Identifier: TFG:1252
Authors: Jurgaityte, Vaida
Abstract:
After the 1950s, the rapid increases in fish demand, major technological advancements and an open access fisheries have pushed the fishing industry to overexploit this natural resource, bringing several fish stocks to the border of collapse. Since then, a various set of fisheries management policies based on different models were progressively implemented to address the sustainability issues of the fishing industry. A single sector approach for marine resource was initially applied, in combination with different classes of subsidies. These largely failed to beat the issues of overfishing as well as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Thus, a transition from single species models to ecosystem-based models was integrated into the latest reform in the 2013 European fisheries management. Herein, the case of Bluefin tuna fisheries and their management were investigated in detail, with a special focus on those operating in Spain, one of the most important Bluefin tuna exploiting countries. Bluefin tuna is an extremely valued fish species and represents a paradigmatic example of a problem associated with overfishing and the measures taken to address this issue. Notably, key and controversial aspects of the Bluefin tuna fishing industries, management and environmental impact presented in this study were also discussed with the Deputy Manager of a major Bluefin tuna fishing company (Balfegó Group).
Repositori URV