International commission ups Canadian share of bluefin tuna quota

Fishermen in Atlantic Canada will be able to catch another77 tonnes of Bluefin tuna next year after an international commission agreed to raisethe annual quota following an improvement in stocks.

The increase was approved Tuesday during a meeting in Marrakech, Moroccoof the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). It was based on the recommendation of commission management.

The Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre (EAC)said ICCATincreased the western Atlantic Bluefin stock quotato 2,350tonnes, up from 2,000 tonnes.

Canada is allotted 22 per centof the westernBluefinstock.

Commission management have said the stock could withstand a 2,500-tonne quota.

Environmental group 'disappointed'

Still, theincrease was denounced by the Ecology Action Centre, which predicts it will lead to a 7.5 per centdecrease in Bluefin tuna stocks by 2020.

"We are pretty disappointed and astonished by the decision to raise the quota this year," saidEAC'smarine campaign co-ordinator Katie Schleit. Two of her colleagues are in Morocco, monitoring the meeting.

"This comes after stock growth in recent years, so why the commission would jeopardize that is really disappointing."

About 700 Canadian fishermen take partin the Bluefin tuna fishery using rod and reel, hand lines, tended lines, trap nets and harpoons.

Canada decided against listing Atlantic Bluefintuna as a species at risk last year, with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans noting thatstocks have been rebuilding since 2011.

Also at Tuesday's meeting, ICCAT declined advice to end retention ofshort fin mako shark, the EAC said. Last year, Canadian fishermen landed 82 tonnes of short fin mako.