Conservation and Management Measures (Advanced Search)

The following Recommendations previously adopted by the Commission shall be revoked since they are considered to have been fulfilled or are obsolete, as they have been replaced without being superseded or are no longer relevant to the conservation and management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean:

1. Recommendation 01/01 Concerning the national observer programmes for tuna fishing in the Indian Ocean
2. Recommendation 02/06 On the implementation of the Resolution concerning the IOTC Record of Vessels
3. Recommendation 03/04 Concerning enhancement of effectiveness of IOTC measures to eliminate IUU activities in the IOTC area
4. Recommendation 03/05 Concerning trade measures
5. Recommendation 03/06 Recommendation to commission a report on management options for tuna
6. and tuna-like species
7. Recommendation 05/06 Concerning the terms of references for an IOTC Working Party on Management Options

This measure shall apply to all fishing vessels flying the flag of a CPC and on the IOTC Record of Fishing Vessels or authorised to fish tuna and tuna-like species managed by the IOTC on the high seas. The provisions of this measure do not apply to artisanal fisheries operating exclusively in their respective EEZ.

CPCs shall require that, in the event that a cetacean is unintentionally encircled in a purse seine net, the master of the vessels shall:
a) take all reasonable steps to ensure the safe release of the cetacean, while taking into consideration the safety of the crew. These steps shall include following the best practice guidelines for the safe release and handling of cetaceans developed by the IOTC Scientific Committee;
b) report the incident to the relevant authority of the flag State, with the following information:
i. the species (if known);
ii. the number of individuals;
iii. a short description of the interaction, including details of how and why the interaction occurred, if possible;
iv. the location of the encirclement;
v. the steps taken to ensure safe release;
vi. an assessment of the life status of the animal on release, including whether the cetacean was released alive but subsequently died.

CPCs shall adopt Fish Aggregating Device designs that reduce the incidence of entanglement, according to Annex III of Resolution 13/08 [superseded by Resolution 15/08 then by Resolution 17/08 then 18/08] (or any subsequent revision).

CPCs shall report the information and data collected under paragraph 3(b) and paragraph 4, through logbooks, or when an observer is onboard through observer programs, and provide to the IOTC Secretariat by 30 June of the following year and according to the timelines specified in Resolution 10/02 [superseded by Resolution 15/02] (or any subsequent revision).

For CPCs having national and state legislation for protecting these species shall be exempt from reporting to IOTC, but are encouraged to provide data for the IOTC Scientific Committee consideration. The IOTC Scientific Committee will analyse the situation concerning the availability of data and will advise the Commission to undertake support measures to developing CPCs to overcome this situation.

Contracting Parties and Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties (collectively, CPCs) shall prohibit their flagged vessels from intentionally setting a purse seine net around a whale shark in the IOTC area of competence, if it is sighted prior to the commencement of the set.

CPCs using other gear types fishing for tuna and tuna-like species associated with a whale shark shall report all interactions with whale sharks to the relevant authority of the flag State and include all the information outlined in paragraph 3b(i–v).

The Commission requests that the IOTC Scientific Committee develop best practice guidelines for the safe release and handling of encircled whale sharks, taking into account those developed in other regional fisheries management organisations including the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, and that these guidelines be submitted to the 2014 Commission meeting for endorsement.