Indian Ocean Tuna Commission - Commission des thons de l'océan Indien
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about IOTC > mission
Mission, objectives and function of the Commission
 
 
history
The Agreement for the Establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (download), elements of which are summarised below, was adopted by the FAO Council at its Hundred and Fifth Session in Rome on 25 November 1993. The Agreement entered into force on the accession of the tenth Member on 27 March 1996. The Financial Regulations were adopted at the First Special Session of IOTC in Rome on 21-24 March 1997 and the Rules of Procedure were adopted at the Second Session held in Victoria on 22-25 September 1997.

mission
The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is an intergovernmental organization established under Article XIV of the FAO constitution. It is mandated to manage tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas.

objectives
The objective of the Commission is to promote cooperation among its Members with a view to ensuring, through appropriate management, the conservation and optimum utilisation of stocks covered by this Agreement and encouraging sustainable development of fisheries based on such stocks.

function and responsibilities
In order to achieve these objectives, the Commission has the following functions and responsibilities, in accordance with the principles expressed in the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea:
a.
to keep under review the conditions and trends of the stocks and to gather, analyse and disseminate scientific information, catch and effort statistics and other data relevant to the conservation and management of the stocks and to fisheries based on the stocks covered by this Agreement;
b.
to encourage, recommend, and coordinate research and development activities in respect of the stocks and fisheries covered by this Agreement, and such other activities as the Commission may decide appropriate, including activities connected with transfer of technology, training and enhancement, having due regard to the need to ensure the equitable participation of Members of the Commission in the fisheries and the special interests and needs of Members in the region that are developing countries;
c.
to adopt, on the basis of scientific evidence, conservation and management measures to ensure the conservation of the stocks covered by this Agreement and to promote the objective of their optimum utilisation throughout the Area;
d.
to keep under review the economic and social aspects of the fisheries based on the stocks covered by this Agreement bearing in mind, in particular, the interests of developing coastal states.

management powers

Conservation and management measures binding on Members of the Commission must be adopted by a two-thirds majority of  Members present and voting. Individual members objecting to a decision are not bound by it . If objections to a measure are made by more than one-third of the Members of the Commission, the other Members are not bound by that measure; but this does not preclude any or all of them from giving effect.

Recommendations concerning conservation and management of the stocks for furthering the objectives of this Agreement need only be adopted by a simple majority of its Members present and voting.

It is under the responsibility of Members to ensure that  action is taken under their national legislation to implement conservation and management measures which become binding on it.

The Members of the Commission are also expected to cooperate in the exchange of information regarding any fishing for stocks covered by this Agreement by nationals of any State or entity which is not a Member of the Commission.


area of competence
The area of competence of the Commission is the Indian Ocean (defined for the purpose of this Agreement as being FAO statistical areas 51 and 57) and adjacent seas, north of the Antarctic Convergence, insofar as it is necessary to cover such seas for the purpose of conserving and managing stocks that migrate into or out of the Indian Ocean.

the IOTC area of competence (click for a larger image)

species under iotc management
The species listed below are under the management mandate of IOTC. In addition, the Commission has instructed the Secretariat to collate data on non-target, associated and dependent species affected by tuna fishing operations.

FAO English name FAO French name Scientific name
click on a scientific name to get additional information on that species.
Yellowfin tuna Albacore Thunnus albacares
Skipjack Listao; Bonite à ventre rayé Katsuwonus pelamis
Bigeye tuna Patudo; Thon obèse Thunnus obesus
Albacore tuna Germon Thunnus alalunga
Southern Bluefin tuna Thon rouge du sud Thunnus maccoyii
Longtail tuna Thon mignon Thunnus tonggol
Kawakawa Thonine orientale Euthynnus affinis
Frigate tuna Auxide Auxis thazard
Bullet tuna Bonitou Auxis rochei
Narrow barred Spanish Mackerel Thazard rayé

Scomberomorus commersoni

Indo-Pacific king mackerel Thazard ponctué Scomberomorus guttatus
Indo-Pacific Blue Marlin Makaire bleu de l’Indo Pacifique
Black Marlin Makaire noir Makaira indica
Striped Marlin Marlin rayé Tetrapturus audax
Indo-Pacific Sailfish Voilier de l’Indo-Pacifique Istiophorus platypterus
Swordfish Espadon Xiphias gladius

 





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last updated : July 14, 2006 / © IOTC 2001-2004