MSC Pre-assessment made public 

FIP participants confirmed 

Updated 2023 workplan

Workplan is made public 

The FIP conducted an analysis of catch data between 2021-2023 using observer logbook records; blue shark and swordfish were shown to make up the majority of the catch. ETP species including mako sharks, silky sharks, thresher sharks, and others comprise just 13.87% of total discards.

The FIP participated in several meetings and workshops during the first half of 2024. 

The FIP participated in the Highly Migratory (Tuna and Tunalike) Stocks and RFMOs (ICCAT) of the Long Distance Fleet Advisory Council (LDAC) working group.

Regulation 2024/257 adopted which establishes fishing opportunities for 2024-2026 for certain fish stocks and EU vessels, amending total allowable catches and effort limits, with specific prohibitions on retaining or landing several shark species to improve sustainable management and transparency.

The FIP has developed a video about the FIP project, FIP members and FIP objectives for 2024.

The FIP held a workshop for skippers on best practices for safe handling and release methods. 

The FIP has implemented a shark-related measures compliance control sheet. 

The FIP has published a 6-month update report; the FIP attended several meetings and events in Spring 2023 to further FIP action progress. 

FIP Blues attended the hearing of the European Citizens' initiative "Stop Finning"; a statement was presented from the industry condeming and rejecting finning practices.

The FIP attended the Highly Migratory Stocks and RFMOs of the Long Distance Fleet Advisory Council (LDAC) Workshop; the FIP participants will work on producing proposals to present to DG Mare at the next meeting. 

FIP has developed a species identification handbook

FIP has developed a manual for best practices on safe handling and release of sea turtles

FIP BLUES Annual report of activities has been made available for 2022

ICCAT stock assessment made available; Catch limits set and TAC set for 2023 at 10,000 tonnes.

FIP has developed a manual for best practices on safe handling and release of sharks

FIP has attended several meetings since the beginning of 2022 including: "Seafood 2030 Virtual Sustainability Forum", "One Ocean Summit", an ICCAT electronic monitoring working group session and more. 

SUSTAINHOOK project continues to make progress; a webinar on the project was presented to stakeholders

Email sent to member of the EU fisheries commission to set up a  meeting

Technical report produced on the recent episodes of the arrival of blue shark juveniles to the coast of Galicia

FIP Blues attended the 2021 online meeting of the SCRS held in September 2021-October 2021

FIP BLUES Annual Report has been published; FIP Blues has developed the 'SUSTAINHOOK' communication program aimed at disseminating FIP-related information and updates to all stakeholders

FIP Blues has voluntarily extended a measure to increase e-logbook data records of the fleet and data quality.

A review on the PI for short fin mako has been conducted 

FIP is currently working in increasing the observation coverage through onboard observers plus electronic observation; observer coverage has increased since FIP started

The FIP has attended several meetings/ symposiums over Q4 2020/ Q1 2021

Formalized Agreement between the SGP-MAPA (General Secretariat of Fisheries from the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) and FIP Blues consortium.

Formal Letter delivered to ICCAT with communication and presentation of FIP Blues

An annex of documents has been analyzed to create a base line/ first view of the information collected and measures taken by the FIP members connected to the actions of the workplan. 

A handbook and a protocol for the safe handling and release of seabirds has been developed; the handbook outlines strategies to reduce the accidental capture of seabirds in longline fisheries, emphasizing simple, cost-effective methods such as using bird-scaring lines, night-setting with minimal lighting, and adding weights to lines​.

Increase to PI 2.3.3; Available information is adequate to estimate the impact of the UoA on ETP species and recovery efforts. 

Increase to PI 1.2.2; Well-defined HCRs are in place that ensure that the exploitation rate is reduced and are expected to keep the stock fluctuating around a target level consistent with (or above) MSY.

Increase to PI 1.2.4; Stock assessment models in place have improved uncertainty factors of the stock and better represent the current status of the stock. 

Increase to PI 2.3.2; Measures are in place that aim to mitigate incidental catch of ETP species.

Increase to PI 1.2.1 & 1.2.3; There is a robust and precautionary HS in place which is responsive to the state of the stock.

A new Spanish law focused on sustainable fishing and fisheries research was adopted by SGP-MAPA and implemented; the law considers the capacity to adopt measures like catch limits, fishing effort and gear regulation, size-weight limits and closures. 

The FIP has conducted an analysis of e-logbook data from 2018-2022. The list of encountered ETP species has been updated.

Increase to PI 2.1.2 - ICCAT has adopted the new recommendation N.º. PA4-809D 2021 which will establish a rebuilding program for the shortfin mako 

FIP has developed the technical standard UNE195007:2021 to standardize electronic monitoring process under the OBEPAL program

Increase to PI 2.3.1; ETP species represent a low percentage of the total catch and it's unlikely the fishery has a significant impact on ETP and likely doesn't hinder the recovery of ETP species.