ROP-BFT PROGRAM: Official Launch of the 2025 Season and Deployment of ROP–BFT Observers

Since 2010, COFREPECHE, in partnership with MRAG, has been implementing the Regional Observer Programme for Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna (ROP–BFT), under the supervision of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

As part of the preparations for the 2025 campaign, an initial training session was held in Naples, followed by two additional sessions in Tunisia. The final session concluded on 24 May, just ahead of the official opening of the fishing season. These training sessions strengthened the observers’ technical skills and ensured their readiness for field deployment.

All observers are now deployed across vessels, fattening farms, and traps listed in the ICCAT register. Some have already completed their missions, notably due to the early presence of unusually dense tuna schools.

The 2025 fishing season, running from 26 May to 1 July, is a key period for data collection and fisheries control. The deployment of ROP–BFT observers plays a vital role in monitoring and traceability, directly supporting sustainable management efforts and the ongoing recovery of bluefin tuna stocks in the region.

For more information about our missions or our work within the ROP–BFT programme, please visit our dedicated page or contact us directly.