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Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is an intergovernmental organisation mandated to manage tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas. Its objective is to promote cooperation among its members with a view to ensuring, through appropriate management, the conservation and optimum utilisation of stocks and encouraging sustainable development of fisheries based on such stocks. More information on IOTC meetings and IOTC reports.
Contacts
IOTC Secretariat
PO Box 1011
Victoria
SEYCHELLES
email: iotc.secretary@iotc.org
website: www.iotc.org
Background and purpose
The Agreement for the Establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission was adopted by the FAO Council at its 105th Session in Rome on 25 November 1993. The agreement entered into force on the accession of the tenth member on 27 March 1996.
Australian priorities
Australia maintains an active involvement in the IOTC to ensure the sustainable management of the tuna resources of the Indian Ocean and continued access for our tuna industries. Australia is a major coastal state within the IOTC area of competence, and is demonstrating sound stewardship through the stringent management regime it has in place to ensure the sustainability of its industry’s operations.
Australia is concerned to ensure effective management measures are established urgently to ensure the conservation of bigeye, yellowfin tuna and broadboll swordfish stocks, which are under threat, and will continue to work constructively with other members to this end.
Australia will continue to encourage the participation in the IOTC of all fishing states and entities that operate in the Indian Ocean, and to ensure appropriate cooperation is maintained between the IOTC and the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) and other regional fisheries bodies.
Members
Membership of IOTC is open to Indian Ocean coastal countries and to countries or regional economic integration organisations which are members of the United Nations or one of its specialised agencies and are fishing for tuna in the Indian Ocean. Current members are Australia, China, Comoros, Eritrea, European Community, France, Guinea, India, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, United Kingdom and Vanuatu.
Several Indian Ocean coastal States with important tuna fisheries, notably Indonesia and South Africa are not yet members of the IOTC, nor is Taiwan, a major distant water fishing entity.
Meetings
Sessions of the Commission are normally held annually. The IOTC Scientific Committee meets annually several months prior to the Commission meeting in order for Commission members to act on the most recent scientific advice. Several working party meetings are held as required.
Location
The IOTC Secretariat is located in the Seychelles.