catches from 27,500 in 2007 to 13,400 tons in 2014. Apart from reduced total allowable catches, the recovery plan also introduced strict monitoring, reporting, and control measures. Over the years the plan seemed to produce results and recently earlier critics have welcomed the plan and the action undertaken by ICCAT. In November 2012 Susan Lieberman, international policy director of Pew Environment Group stated that "It is encouraging that ICCAT listened to the recommendations of its own scientists and agreed to keep catch limits for bluefin tuna within their advice. This decision will give this depleted species a fighting chance to continue on the path to recovery after decades of overfishing and mismanagement". In November 2013 Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at WWF Mediterranean said: “WWF congratulates ICCAT member countries for sticking to science again this year regarding bluefin tuna quotas in the East Atlantic and Mediterranean. This is a good sign of the credibility of ICCAT. However, failure to address countries’ failure to comply with rules remains an issue of grave concern”. References External links Protocol Relating to Modification of the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, Treaty available in ECOLEX-the gateway to environmental law (English) Fisheries agencies Fishing industry Intergovernmental organizations established by treaty Tuna Atlantic Ocean Organisations based in Madrid Organizations established in 1969