EU Fisheries Committee delegation at IOTC meeting in La Réunion calls for urgent renewal of EU fleet, stronger tuna stock protections.
A delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries has reiterated its call for the urgent renewal of the EU fishing fleet, particularly in the outermost regions, following its participation in the 29th session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) in La Réunion, France.
The delegation, which attended the IOTC meetings from 13 to 17 April, included MEPs Isabelle Le Callennec (EPP, FR), Željana Zovko (EPP, HR), and Eric Sargiacomo (S&D, FR), who underscored the need to strengthen the EU’s fishing capabilities while ensuring sustainable management of tuna stocks in the Indian Ocean.
“Through our visit, we have been able to understand how the negotiations take place between the EU and third countries,” the MEPs said in a joint statement. “We have the will to persuade the Commission that the renewal of the EU’s fishing fleet for our fishermen is a priority.”
Prior to the session, the MEPs held meetings with EU Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis and French Minister for Marine Affairs Agnès Pannier-Runacher, where discussions focused on issues such as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, and the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
The delegation also met with artisanal fishermen from the Regional Committee for Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture of Reunion Island (CRPMEM), who voiced frustration over what they called contradictions in EU fisheries policies and reiterated calls for fleet renewal to ensure economic viability.
Push for Tuna Conservation
On the issue of tuna stock conservation, the EU’s position at the IOTC focused on securing science-based catch limits for tropical tuna species—yellowfin, bigeye, and skipjack—while protecting its historic share in the face of rising pressure from other fishing nations.
Yellowfin tuna stocks have shown early signs of recovery, moving into the sustainability “green zone,” prompting the EU to support a one-year Total Allowable Catch (TAC) in 2026 while resisting reductions to its own quotas. For bigeye tuna, which remains overfished, the EU backs a new TAC proposal based on scientific advice.
For skipjack tuna, the EU is pressing for a catch allocation system rooted in historical catch levels, despite environmental uncertainties.
Stronger Controls and Enforcement
The EU is also advocating for stronger conservation measures for vulnerable species such as the shortfin mako shark, supporting a ban on retention unless the fish is already dead and documented by observers. On swordfish, the bloc prefers a gradual implementation of management measures without assigning immediate national quotas.
As concern grows over shark bycatch, the EU opposes an immediate ban on wire leaders—used in longline fisheries—citing a lack of supporting scientific evidence. Instead, it is calling for further research and trials of alternative gear.
To improve monitoring and compliance, the EU is pushing for the final adoption of a high seas boarding and inspection scheme, which has previously been blocked by a single IOTC member. It also wants to curtail transhipment practices, which are often exploited to conceal illegal catches.
The outcomes of the IOTC session will be binding for member states and will be transposed into EU law through a legislative process overseen by the Committee on Fisheries.
Source: Press Release
