What is the scope of the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas?

The International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is an intergovernmental agreement that aims to conserve and manage tuna and other species of fish in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas. The Convention was originally signed in 1966 and currently has 46 contracting parties, including the United States, the European Union, Canada, and various Latin American and African countries. The scope of ICCAT is extensive, covering a wide array of conservation, management, and scientific objectives. Its primary purpose is to ensure that fishing activities do not exceed the sustainable limits of the Atlantic tuna population. To do this, ICCAT governs fishing quotas, observer coverage on fishing vessels, fishing gear modifications, and catch limits. ICCAT also works to provide a more comprehensive approach to tuna conservation by supporting tuna research, monitoring the activity of fishing vessels, establishing regulations for the longline, purse-seine, and other fishing gear types, and promoting collaboration between the contracting parties in order to meet the common objectives of the Convention. In terms of Pennsylvania, the state is not a contracting party of ICCAT, and thus the Convention has no direct application within the state’s waters. Nonetheless, Pennsylvanian fisheries are still required to comply with ICCAT when they engage in fishing activities within the Convention’s jurisdiction. The Convention also provides a useful benchmark for the state’s fisheries managers to consider when drafting their own management plans for tuna species.

What is the scope of the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas?

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