LIFE, the Prud’homie des pêcheurs de La Ciotat, the CDPMEM du Var, and the Plateforme de la petite pêche artisanale française jointly address Catherine Chabaud, French Minister of the Sea and Fisheries, calling for a fairer share of the newly increased bluefin tuna quota.
ICCAT’s latest assessments confirm a full recovery of Mediterranean bluefin tuna, leading to an expected 16% quota rise for France in 2026–2028 — more than 1,100 additional tonnes. We welcome this success, but stress that relying solely on historical catches to allocate quotas continues to exclude most small-scale, low-impact fishers.
We urge the Minister to adjust allocation rules so that the small-scale fleet — vital to local communities and marine stewardship — can finally access this emblematic resource. Even a limited rebalancing would strengthen small-scale fisheries without harming larger operators, while supporting traditional management systems such as the prud’homies.
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