The EU has welcomed the new Sustainable Fisheries Agreement reached at Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) meeting
EU Hails New Sustainable Fisheries Agreement at Indian Ocean Tuna Commission Meeting
The European Union has welcomed the significant decisions reached during the 28th annual meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), held from 13 to 17 May 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.
These decisions, which include the adoption of 11 new conservation and management measures, aim to enhance the sustainability of fisheries in the Indian Ocean.
After three years of complex negotiations, the IOTC, acting on a proposal from the EU, has adopted a much-needed resolution for the management of drifting fish aggregating devices (FADs). This decision, along with several other measures, is crucial for the sustainable management of fish stocks in the Indian Ocean.
Significant Agreement on Fish Aggregating Devices
Since 2022, the EU has consistently advocated for improved management of FADs in the Indian Ocean. These floating devices are used to attract tuna and other fish, facilitating their capture. FADs can either be drifting, tracked by satellite buoys, or anchored to the seafloor, depending on the needs of the fleets using them. Purse seine vessels, including those flagged in EU member states, primarily use drifting FADs in high seas, while coastal communities tend to use anchored FADs closer to the coastline.
Based on an EU proposal, the IOTC adopted the most ambitious and stringent management framework for drifting FADs ever seen in any ocean. This framework includes:
– The immediate prohibition of fully non-biodegradable drifting FADs.
– A gradual phase-out of non-biodegradable components in drifting FADs, moving to fully biodegradable FADs by 2030.
– A reduction in the number of drifting FADs per vessel, from 300 today to 250 in 2026 and 225 in 2028, the lowest limit ever adopted by a regional fisheries management organisation.
– The introduction of the first-ever register of FADs to ensure better control of this fishing practice.
Better Management of Skipjack Tuna and Swordfish
The IOTC also agreed on new management procedures for skipjack tuna and swordfish, enabling more informed, automatic, and science-based decision-making. Sponsored by the EU, these measures place the IOTC at the forefront of modern fishery management. The IOTC is now the first tuna RFMO to adopt management procedures for swordfish, a non-tuna species, and to have management procedures for two of the three tropical tuna stocks—skipjack and bigeye tuna.
No Temporary Closure of Fisheries
Despite these positive steps, the EU expressed disappointment that its proposal for a one-month closure of fisheries in the Indian Ocean was not adopted. This measure was intended to aid the recovery of yellowfin and bigeye tuna stocks, which are currently overfished.
Welcoming the results of the meeting, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries said:
“Over the past years, the European Union has worked tirelessly towards an improved and tightened management of fish aggregating devices in the Indian Ocean. I am glad that the IOTC approved the EU proposal regarding FADs as well as other measures to strengthen the sustainability of fisheries in the Indian Ocean.”
Background
The IOTC, established in 1993 and operational since 1996, is the regional fisheries management organisation mandated to manage tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas. The organisation promotes cooperation among its members for the conservation and optimal utilisation of tuna stocks, ensuring the establishment of sustainable fisheries in the region.
The EU, represented by the Commission, has been a member of the IOTC since 1995. The IOTC includes countries bordering the Indian Ocean and those with an interest in tuna fisheries in the area. Its members meet annually to discuss and adopt measures for the conservation and management of tuna and tuna-like species.
The EU plays an active global role by participating in 18 RFMOs, making it one of the most prominent actors in promoting international ocean governance and the sustainability of international fisheries.
Source: Press Release