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  1. Mission
  2. Area of competence
  3. Species and stocks coverage
  4. Legal framework
  5. Languages
  6. Organizations involved
  7. Structure
  8. Activities and meetings
  9. Publications
  10. Contact
MissionObjectives The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is responsible for the conservation of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas. Functions In order to carry out the objectives of the Convention, the Commission is responsible for:
  • compiling fishery statistics from its members and from all entities fishing for these species in the Atlantic Ocean;
  • coordinating research, including stock assessment, on behalf of its members;
  • developing scientific-based management advice;
  • providing a mechanism for contracting parties to agree on management measures; and
  • producing relevant publications.
Area of competence Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas.
ICCAT area of competence - High seas, National waters
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The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) are for illustration only and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries.
 Species and stocks coverage About 30 species of tuna and tuna-like species are of direct concern to the ICCAT. The Commission also undertakes work for other fish species that are caught during tuna fishing ("bycatch", principally sharks) in the Convention area. Legal framework Established by the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, signed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 14 May 1966 and entered into force on 21 March 1969.
The Convention was amended in 1984 and 1992.
http://www.iccat.int/Documents/Commission/BasicTexts.pdf LanguagesEnglish, French, Spanish. Organizations involved

Member: The Commission may be joined by any government that is a member of the United Nations (UN), any specialized UN agency, or any intergovernmental economic integration organization constituted by States that have transferred to it competence over the matters governed by the ICCAT Convention. Instruments of ratification, approval, or adherence may be deposited with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and membership is effective on the date of such deposit. Currently, there are 48 contracting parties.

Albania, Algeria, Angola, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, European Union, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Iceland, Japan, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent/Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Africa, Syrian Arab Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Boliv Rep of Venezuela.

* France in respect of Saint Pierre et Miquelon, United Kingdom in respect of the Overseas Territories.

An updated list of contracting parties can be consulted on the ICCAT Web site. StructurePrincipal Body The Commission is the main decision-making body where each of the contracting parties is represented. The Commission holds annual meetings, alternating between regular meetings and special meetings every two years. Subsidiary Bodies
  • Panels
    • Tropical Tunas (yellowfin, skipjack and bigeye),
    • Northern Temperate Tunas (albacore and bluefin),
    • Southern Temperate Tunas (albacore and southern bluefin),
    • Other Species;
  • Standing Committee on Finance and Administration (STACFAD);
  • Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS);
  • Permanent Working for the Improvement of ICCAT Statistics and Conservation Measures (PWG);
  • Conservation and Management Measures Compliance Committee;
  • Special Working Groups.
Secretariat The ICCAT Secretariat facilitates the work carried out by the Commission. It compiles and prepares the databases, makes preparatory data analyses, executes meeting arrangements, prepares publications, etc. Activities and meetings Most research activities on Atlantic tuna and tuna-like species are carried out by scientists from national research institutes or universities of contracting parties. Special research programs are used by the ICCAT as a mechanism to help focus, coordinate and complement those national research activities. Information on science activities are available on the ICCAT Web site.

Information on meetings and archives are available on ICCAT Web site:
  1. This year
  2. Past meetings
Publications The ICCAT produces a number of annual reports and publications. The publications mainly comprise: biennial reports (Commission, Scientific Committee, and contracting parties annual reports), Working Group Reports, ICCAT Collective Volume of Scientific Papers, Compendium of Conservation Measures in Force, ICCAT Manual, Scientific Abstracts, Statistical Bulletin, etc. Other reports have included: the Report of the ICCAT Performance Review Panel (2009), ICCAT 40 Anniversary 1966-2006 (2008).

These publications are available on the ICCAT Web site. Contact

ICCAT

Calle Corazón de Maria, 8
(6th Floor)
Madrid
28002
Spain

Telephone: (+34) 914165600

Fax: (+34) 914152612

Email: info@iccat.int

Web site: http://www.iccat.int

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