ANNEX IV- Coorperation Tropical Tunas

ANNEX IV- Coorperation Tropical Tunas

The main characteristic of this fishery stems from the fact that virtually the entirety of the catches are obtained outside EU waters and transhipped at ports in neighbouring countries that have in most – but not all – cases signed fisheries agreements with the EU. For nearly 30 years, the responsibility for the collection of statistics on catches and the sampling of this European fleet segment has been shared between the IEO (Instituto Español de Oceanografía) and the IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), in close cooperation with the countries nearest these resources: Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal in the Atlantic, Seychelles and Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

The sampling methodology used for tropical tuna fisheries sampling is that defined under the European ET project (“Analysis of the tropical tunas multi-species sampling scheme” no. 95/37, 1995-1997). Catches at sea are monitored through exhaustive logbook collection. They usually involve a small number of species and are stored directly in freezer wells containing brine without prior sorting, except for albacore tuna, or to discard certain non-commercial species. Sorting is carried out later on landing on the basis of commercial categories, these being more related to the weight of the individual fish than to their species. As a consequence, it is imperative to carry out sampling of the species composition of these landings in order to estimate the actual catches of each species as well as concurrently determining the demographic composition. The ET project involved an in-depth analysis of the sampling system (counting of species and measurement of length of albacores, bigeye and skipjack) and the processing of the data on catches in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans from 1991 to 1995.

Using these results, a new stratified sampling system was defined on the basis of simultaneous sampling of length and species and applying stratification based largely on the fishery mode (log sets or free school sets) and homogeneous spatial and temporal strata. The main consequence of this was the disappearance of the former “fleet segment” stratum which made a distinction between Spanish and French purse seiners, thus anticipating the current approach. As a result, the two research bodies involved (IEO for Spain and IRD for France) decided as early as 1998 to combine their efforts and carry out coordinated sampling of their fleet segments with a view to the best possible coverage of the defined strata. A detailed description of the procedures used was provided in the final report of the ET project, and also in the initial project submitted by France in 2002.

In june 2009, an international working group gathering scientists from the four tuna regional organization (ICCAT, CTOI, IATCC, WCPFC) was held in Sète (France) in order to compare the different multi specific sampling schemes used in the three oceans. The WG underlined in particular the necessity for the European fleet to re-analyse the sampling scheme in order to estimate bias and uncertainties associated with (i) well selection, (ii) the use of set in place of well as unit of sampling and (3) the use of sampling strata defined on data from the 90s whereas the fishery has changed since.

Cooperation under national programmes

Since 2000, collaborations between IEO and IRD on tropical tunas take the form of coordination meetings carried out every year alternatively in France and in Spain. In 2003 AZTI starts joining the group and participates regularly since 2007 to the annual meeting particularly for observer programs. Where the monitoring of tuna fishing fleets is concerned, such grouping of the resources available to the three research bodies is relevant at a number of levels:

• 
  Data on length, species composition and biology: shared funding of joint sampling teams in the main ports where catches are landed (Victoria, Seychelles; Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Dakar, Senegal), coordinated for each ocean by French (IRD) and Spanish (Fisheries Directorate) technical staff;
  
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  Assessment of discards and bycatch: although the two programmes were conducted independently, the data collection protocols, the data input/verification applications, the central database and final data processing are all carried out jointly;
  
• 
  Development of common tools: the following were defined and developed jointly:
  

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  Sampling procedures and manuals (catches and length) and for collection of information by on-board observers (discards);
  
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  The data input/verification module for data on catches and samples (Avdth) along with observer data;
  
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  Processing modules for data on estimation of catches by species and by length (T3) and estimation of discards;
  
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  The definition and implementation of identical national databases in order to facilitate later processing (Balbaya, Sardara, Obstuna, etc.);
  

• 
  Final data processing common to both fleet segments: the chosen principle whereby all samples from both fleets are used entails an annual updating of the joint sample file for the processing of the data collected by the two organisations.
  

Each of the three organisations (IEO, AZTI for Spain and IRD for France) is in charge of its own observer programme; the manuals and data input/verification modules have been developed jointly and final processing of the data is done for both fleet segments without any particular financial impact. A common database and acquisition tool have been developed facilitating data sharing and common analysis.

Acknowledging the difficulty in embarking observers on tuna vessels since 2009 due to piracy in the Indian Ocean, the three institutes will collaborate during the period in a feasibility study searching for alternate solutions to observers like auto sampling and electronic monitoring.

- Landing ages and length

Generally speaking, the sampling systems are coordinated, executed and funded jointly. The activities are monitored in the field or remotely by Spanish and IRD technical staff in Victoria (Seychelles) and Dakar (Senegal), Abidjan (Côte D’Ivoire), Antsiranana (Madagascar) along with IRD and IEO researchers based in Sète and the Canaries Centre, who provide overall monitoring for the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

The tasks entailed by this activity are carried out in conjunction with local research bodies in the following locations:

• 
  Atlantic:
  

• 
  Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (CRO, Centre de Recherches Océanologiques d’Abidjan).
  
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  Dakar, Senegal (ISRA/CRODT, Centre de Recherches Océanographiques de Dakar-Thiaroye).
  
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  Potentially, Tema (Ghana).
  

• 
  Indian:
  

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  Victoria, Seychelles (SFA – Seychelles Fishing Authority)
  
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  Madagascar (USTA, Unité Statistique Thonière d'Antsiranana / Antsiranana tuna statistics unit)
  
• 
  Port Louis, Mauritius (Albion Fisheries Center)
  

In 2010-2012 period, an analysis of the sampling scheme in place will be done in common with the following objectives:

• 
  Analysis of the spatial and temporal variability of statistical data from recent available period (1980-2008) and form super-sampling operation conducted in 2008 in the Indian Ocean,
  
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  Potential adjustment of sampling scheme on port and on board and during data computation taking into account logistical constraints (i.e. unloading duration) and associated costs (financial and human resources, sampling duration),
  
• 
  Estimation of accuracy of data produced within DCF.
  

These are collected in the canneries context applying the same framework and conditions as for length sampling at the point of landing with independent funding and using existing survey teams.

- Access to data and coordination

Coordination meeting for actions conducted by IRD and IEO are carried out every year (and with AZTI since 2007), alternatively in France and Spain. These help define the partners’ respective frameworks for field actions, in addition to decisions on desirable changes in the various common applications and databases, and the definition of joint processing of the data to be carried out, and, lastly the preparation and allocation of the work to be done in the context of statutory ICCAT and IOTC meetings.

Implementation of the databases is planned independently in the national programmes, with developments being conducted in a context of mutual consultation.

Madrid, March 4th 2010

Pierre Chavance, IRD DCF tropical tuna programme coordinator

Alicia Delgado de Molina, IEO Canarias DCF tropical tuna programme coordinator

Iñaki Artetxe, AZTI DCF programme coordinator.

15. ANNEX V- CECAF métier descriptions