Mauritius played host to the 27th annual meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) that took place recently, resulting in crucial developments for the sustainable management of fisheries in the Indian Ocean. The assembly concluded with the adoption of nine pivotal conservation and management measures.
A notable achievement is the EU’s endorsement of a measure ensuring the sustainable management of bigeye tuna. This measure establishes explicit catch limits for all nations operating in the region, safeguarding against the exceedance of global quotas. Special provisions have been included to empower coastal states in developing their fisheries. Demonstrating commitment, the EU has committed to the most substantial catch reduction, reducing EU catches by 18.7% against the 2017-2021 declared catch average.
However, discussions on yellowfin tuna and setting catch limits for skipjack tuna did not yield agreements, prompting the EU’s regret. Hopes persist for future progress in managing these stocks.
Another triumph lies in the adoption of the EU’s longstanding proposal to enhance the compliance process of the IOTC. Amendments to the rules of the Compliance Committee were approved, marking a significant stride in ensuring fishing activities align with applicable laws, regulations, and conservation measures. The proposal supports IOTC countries in identifying priority areas for enhanced compliance.
Further, the IOTC adopted crucial measures to safeguard seabirds and cetaceans from the adverse impacts of tuna fisheries. The EU co-sponsored the measure protecting cetaceans, aligning with the IOTC’s ‘ecosystem approach’ that considers the entire ecosystem in fisheries management.
In a pioneering move, the IOTC, with the EU’s co-sponsorship, adopted a proposal to establish minimum electronic monitoring standards (Electronic Monitoring System – EMS or Remote Electronic Monitoring – REM). This marks a historic step for a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO), allowing for increased observer coverage in the near future, especially vital for artisanal vessels responsible for half of the catches in IOTC.
Despite these positive strides, the IOTC faced challenges in agreeing on a much-needed new resolution for the management of drifting fish aggregating devices (FADs). The EU proposed a comprehensive resolution covering various aspects of the FAD fishery, including plastic pollution and limiting FAD numbers. The EU continues to extend an open invitation for dialogue to find a universally acceptable solution that would have a tangible impact on the ground.”