In accordance with the Recommendation by ICCAT amending the Recommendation 22-08 establishing a multi-annual management plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean [Rec. 24-05], a joint fishing operation means “means any operation between two or more bluefin tuna purse seine vessels where the catch of one bluefin tuna purse seine vessel is attributed to one or more other bluefin tuna purse seine vessels in accordance with a previously agreed allocation key. The JFO may or may not involve the active participation in bluefin tuna catching of all the purse seiners that make up the JFO”.

No JFOs between purse-seiners from different CPCs shall be permitted. However, a CPC with less than 5 authorized purse seiners may authorize joint fishing operations with any other CPC. Each CPC conducting a JFO shall be responsible and accountable for the catches made under this JFO.

At the moment of the application for the authorization each CPC shall take the necessary measures to obtain from its catching purse seine vessel(s) participating in the joint fishing operation the following information:

• The period of authorization
• The identity of the operators involved
• The individual vessels' quotas
• The allocation key between the vessels for the catches involved
• Information on the farms of destination

Each CPC shall transmit all the information referred above to the ICCAT Secretariat at least five working days before the start of the purse seine vessels fishing season.