Algeria has successfully reclaimed its historical share of the live bluefin tuna fishing quota, bringing it closer to 5.10% of the total quota allocated to member states of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
This achievement was secured during the 29th regular session of the organization, held in Seville, Spain, from November 17th to 24th, 2025. The session approved the fishing quota allocation plan for the period 2026-2028.
Algeria benefited from a significant increase of 437 tons, raising its total quota from 2023 tons to 2460 tons. This outcome followed meticulous and rigorous negotiations led by the Algerian delegation. The delegation worked in close coordination under the supervision of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries, who closely monitored the negotiation process and guided efforts to ensure the restoration of Algeria’s historical rights.
This decision rectifies a historical injustice against Algeria, whose tuna fishing quota was reduced to 1% during the organization’s 17th session in 2010, a session from which the Algerian delegation was absent.
This year’s session involved intense discussions and complex deliberations, as numerous countries submitted requests to increase their quotas, coinciding with the accession of new members who automatically benefited from specific percentages. Despite this intense competition, the Algerian delegation successfully included a crucial clause in the final recommendation of the new allocation plan, stipulating that Algeria’s case will be further considered during the upcoming review in 2028 to compensate for the damage previously inflicted.
Furthermore, the session witnessed the renewal of confidence in Algeria’s representative to the Commission, Amar Oucheli, who was re-elected as Chairman of the Fourth Sub-Committee for a new term. This is a clear recognition of Algeria’s effective role and competence within this international body.
Algerian diplomacy played a significant role in supporting the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries to achieve this important accomplishment, which will contribute to strengthening national food security and increasing Algeria’s revenues from bluefin tuna exports, a highly sought-after seafood product globally.
