Commissioner Kadis to open Indian Ocean Tuna Commission meeting in La Réunion as EU prepares key sustainability proposals
EU to Open 29th Indian Ocean Tuna Commission Meeting
Commissioner Kadis will open the 29th session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) on 13 April 2025 in La Réunion. The meeting will be hosted by the European Union and co-opened with Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French Minister for Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, Marine Affairs and Fisheries. The event will run from 13 to 17 April.
The IOTC is responsible for coordinating the conservation and sustainable use of tuna and tuna-like species across the Indian Ocean. Each year, members meet to review stock data, assess compliance, and adopt new conservation measures.
EU to Table Proposals on Tuna and Shark Management
This year, the EU intends to put forward several proposals targeting the sustainable management of tropical tuna, including yellowfin, and key shark species. Other priorities include enhancing compliance, boosting scientific monitoring, and addressing overfishing risks.
According to the Commission, all measures are based on scientific evidence and respond to growing concerns over environmental degradation and the long-term viability of tuna stocks in the Indian Ocean.
IOTC Mandate Drawn from UNCLOS
Established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the IOTC’s mandate includes:
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Monitoring and analysing trends in tuna stocks
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Coordinating international research and training efforts
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Adopting Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs)
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Supporting the sustainable development goals of coastal states, particularly developing countries
The Commission’s work is informed by scientific advice and reviewed through periodic performance assessments, the latest of which followed its 17th session in 2013.
Leadership and Capacity Building
The current Chair of the IOTC is Ms Jung-re Riley Kim (Republic of Korea), with vice-chairpersons Mr Adam Ziyad (Maldives) and Mr Qayiso Mketsu (South Africa). All three are due to complete their second terms at the close of the 2025 session.
Ongoing capacity-building initiatives and support for regional fisheries data systems remain central to the IOTC’s efforts to ensure equitable participation and transparency in stock management.
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