Sustainable fishing in the Indian Ocean – agreement signed

During the 28th. annual meeting of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Environment. The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) held in Bangkok from May 13-17, 2024. decided to adopt 11 new conservation and management measures that will make Indian Ocean fisheries more sustainable. The decisions were made after three years of negotiating the final form of the proposal, which was submitted by the EU.

Sustainable fishing in the Indian Ocean

The main demand of the proposal submitted in 2022. by the EU was to take steps to improve the way artificial fish aggregating devices (FADs) are managed in the Indian Ocean. A FAD is a floating device that is used to attract tuna or other fish to help catch them. It can be anchored to the seabed or drift, but then its route is tracked using a satellite buoy.

Based on the EU proposal, the IOTC has approved the most ambitious and rigorous management framework for drifting artificial fish concentration devices ever adopted in the oceans. The most important provisions resulting from the adopted measures are:

• Immediate ban on the use of drifting artificial fish concentration devices if they are not biodegradable;
• Phasing out non-biodegradable drift components of artificial fish concentration devices with the goal of having fully decomposable devices by 2030 at the latest;
• Reducing the number of drifting FADs per vessel (from the current 300 to 250 FADs in 2026 and 225 in 2028, the lowest limit ever adopted by a regional fishery management organization);
• Introducing the first-ever registry of artificial fish concentration devices to ensure better control of this fishing practice.

In addition to FAD issues, IOTC members agreed on management procedures for skipjack tuna and swordfish that will enable a much more informed, automated and science-based decision-making process. Adoption of these measures, sponsored by the EU, puts IOTC at the forefront of green and modern fisheries management. IOTC is the first regional IOTC organization. The Tuna Fisheries Commission has adopted procedures for the management of swordfish, a species other than tuna, and has procedures for two of the three tropical tuna stocks, skipjack and bigeye tuna.

One EU proposal that was not adopted at the IOTC meeting was a suggestion to close fishing in the Indian Ocean for one month. According to the European Commission, the measure would help rebuild stocks of yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna, which are currently overfished.

The Commission for the Promotion of the Environment. Indian Ocean Tuna

The Commission for the Promotion of the Environment. The Indian Ocean tuna fishery is a regional organization for the development of the fisheries management (RFMO) authorized to manage fisheries for tuna and related species in the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas. It was established in 1993 and became active three years later.

The IOTC is an intergovernmental organization of countries bordering the Indian Ocean and interested in tuna fishing in the area. Its goal is to promote cooperation among its members for the conservation and optimal use of this fish’s resources and to ensure the introduction of sustainable fisheries in the region. To achieve these goals, IOTC members meet annually, discuss and adopt measures to protect and manage tuna and related species.

The EU became a member of IOTC in 1995. The other members are Australia, Bangladesh, China, Comoros, France on behalf of its overseas territories, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, United Kingdom and Yemen.

EU efforts to develop sustainable fisheries

The EU, represented by the European Commission, is actively participating in international discussions on the development of sustainable fisheries. As a result, it is one of the most important players in the regional organization for the development of the region. of global fisheries, enabling it to promote international ocean governance and support rational action on fishing issues. Also in terms of internal regulations, it is making changes to implement responsible practices, as we wrote about in a previous article in Water Matters: How will EU fisheries be controlled? New regulations effective from 2024.