FishSource

Atlantic Ocean blue shark and swordfish - surface longline (FIP-BLUES) (FIP)

Last Updated: 2024-03-18

Progress Rating: A

Evaluation Start Date: 2019-09-30

Type: Comprehensive

Status: Active

FIP Lead: ANECTEAM (Asociación Nacional de Empresas Comercializadoras y Transformadores de Especies Altamente Migratorias) (ANECTEAM)

Stock Profile Link
Swordfish - North Atlantic
Blue shark - South Atlantic Ocean
Blue shark - North Atlantic Ocean

Comments:

The FIP has reported an increase to P1 & P2 scores. The FIP has reported stage 4 results within the last 12 months- the FIP remains A rated.

1. FIP Development	Oct 19	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 17 October 2019 — MSC Pre-assessment made public
2. FIP Launch	Dec 17	Confirmation of project participants 1 December 2017 — FIP participants confirmed
2. FIP Launch	Jul 23	Workplan made public 20 July 2023 — Updated 2023 workplan 1 October 2019 — Workplan is made public
3. FIP Implementation	Nov 23	FIP activities undertaken 30 November 2023 — The FIP has developed a video about the FIP project, FIP members and FIP objectives for 2024. 14 November 2023 — The FIP held a workshop for skippers on best practices for safe handling and release methods. 1 November 2023 — The FIP has implemented a shark-related measures compliance control sheet. 1 May 2023 — The FIP has published a 6-month update report; the FIP attended several meetings and events in Spring 2023 to further FIP action progress. 27 March 2023 — FIP Blues attended the hearing of the European Citizens' initiative "Stop Finning"; a statement was presented from the industry condeming and rejecting finning practices. 21 March 2023 — 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. 11 November 2022 — FIP has developed a species identification handbook 1 November 2022 — FIP has developed a manual for best practices on safe handling and release of sea turtles 1 November 2022 — FIP BLUES Annual report of activities has been made available for 2022 6 October 2022 — ICCAT stock assessment made available; Catch limits set and TAC set for 2023 at 10,000 tonnes. 1 May 2022 — 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. 1 May 2022 — FIP has developed a manual for best practices on safe handling and release of sharks 12 January 2022 — SUSTAINHOOK project continues to make progress; a webinar on the project was presented to stakeholders 29 November 2021 — Email sent to member of the EU fisheries commission to set up a meeting 30 October 2021 — Technical report produced on the recent episodes of the arrival of blue shark juveniles to the coast of Galicia 2 October 2021 — FIP Blues attended the 2021 online meeting of the SCRS held in September 2021-October 2021 5 July 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 1 July 2021 — FIP Blues has voluntarily extended a measure to increase e-logbook data records of the fleet and data quality. 20 May 2021 — A review on the PI for short fin mako has been conducted 1 May 2021 — The FIP has attended several meetings/ symposiums over Q4 2020/ Q1 2021 1 May 2021 — FIP is currently working in increasing the observation coverage through onboard observers plus electronic observation; observer coverage has increased since FIP started 3 April 2021 — Formalized Agreement between the SGP-MAPA (General Secretariat of Fisheries from the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) and FIP Blues consortium. 29 January 2021 — Formal Letter delivered to ICCAT with communication and presentation of FIP Blues 1 August 2020 — 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.
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Nov 23	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 November 2023 — 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. 1 November 2023 — 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. 1 November 2023 — Increase to PI 2.3.2; Measures are in place that aim to mitigate incidental catch of ETP species. 1 November 2023 — 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. 1 November 2023 — Increase to PI 2.3.3; Available information is adequate to estimate the impact of the UoA on ETP species and recovery efforts. 18 March 2023 — 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. 1 November 2022 — The FIP has conducted an analysis of e-logbook data from 2018-2022. The list of encountered ETP species has been updated. 23 November 2021 — 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 15 November 2021 — FIP has developed the technical standard UNE195007:2021 to standardize electronic monitoring process under the OBEPAL program
5. Improvements on the Water	Nov 23	Verifiable improvement on the water 1 November 2023 — 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.
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public