The Afro News, Dubrovnik, Croatia November 15, 2018
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) is currently hosting its 21st Meeting of the Commission and Meeting of the Compliance Committee, 2018 in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
More than 1000 Parliamentary Delegates, Ocean, Fisheries and Marine Industry Operators and Organizations who actively harvest and monitor the various tuna fish species in the Atlantic Ocean and its vast adjacent waters are gathered in Dubrovnik to discuss current ocean and fisheries concerns and to set the allocation allotments for each participating country.
Japan, USA, China, Australia, EU, UK, South Africa, Canada, are among the top 10 countries harvesting tuna. As one would imagine the supply and demand factor plays a significant role of the discussions at this international meeting along with the sustainability of this global food chain and the humane methods of harvesting Atlantic tuna. If I were to bet, I’d say that the common person doesn’t give one thought about the logistical approach of tuna harvesting on a global scale.
While some countries have tuna as one of their main staple food sources, this validates their allowable allotment which is not always a favoured topic of discussion but is necessary to set a fair balance of distribution. In a commodity market analysis, the value of the product contributes largely to the portion of the country’s economic wealth in trade and export and it is no different in the tuna fish commodity sector.
Many African countries are present at this meeting with each getting their allowable portion of the allotments. Countries can lobby for or against the motions and allotments that are tabled. This is also an interesting time in the meeting as alliances and disapprovals are formed.
Dubrovnik, Croatia is the perfect setting for a conference of this nature. It is the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic Sea’ situated on the Dalmatian Coast. It became an important Mediterranean Sea power from the 13th Century onwards. Although severely damaged by an earthquake in 1667, Dubrovnik managed to preserve its beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque Churches, Monasteries, Palaces and Fountains. Damaged again the 1990’s by armed conflict, it is now the focus of a major restoration programme co-ordinated by UNESCO. Dubrovnik boasts a spectacular vista of rocky coastline with unstoppable and unobstructed views. A warm and inviting people and culture and a city filled with rich history that dates to the 1st Century.
Opening Day of the conference ended with a cocktail reception at the Old City Castle with the acoustic accompaniment of a Classical Ensemble performed by domestic Croatian performers known as the Four Tenors along with a String Quartet. This kickoff reception delivered the full vibration of the week-long meeting agenda and promises the effect of a successful conference.
