The EU Council has decided by 'Implementing Decision' of September 18, that the UK is allowed to commit to international agreements concerning the EU’s fisheries policy on its own behalf during the transition period. This makes it possible for Britain, when they agree, to join the five regional fisheries organizations: NEAFC, NAFO, ICCAT, NASCO, and IOTC.

However, the ruling gives the UK only permission to participate in discussions on fisheries management decisions that will come into force after the end of the transition period on December 31. Also, the EU adopted that the UK should consult the Union before independently discussing its fishing limits that are currently included in the EU quota and subject to ongoing negotiations.

The Mozambican tuna scandal saga in which USD 2 billion of loans for state projects, including tuna-related fishing activity that never materialized, is far from over. The nation's Attorney General's Office (OAG) is still looking into the issue and Former President Armando Guebuza has come up in the investigation. The fraud took place under his presidency but he is now claiming to be the victim of political assassination and blames Attorney-General Beatriz Buchili for it.

Buchili requested the Council of State – of which Guebuza is still a member – for authorization to interrogate the latter about his role in the scandal. The request was granted and Guebuza said he will cooperate but stated that he has no confidence in the questioners because of the way the OAG handled the investigations in the past.

Following a meeting on September 17, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council amended a regulation making it compulsory for US longliners to submit logbook data after each fishing day via an electronic reporting system certified by the NMFS. This applies to vessels operating under the Hawaii and American Samoa entry permits and larger than 50 feet. It proposed July 1, 2021, as the starting date for implementation but the matter is still pending approval by the US Secretary of Commerce.

Hawaii longliners are required to mitigate interactions with seabirds and the Council is considering tori lines (bird streamers or scare lines) as an additional option to measures already in place. It asked NMFS to support at-sea trials for such items in winter 2020 and spring 2021. It also recommended the Oceanic Whitetip Shark Working Group's analysis on longline preventative actions be completed and then reviewed in a meeting next March.