The Sixth Session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) was held in Victoria, Seychelles, 10-14 December 2001. Mr. M. Komatsu (Japan) as the sole vice-Chairperson present at the meeting, chaired the Session.

Representatives of 13 Members of the Commission, three States eligible to attend Sessions of the Commission, from four intergovernmental organizations and one non-governmental organization attended the Session. The request from the Republic of the Philippines to renew their status as Cooperating Non-Contracting Party was endorsed by the Commission.

The Commission agreed to establish a Control and Inspection Committee and adopted seven resolutions. These concern observer programmes (Resolution 01/01), control of fishing activities (Resolution 01/02), a scheme to promote compliance by non-contracting party vessels (Resolution 01/03), limitation of fishing effort by Non-Members of IOTC (Resolution 01/04), a modification of mandatory statistical requirements for IOTC (Resolution 01/05) and a recommendation concerning a Bigeye Tuna Statistical Document Programme (Resolution 01/06). The Commission adopted by consensus a resolution concerning support to the IPOA-IUU (Resolution 01/07).

The Commission decided to defer consideration of three other resolutions concerning limitation of fishing capacity of bigeye fishing vessels, an Action Plan to ensure the effectiveness of the conservation programme for bigeye tuna and the establishment of a Vessel Monitoring System.

The Commission also strongly supported the conduct of a tagging programme and pledges of financial or in-kind support were given by a number of parties. Finally, the Secretariat was instructed to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation (Japan) for a programme to improve statistical systems in developing Indian Ocean coastal countries. A multilateral programme of statistical support activities in Indonesia was also approved.

The Commission requested that countries involved in studies of predation of longline fish report their findings to the appropriate Working Party and noted the importance of the IOTC Executive Summaries on the status of the species. The Commission also encouraged contracting and collaborating parties to present national reports covering data and scientific issues to the Scientific Committee.

The Commission approved the programme of work of the Secretariat and adopted a budget for 2002. The budget provides for increased staffing in order to permit the Secretariat to undertake a range of new activities. The Commission agreed to consider at its next Session the establishment of Finance Sub-Committee to discuss in more detail issues relevant to the budget and financial situation. The Commission agreed that the election of the new Secretary should be held during the Eighth Session in 2003.

The Commission agreed that the Seventh Session of the Commission will take place in Seychelles, from the 2nd to the 6th December, 2002, preceded by the Fifth Session of the Scientific Committee from the 26th to the 29th November, 2002. The European Commission proposed that an intersessional meeting be held in Réunion in July 2002. A decision on this will be taken by correspondence.

The Commission unanimously elected Ms. Neerja Rajkumar, from India, as Chairperson of the Commission and Mr John Spencer, from the European Community, as Co-Vice-Chairperson of the European Commission to replace Ms Nita Chowdhury and Mr Emilio Mastracchio. It was also decided that new elections will be held next year as planned. Mr Masayuki Komatsu, from Japan, will continue in his functions as Co-Vice-Chairperson until the end of the next Session.