Tuna fishing is limited to the restrictions established IATTC and ICCAT, organizations of which Panama is a Contracting Party, stresses ARAP.

ARAP clarifies agreement with China does not violate rules on tuna fishing

PANAMA
Wednesday, January 09, 2019, 02:20 (GMT + 9)

The Water Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP) ensures that the protocol of inspection, quarantine and veterinary health signed with China, a requirement for the export of cobia and black skipjack to that country, does not alter or modify the current legislation that regulates the fishing activity in Panama.

In a communication issued in order to "clarify misinterpretations", the ARAP notes that at present, the bonito, also known as black skipjack (Euthynnus lineatus), is one of the fishery products that exports Panama.

black skipjack (Euthynnus lineatus)

"The protocol signed between Panama and China is not exempt from national guidelines and laws regarding fishing. Therefore, the ARAP reiterates that the capture of this resource with the fishing gear known as purse seines is prohibited by the provisions of Executive Decree No. 239 of 2010, in its Article 1," explains ARAP.

Zuleika Pinzón, General Administrator of the Water Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP), convened on November 27, members representing the Panamanian fishing and aquaculture industry to inform them about the Export Mechanisms to the People's Republic of China

Likewise, it details that, as dictated by the Executive Decree, tuna fishing is limited to the restrictions established by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), of which Panama is a Contracting Party, and in general, by the international agreements signed and ratified by the Republic of Panama.

Different types of longliners described by ICCAT manual

Commercial fishing targeting tunids (tuna, skipjack, bonito, sawfish and others) is allowed in Panama's territorial waters only under the longline license, but not under licenses with purse seines. It can also be done with coastal fishing permits granted to vessels of national flag.

The ARAP also clarifies that the signed protocol adheres to the law that creates the Coiba National Park, which establishes an exclusion zone, included in the Panamanian Pacific area, north of the parallel 06 ° 30'0 ", in which the use of purse seines is prohibited for tuna fishing, given that such fishing gear affects marine species of the area, such as billfish, dolphins, cetaceans, turtles and others.

Finally, the ARAP emphasizes that the Panamanian Government reiterates its commitment to "the strictest adherence to and respect for national legislation and international standards in the matter," and informs the different sub-sectors of national fisheries and the international community that the "Will not authorize purse-seine vessels, whether of domestic or foreign service, of national or foreign flag, to operate or develop tuna extraction activities with purse seines in the jurisdictional waters of the Republic of Panama".

 
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