ICCAT
Atlantic U.S. fisheries for tuna, swordfish, and billfish are managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the authority of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). ATCA authorizes the promulgation of regulations, as may be necessary and appropriate, to implement conservation and management recommendations adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
Statistical Document Programs
ICCAT has implemented a bluefin tuna catch document program, and swordfish and frozen bigeye tuna statistical document trade monitoring programs to assist identifying countries which may be fishing in a manner that undermines the effectiveness of international conservation and management measures. The consignment document acts as a passport for international shipments of these species. Because import monitoring is comprehensive (i.e., imports of these fish from all oceans are monitored), the US programs also support the trade monitoring programs of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna. The United States reports to ICCAT annually for bluefin tuna and biannually for swordfish and bigeye tuna.
U.S Bluefin Tuna Catch Document Reports
U.S. National Reports to ICCAT
NOAA Fisheries Office of International Affairs Website
Other Documents
NMFS Announces a Proposed Rule Regarding the Trade of Highly Migratory Species, Federal Register Notice June 26, 2012
Final Rule Implementing ICCAT Trade Measures -- Fax Notice, Federal Register Notice and Final Environmental Assessment Dec 6, 2004
Final
Rule Implementing 2000 ICCAT Recommendations and Final
Environmental Assessment
Nov 20, 2002