked to use the material in Appendix 8 and reshape it into the form of guidelines that could be used by the WG as the working draft at its third meeting; this draft should be circulated to participants two weeks before the meeting.

21. There was discussion about holding a Symposium immediately after the final WG meeting, with open participation by scientists, industry (fishermen and farmers), and government officials. However, it was not clear to the WG how such a Symposium could or should affect the WG's work, or the conclusions that GFCM or ICCAT might reach about it. Therefore, it was decided to put this idea on hold until after the Commissions reacted to the final Guidelines. If a Symposium is deemed as being useful then, it could be arranged.

22. The government observers from Turkey made a statement to the WG indicating that government officials from the fishing, environment and aquaculture branches should be allowed to participate either in the final WG meeting or in a Symposium, and that funds should be made available to promote participation by officials from developing countries. The Chairman replied that due consideration would be given to their first request, but that it was unlikely that any funds would be available from either GFCM or ICCAT for such purposes.

23. In terms of dates and venue, the GFCM-SAC Chairman noted that, at its last Session, GFCM had decided that the third meeting should take place in Italy, sometime between March and May, 2004. Mr Isik Oray indicated that the Turkish Marine Research Foundation would hold its Second Workshop on bluefin tuna farming, management and conservation, on 1-3 April, 2004, and suggested that the WG avoid meeting in the same dates, if possible. The WG agreed that the third meeting would last for 3 days and asked that the GFCM Secretary arranges for the dates as soon as possible in consultation with the Italian Government and with ICCAT.

OTHER MATTERS

24. No other matters were discussed

PREPARATION OF THE REPORT

25. The report was prepared and adopted during the meeting. The Chairman noted that he would circulate the report to WG members who were unable to attend but that their comments, if any, would not alter this report, as these individuals could bring up their concerns during the final WG meeting.

ENDORSEMENT OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

26. Participants endorsed the Conclusions and Recommendations and the meeting was adjourned after the Chairman thanked participants for their constructive work and the Turkish hosts for their hospitality.

5A. SECOND MEETING OF THE AD HOC GFCM/ICCAT WORKING GROUP ON SUSTAINABLE BLUEFIN TUNA FARMING/FATTENING PRACTICES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

Izmir, Turkey, 15-17 December 2003

Agenda

1. Opening of the Meeting

2. Arrangements for the Meeting

3. Appointment of Rapporteurs

4. Adoption of the agenda

5. Presentation of "National Reports"

6. Presentation of Survey Summary Reports

7. Presentation on the European Tuna Research Centre (EuTReC) design study

8. Presentations on how farming industry can help BFT research

9. Outcome of the 18th Regular Meeting of ICCAT on BFT farming

10 Guidelines according to the Working Group mandate

11. Future workplan for the Working Group

12. Other matters

13. Preparation of the Report

14. Endorsement of conclusions and recommendations

5B. SECOND MEETING OF THE AD HOC GFCM/ICCAT WORKING GROUP ON SUSTAINABLE BLUEFIN TUNA FARMING/FATTENING PRACTICES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

Izmir, Turkey, 15-17 December 2003

List of participants

Nedim ANBAR

Turkish BFT Farmers' Association

Turkey

Vlasta FRANICEVIC (Ms)

Directorate of Fisheries

Croatia

Gregorio DE METRIO

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Italy

Susana JUNQUERA (Ms)

European Commission

Belgium

Iþýk ORAY

University of Istanbul

Turkey

Ziro SUZUKI

Fisheries Research Agency

Japan

Vjekoslav TICINA

Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries

Croatia

Michele DEFLORIO

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Italy

Makoto Peter MIYAKE

Japan Tuna

Japan

Francesca OTTOLENGHI (Ms)

Consorzio Mediterraneo

Italy

Saadet KARAKULAK (Ms)

Istanbul University

Turkey

Adriano MARIANI

Consorzio UNIMAR

Italy

Corrado PICCINETTI

Lab. of Marine Biology and Fisheries

Italy

George L. GEORGIOU

Department of Fisheries

Cyprus

Roberto UGOLINI

CIRSPE

Italy

Sergi TUDELA

World Wildlife Fund

Spain

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC TUNAS

Victor R. RESTREPO

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Luca GARIBALDI

GFCM SECRETARIAT

Alessandro LOVATELLI
Jordi LLEONART

OBSERVERS (from Turkey)

Hayri DENIZ
Hasan KILIÇ
Yusuf APAYDIN
Durali KOÇAK
Mustafa ULTANUR
Muharrem OZDESTAN
Atilla OZDEMIR
Huseyin KAPLAN
Haydar FERSOY
Vahdettin KURUM
Erkan GOZGOZOGLU

6. FINAL NATIONAL SURVEY FORM

AD HOC GFCM/ICCAT WORKING GROUP ON SUSTAINABLE BLUEFIN TUNA FARMING/FATTENING PRACTICES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

National Reports Survey Form on current Bluefin Tuna Farming Practices in the Mediterranean

Instruction for filling the survey form

The objective of this survey is to collect comprehensive and detailed data about the development of tuna farming practices in the Mediterranean, with special focus on the current situation. The survey is composed of three main sections: (1) Capture, (2) Farming and (3) Marketing. The persons working on the survey form should strive to complete the survey as much as possible, while respecting confidentiality requirements of individual companies. In some cases, it may be appropriate to provide several versions of a particular table so as not to aggregate too may pieces of information into a single entry.

Conversion values to estimate the whole weight of fish from various product types used in the ICCAT are listed for reference and use in case no specific values are available for some product types. If specific values are available at individual farms, those values have to be used. In such cases, specify the equation and also indicate the range of sizes used to derive the equation.

Even if confidentiality is required for data entered, an attempt should be made to fill all entries by using, for example, codes or aggregating data or simply noting "data is available, but confidential".

The National Survey Form is divided in three sections, (1) capture fisheries, (2) farming and (3) markets and trade. Countries should complete those sections when engaged in one or more of the activities described in the three sections. In fisheries capture section, however, point 1.4 describes the bluefin tuna transportation operation. If any given country is not engaged in capturing fish, but involved in transportation, please complete point 1.4.

Summary (maximum 2 pages) should be attached in the beginning of the National Survey describing general aspect of bluefin farming activities in the country including history, present status and future prospect, if any and possible.

Country:

_____________________________



Prepared by:

_____________________________



Affiliation:

_____________________________



Address:

_____________________________



Tel./Fax:

_____________________________



E-mail:

_____________________________

1. CAPTURE FISHERIES

A.1 Are vessels flying the flag of your country involved in the capture of bluefin destined for farming anywhere?

YES _______ NO _______

A.2 Are vessels flying the flag of other countries involved in the capture of bluefin destined for farming in your country?

YES _______ NO _______

B.1 Are vessels flying the flag of your country involved in the transport of bluefin destined for farming anywhere?

YES _______ NO _______

B.2 Are vessels flying the flag of other countries involved in the transport of bluefin destined for farming in your country?

YES _______ NO _______

If the answer to either A.1 or B.1 is YES, please complete the remainder of Section 1. If the answer is NO, please explain if there are currently any plans for vessels flying the flag of your country to get involved in the capture of bluefin tuna for farming in the Mediterranean.

1.1 Description of Bluefin Fishing Fleet (and of tug boats, if applicable)

Describe the fishing fleet, including:

- Number and type of vessels

- Home ports

- Fishing (towing) gears

- Search strategy (aerial search; cooperation between boats, etc.)

- Areas of operation

- Season of operation

- Duration of towing operations

- Other relevant fleet information

Note: Include a description of tuna traps if they are used for catching bluefin destined for farming.

1.2 Catch and Effort of your Flag Vessels

Provide as complete as possible the following statistics:

Year

BFT catch (tonnes)

Effort (Specify units used)

Size range (kg)

Mean size (kg)

% of catch destined for farming

Country of destination

Comments

1996








1997








1998








1999








2000








2001








2002








Etc.








1.3 Description of Method to Estimate Magnitude and Characteristics of the Catch

- Explain how the overall catch (tons) is estimated (e.g. logbooks, observers)

- Explain how catch is sampled (for size composition, etc.)

- What are the main sources of uncertainty in estimating catches and size composition?

1.4 Estimates of Mortality

- What percentage of the fish dies during the fishing operation?

- What percentage of the fish dies during transport to farming?

1.5 Commercialization

- To what countries does the catch destined for farming go?

- Other relevant information on how the catches are commercialized

1.6 Socio-Economic Aspects (include fishing, searching, towing, sampling)

Provide the information on the following, over time if appropriate:

- Number of people employed in fishing operations

- Describe flow of people employed from/to other activities

- Any available economic information (e.g. subsidies)

1.7 Interactions

Describe known interactions between fishing and:

- Other fishing activities

- Other

2. FARMING/FATTENING PRACTICES

A. Has there been any Mediterranean bluefin farming activity in your country since 1996?

YES _______ NO _______

If the answer is YES, complete Section 2. If the answer is NO, are there currently any plans/studies to establish farms in your country?

2.1 Description of the Farms

Here "farms" generally refers to operations of similar characteristics, usually by a given company in a given area. The description should be as detailed as possible while respecting confidentiality requirements, if any.

- Number, size and location

- Farm site characteristics (be as explicit as possible: e.g. water depth, shore distance, proximity to other fish farms, proximity to urban areas, proximity to marine reserves, typical characteristics of the water during fattening season)

- Typical input season

- Capacity (specify if capacity is mandated by government or set by farm operators)

- Farming equipment (marine cages, size, net depth, boats, etc.)

- Source of seed fish (local fishing fleet; or other flags)

2.2 Inputs to the Farms

Provide the following statistics on capacity and inputs to the farm:

Year

Flag of origin of seed fish

Number of cages

Total farm volume (m3)

Input season (month)

BFT introduced (tonnes)

BFT size range (kg)

BFT mean size (kg)

Comments

1996









1997









1998









1999









2000









2001









2002









Etc.









2.3 Description of Method to Estimate Magnitude and Characteristics of the Inputs

- Describe how the inputs (magnitude and size distribution) are estimated

- Describe whether the same pen receives different inputs during a given fattening season

2.4 Outputs

- Describe the duration of the fattening/growing season (months, range and mean)

- Describe the output (production) season (months, range and mean)

Provide the following statistics on production:

Year

BFT produced (tonnes)

BFT size range (kg)

BFT mean size (kg)

Comments

1996





1997





1998





1999





2000





2001





2002





Etc.





2.5 Mortality

- Farming season and duration

- What percentage of the farmed tuna dies while in captivity?

- Describe other relevant mortality information (incl. diseases)

- Describe the fate of the dead fish

2.6 Growth

- What is the relationship between weight gain and explanatory variables, such as initial size, temperature, and time in captivity?

2.7 Other Data

- Describe other types of data collected by the farms (e.g. on reproduction, behaviour)

2.8 Feeding

- What are the tuna fed (incl. species composition; food supplements)?

- What are the sources of fish used for feeding (comment on the sources of small pelagics and whether those stocks of small pelagics are assessed and managed by a relevant RFB or government)?

- Describe feeding (quantity, frequency and quality)

- Provide estimates of food conversion over fattening season (kg gained by BFT divided by kg of feed used; explain the basis for the calculation-dry or wet weight)

- Provide information on monitoring of feeding with regards to food safety: are antibiotics, hormones or chemical additives used? Are chemical analyses of the food or of the bluefin conducted regularly? Are any such controls voluntary or mandated by legislation?

- Other relevant feeding information

2.9 Commercialization

- To what countries are the products sold (provide quantities, if available)?

- What types of products are obtained? (fresh; frozen; belly meat, loins, etc.)

- Provide available estimates between product type and whole fish weight

Provide the following information:

Year

Country of destination

Type of product (with conversion factor* to the whole fish)

Amount produced (tonnes)

Fresh (tonnes)

Frozen (tonnes)

Amount exported (tonnes)

Fresh (tonnes)

Frozen (tonnes)

Comments

1996










1997










1998










1999










2000










2001










2002










Etc.










* If you have accurate conversion factors, please report them and apply them. Otherwise, the following conversion factors can be used to estimate round weight for various product types:

Belly meat x 10.28 = round weight
Dressed weight x 1.25 = round weight
Fillets x 1.67 = round weight
Gilled & Gutted weight x 1.16 = round weight
Other products x 2.0 = round weight

2.10 Legal Framework

- Describe the legislation that regulates the issuance of permits for farms (i.e. the mechanisms in place - local or national - that govern the permitting process)

- Describe the specific requirements that are needed to obtain a license for a farm (e.g. distance from shore, distance from marine reserves, capacity)

- Describe what types of environmental impact studies are needed before permits are issued

- Describe what types of environmental impact studies are required for monitoring purposes while the farm is in operation

2.11 Environmental Aspects

- Are there perceived/factual interactions with the environment (explain if studies have been conducted to test for the interactions, who made the study and what were the conclusions)?

- Are harmful metals or harmful chemicals or drugs in the fish measured before and after farming? If yes, specify them. Are there mechanisms in place to establish the traceability of the product for the purpose of ensuring food safety?

2.12 Socio-Economic Aspects

Provide the information on the following

- Number of people employed in farming/processing operations; structure of employees in terms of skills; flow of workers from/to other activities

- Overall economic impact of farming, including profitability

- Any available economic information (e.g. subsidies)

2.13 Research

- Describe past, present and planned studies carried out in the farms

- Are farming operations accessible to researchers (describe particular studies)?

- Do farming operations hire their own researchers? For what studies?

2.14 Interactions

Describe known interactions between farming and:

- Other fishing activities

- Others

3. MARKETS AND TRADE

A. Is your country involved in the buying of farmed Mediterranean bluefin products?

YES _______ NO _______

If the answer is YES, please complete Section 3.

3.1 Statistics

Provide statistics on purchased farmed Mediterranean bluefin products by year, country and product type:

Year

Country?of origin

Country of shipment

Type of product

Amount frozen products (tonnes)

Amount fresh products (tonnes)

Estimated whole fish weight (tonnes)*

Comments

1996








1997








1998








1999








2000








2001








2002








Etc.








* Provide conversion factors used (see Table 2.9).

3.2 Economic Data

- How are the products marketed?

- Provide available information on prices

- Other relevant economic information


[9] Only Appendixes 1 (List of participants) and 4 (Agenda) of the report of the second meeting of the Working Group are attached to the present document as Annex 5B and 5A, respectively.

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