Algeria’s share of bluefin tuna to double by 2017, a major achievement

General Secretary of the ministry of Fishing and Fishery Resources Mustapha Lagha said Thursday in Tipasa that Algeria’s recovery of its bluefin fishing tuna is a “major achievement” which reflects the recognition of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas of Algeria’s right to have its quota as well as the “meritorious” work accomplished by the Algerian diplomacy.
The international Commission for the Conservation of bluefin tuna decided Monday, during an extraordinary session organized in Genoa (Italy), to double Algeria’s share quota by 2017, ahead of the recovery of its initial quota, estimated at 5% of the global bluefin tuna production to reach, at this term, a volume of 543 tons against 243 tons, currently.
This decision, said Lagha, “is a confession of the mistake made by this instance vis-à-vis Algeria,” whose bluefin tuna fishing quota decreased since 2010 to less than 250 tons/year instead of the 600 tons/year to which it had the right to, while hailing “the role played by our diplomacy to recover this right.”
He said, during this meeting which brought together operators and officials of the sector of the central region of the country that the ministry finalizes a training programme for tuna boat crews, noting that eight fishing boats are deployed in the sea under the annual tuna fishing campaign.
According to the official of the Algerian delegation that took part in the extraordinary session of the Committee of bluefin protection, Kamel Neghli Algeria’s share quota will progressively increase from 370 tons, between 2015 and 2016 to reach, in 2017, the 543 tons, which represents a 20 % gradual rise, spread on three years.