The Working Party on ecosystems and bycatch will include the specific tasks listed below:

1. Monitoring

• Create and maintain an inventory of non-target, associated and dependent species caught by fleets targeting tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean.
• Improve conventional statistics (catch, effort, size) of species under the IOTC mandate that are caught incidentally in non-targeted fisheries.
• Monitor and improve information on interactions with species that are not under the IOTC mandate, with emphasis on those species of interest to the Commission and for which no Species Group has been established (e.g., sharks, sea turtles and sea birds).
• Facilitate access by scientists to oceanographic and environmental data.

2. Research

• Evaluate the relative impact of the different abiotic and biotic factors (including oceanographic and climate phenomena, directed and incidental fishing, predation, competition, pollutions and other human impacts) that affect the abundance, distribution and migration of IOTC species.
• Characterize main feeding and reproductive habitats of IOTC species.
• Characterize the volume, composition and disposition of non-target species that are caught incidentally in tuna and tunalike fisheries within the IOTC Convention area.
• Investigate trophic interactions of IOTC species.
• Investigate the impact that changes in fishing gears or fishing technology have on the catch of target and non-target species.

3. Modelling

• Develop and monitor reference points and indicators that explicitly incorporate ecosystem considerations.
• Participate in the development of simulation, dynamic and statistical models focusing on mixed-fisheries, multi-species, by-catch and ecosystem issues.

4. Advice

• Develop mechanisms which can be used to better integrate ecosystem considerations into the scientific advice provided by Scientific Committee to the Commission.
• Investigate through operational models, potential benefits at an ecosystem level of alternative management strategies, such as time-area closures.
• Advise on the impacts of tuna and tuna-like fisheries on the populations of non-target species of interest to the Commission

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