Background
The Commission has requested information on fishing capacity within the IOTC area in order to inform
its management decisions.
Capacity analysis must be linked to policy needs. It must be set in context:
Globally overcapacity exists relative to tuna fishery resources. It is a global problem that requires a
coordinated global response. Nevertheless there are issues that IOTC can examine ‘locally’;

• The fisheries are multispecies for tunas and tuna like species though some targeting is possible and
  therefore target switching can complicate evaluation of fishing capacity.
• It is a multi-gear fishery with vessels of different characteristics (purse seine +/- FADS; longlines;
  pole and line, multi-gear artisanal fisheries); increases in fishing power can occur over time with
  technological development.
• In the IOTC area artisanal fisheries are a particular factor that needs to be considered. They account
  for about half the catch.

Terms of Reference:
The Working Party on Fishing Capacity is expected to undertake the following work over several years.
This working party shall not only focus on estimation of fishing capacity. It should also provide information
that will enable the implementation of capacity controls by IOTC.

1. Review methods reviewed by the FAO Technical Advisory Committee on Tuna Fishing Capacity
   and by other RFMOs, national management bodies, and other institutions to estimate and manage
   fishing capacity;
2. Investigate the most suitable methods currently available to determine fishing capacity that can be
   applied in the Indian Ocean. Review any additional data requirements to apply those methods in
   IOTC;
3. Define the factors affecting fishing capacity that can be managed by IOTC;
4. Determine the fishing capacity of the existing tuna fishing fleets relative to the status of the resources;
5. Determine the relative fishing capacities of different vessel/gears categories.

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