A group of experts commissioned by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to draw up a report on the state of bluefin tuna fishing has recommended that all such activity in the Mediterranean should be suspended and sanctuaries set up in all main spawning areas as a matter of urgency in order to save the endangered species.

Publishing their report a few weeks before a crucial meeting in Morocco to decide on tuna quotas for next year's season, the experts said tuna fishing in the Mediterranean is totally out of control.

"ICCAT contracting parties' performance in managing fisheries on bluefin tuna, particularly in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, is widely regarded as an international disgrace and the international community, which has entrusted the management of this iconic species to ICCAT, deserves better performance from ICCAT than it has received to date."

Referring to the blatant disregard to scientific advice in the present management plan, and the widespread lack of compliance, the review concludes that the only option is to close the Mediterranean tuna fishery until a strict management plan is put in place.

"Large catches of juveniles are believed to continue to occur in some areas, catches of larger, more successful spawners have increased substantially, new purse seiners continue to be added to fleets and fishing has expanded in areas that previously acted as refugia." The panel of experts recommended that all fishing for tuna in the Mediterranean be immediately suspended until the contracting partners involved, their nationals and companies operating in their waters agree to fully abide by the rules and recommendations of ICCAT and international fishing laws.

Tuna fishing has been under the spotlight for the past years as scientific evidence shows that the species is declining at an unprecedented level.

The EU has already put in place a management plan obliging all its member states fishing for tuna, including Malta, to cut their fishing possibilities by 25 per cent over a four-year period.

However, the EU is still encountering massive problems to control effectively its member states.