On Tuesday 11 April, the European Union unveiled “ambitious” proposals for the next session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), from 8 to 12 May. Alongside these proposals, it submitted an objection to IOTC Resolution 23/02 on fish aggregating devices (FADs).
The first proposal (https://aeur.eu/f/69m ) concerns a multi-annual management plan for tropical tunas (yellowfin, bigeye and skipjack). This multi-species plan would last for 3 years and would reduce the level of catches in line with scientific advice.
Such plans have already been successfully implemented by other regional fisheries management organisations, but this is the first time IOTC would adopt such a system for tropical tuna. The EU proposes a proportional reduction in catches, taking into account the current level of catches of each IOTC member and the level of development of countries.
A system of boarding and inspection of vessels on the high seas is also proposed by the EU (https://aeur.eu/f/69o ) to ensure compliance with IOTC rules and to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities.
Finally, the EU suggests updating the rules of the IOTC Compliance Committee (https://aeur.eu/f/69p ) to ensure, among other things, that fishing activities are conducted in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and conservation measures.
“Compliance has been a weak point of the IOTC and this proposal will identify and address the areas of non-compliance. It will also support developing coastal countries to better monitor their fleets, ports and water under their jurisdiction”, according to the EU.
FAD. In early April, the NGO Bloom called the European Commission’s proposal to object to the February IOTC resolution restricting the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs) “undemocratic”. The EU has objected and submitted an alternative proposal for the IOTC meeting in May. However, this proposal would not solve the problem, particularly the excessive catch of juveniles, according to Bloom.
However, the EU is pushing for a proposal on fish aggregating devices (FADs) that would address all relevant aspects of FAD fishing, from tagging to limiting the number of devices to combating plastic pollution.
According to the EU, the new proposal on FADs (https://aeur.eu/f/69n ) would improve the most difficult provisions of Resolution 23/02 to ensure effective implementation of the rules (see EUROPE 13157/16).
The EU is proposing a gradual and significant reduction in the number of FADs deployed from 300 to 240 per vessel, which would be the lowest number of deployable FADs ever agreed in an ocean.
See the EU objection on FADs, which was revealed by EUROPE (see EUROPE 13154/10): https://aeur.eu/f/69k (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)