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Origins
of the Convention |
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Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) were heavily fished in the past, with
the annual catch reaching 80,000 tonnes in the early 1960s. Heavy
fishing resulted in a significant decline in the numbers of mature
fish and the annual catch began to fall rapidly.
In the mid 1980s it became apparent that the SBT stock was at a
level where management and conservation was required. There was
a need for a mechanism to limit catches. The main nations fishing
SBT at the time, Australia, Japan and New Zealand, began to apply
strict quotas to their fishing fleets from 1985 as a management
and conservation measure to enable the SBT stocks to rebuild.
On 20 May 1994 the then existing voluntary management arrangement
between Australia, Japan and New Zealand was formalised when the
Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, which
had been signed by the three countries in May 1993, came into force.
The Convention created the Commission for the Conservation of Southern
Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT). The CCSBT is headquartered in Canberra, Australia.
Other fishing nations were active in the SBT fishery, which reduced
the effectiveness of the member's conservation and management measures.
The principal non member nations were Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia.
There were also a number of other fishing vessels flying flags of
convenience, which operated in the fishery. As a matter of policy,
the CCSBT has encouraged the membership of these countries.
The Republic of Korea and Indonesia joined the Commission on 17
October 2001 and 8 April 2008 respectively.
The Fishing Entity of Taiwan's membership of the Extended
Commission became effective on 30 August 2002.
At its meeting in October 2003, the CCSBT agreed to invite countries
with an interest in the fishery to participate in its activities as
formal Cooperating Non-Members. Cooperating Non-Members participate
fully in the business of the CCSBT but cannot vote. Acceptance as a
Cooperating Non-Member requires adherence to the management and
conservation objectives of the CCSBT and agreed catch limits.
Cooperating Non-Member status is regarded as a transitional measure
to full membership and accession to the Convention.
The Philippines, South Africa and the European Community were
formally accepted as Cooperating Non-Members on 2 August 2004, 24
August 2006 and 13 October 2006 respectively.
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The
Commission's Role |
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The Commission's objective is to ensure, through appropriate management,
the conservation and optimum utilisation of the global SBT fishery.
The Commission also provides an internationally recognised forum
for other countries/entities to actively participate in SBT issues.
In pursuit of this objective the CCSBT performs a number of functions.
It:-
- is responsible for setting a total allowable catch and its
allocation among the members;
- considers and administers regulatory measures to meet Convention objectives;
- conducts and coordinates a scientific research program aimed at providing
information to support the Commission's management objectives
( the program is a mixture of member managed activities and activities
managed directly by the CCSBT Secretariat);
- takes decisions to support and implement fishery management;
- provides a forum for the discussion of issues relevant to the
conservation objectives of the Convention;
- acts as a coordination mechanism for member's activities in
relation to the SBT fishery;
- fosters activities directed towards the conservation of ecologically
related species (living marine species which are associated with
the SBT fishery) and bycatch species;
- encourages non members engaged in the fishery, to accede,
apply for cooperating non-membership, or participate
as observers in Commission activities;
- cooperates and liaises with other regional tuna fishery management
organizations in areas of mutual interest.
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Basic
Documents |
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The basic documents for the operation of the Commission can be
downloaded as a PDF file from the links below:-
Get
Adobe Acrobat
| |
CCSBT
Operational Resolutions and other Important Documents |
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Resolutions and other important documents can be downloaded as
a PDF file from the following links:-
Get
Adobe Acrobat
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