Fisheries: Unprecedented progress in protection of Indian Ocean fish stocks thanks to EU leadership

Strides forward were made last week by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission for the protection of the fish stocks in the Indian Ocean, such as tropical tunas and shark stocks, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to EC.

The parties agreed among others on an enhanced system for control and compliance, on introducing a time/area closure and on forbidding sharks from the thresher family from being taken or kept on board. These measures, probably the most far reaching undertaken by IOTC since its conception in 1996, all stemmed from EU's proposal and were made possible thanks to the EU's progressive leadership and close cooperation with all IOTC Members, particularly coastal developing states. 

The 14th Annual Meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) held in Busan, Korea, on 1-5 March 2010, was said by Members to be the most successful in several years and saw the adoption of a number of innovative resolutions tabled by the EU.  The following measures, all initiated by the EU, rank among the most concrete steps undertaken.

Conservation
IOTC established a time/area closure in the region outside the Somalian EEZ to 60 degrees E and between 0 and 10 degrees North throughout the month of February for longline fleet and throughout the month of November for purse fleet. This balanced approach, targeting longline and purse seine fisheries on equal footing, is the first management measure ever adopted by the IOTC.
Members agreed to develop a TAC and Quota system by 2012 and gave the Scientific Committee a clear mandate to develop management options and present them to the IOTC. This long-awaited step will undoubtedly kick start the development of a strong fishery management system for the region.

Control
IOTC adopted a Port State control and inspection scheme which reflects the recent FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing  and which is an important step forward in combating IUU fishing.
The Commission adopted a market-related measure which is bound to strengthen the compliance powers of IOTC and the fight against IUU.

Compliance
The Commission undertook a detailed review of the degree of compliance of vessels with the main conservation measures. This led to a considerable expansion of the IOTC list of IUU vessels, including vessels flagged to the IOTC Contracting Parties themselves.