Contact: Gordon Helm                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                    11/21/97

First-ever mandatory conservation measures for Atlantic blue and white marlin have been adopted at the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Proposed and negotiated by the U.S. delegation, the ICCAT agreement requires countries to reduce landings of these severely overexploited marine species by at least 25 percent, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced today.

"We are extremely pleased to have taken a major and historic step to reduce marlin mortality and to have triggered the long process of stabilizing and rebuilding these stocks," said Will Martin, NOAA's deputy assistant secretary for international affairs. "And, we note the high degree of cooperation between recreational and commercial sectors in achieving this step." Martin headed the delegation of government officials, industry representatives, recreational interests, environmental groups and Congressional staff.

ICCAT continued to take steps to increase compliance with existing conservation and management measures by both member and non-member countries. Last year's historic compliance agreement on swordfish was extended to cover south Atlantic swordfish quotas. A new agreement regarding member nations' compliance with regulations on undersized fish was also adopted. In addition, a package of measures on monitoring and compliance was adopted, including an ICCAT port inspection program, restrictions on transshipments at sea, and a pilot program to implement vessel monitoring systems for high-seas vessels. ICCAT initiated diplomatic approaches to several non-member countries whose fishing activities are of concern to ICCAT.

ICCAT also adopted a sharing arrangement for south Atlantic swordfish, together with a total allowable catch (TAC) and country quotas for 1998 through 2000, representing the first time quotas have been imposed for this fishery. South Atlantic albacore catches are to be curtailed through a TAC to be shared among four countries, with minor fishing countries limiting their catches according to bycatch allowances or a cap relative to recent levels.

Concern over the status of Atlantic bigeye tuna stocks led to several measures on the conservation and management of this species. These included registration and possible limits in the future on the number of commercial vessels greater than 80 gross weight tons targeting bigeye tuna, and a 35 percent reduction in the catches of Atlantic bigeye tuna by Chinese Taipei.

"While we have many miles to go before Atlantic tuna resources are stabilized and recovered, ICCAT's actions at this year's meeting represent the type of serious, constructive work that will eventually lead to our ultimate goals," Martin said. ICCAT, a 25-nation organization charged with the management of Atlantic tunas, swordfish, marlins and sailfish, met in Madrid, Spain, Nov. 14-21, 1997.

NOTE: All NOAA press releases, and links to other NOAA material, can be found on the Internet at http://www.noaa.gov/public-affairs . Journalists who wish to be added to our press release distribution list, or who wish to switch from fax to e-mail delivery, can send an e-mail to releases@www.rdc.noaa.gov , or fax to (202) 482-3154. NOAA constituents can send an e-mail to constaff@www.rdc.noaa.gov , or fax to (202) 501-2953. To respond to the contact named at the top of this release, please use his or her e-mail address (if noted) or telephone. Do not use the reply function of your e-mail program because your message does not go to the contact person.