Conservation and Management Measures (Advanced Search)

CPCs shall require vessels flying their flag to promptly release unharmed, to the extent practicable, thresher sharks when brought along side for taking on board the vessel.

Recreational and sport fishing shall release alive all caught animals of thresher sharks of all the species of the family Alopiidae. In no circumstances specimen shall be retained on board, transhipped, landed, stored, sold or offered for sale. The CPCs shall ensure that both recreational and sport fishermen carrying out fishing with high risk of catching thresher sharks are equipped with instruments suitable to release alive the animals.

Scientific observers shall be allowed to collect biological samples (vertebrae, tissues, reproductive tracts, stomachs, skin samples, spiral valves, jaws, whole and skeletonised specimens for taxonomic works and museum collections) from thresher sharks that are dead at haulback, provided that the samples are part of the research project approved by the IOTC Scientific Committee (or IOTC Working Party on Ecosystems and Bycatch (WPEB)). In order to obtain the approval, a detailed document outlining the purpose of the work, number and type of samples intended to be collected and the spatio-temporal distribution of the sampling work must be included in the proposal. Annual progress of the work and a final report on completion of the project shall be presented to the IOTC WPEB and the IOTC Scientific Committee.

This Resolution supersedes Resolution 10/12 On the Conservation of Thresher Sharks (Family Alopiidae) Caught in Association with Fisheries in the IOTC Area of Competence.

Each Contracting Party and Cooperating Non-Contracting party (hereinafter referred to as CPCs) shall take all measures necessary to prohibit their fishing vessels from using large-scale driftnets while on the high seas in the IOTC area of competence.

Paragraph 3 shall not apply to a CPC-flagged vessel duly authorised to use large-scale driftnets in their EEZs.  While on the high seas in the IOTC area of competence all of such driftnets and related fishing equipment shall be stowed or secured in such a manner that they are not readily available to be used for fishing.

The IOTC shall periodically assess whether additional measures should be adopted and implemented to ensure that large-scale driftnets are not used on the high seas in the IOTC area of competence. The first such assessment shall take place in 2013.

This Resolution supersedes Resolution 09/05 to prohibit the use of large-scale driftnets on the high seas in the IOTC area.

Preserve and promote the professional independence and excellence of the IOTC Scientific Committee and its Working Parties, and the relevance of their work to the information needs of the Commission, by:

1. Enhancing the participation of scientists in meetings of the IOTC Scientific Committee and its Working Parties, including scientists involved in other tuna RFMOs and other relevant scientific bodies;
2. Drafting a code of conduct for the IOTC Scientific Committee, including for its Working Parties, for adoption by the Commission. For this purpose, the IOTC Scientific Committee may develop rules to avoid conflict of interests, to ensure the quality, relevance and professional independence of scientific activities and, where applicable, to maintain the confidentiality of the data used;
3. Drafting a strategic plan for the IOTC Scientific Committee, including its Working Parties, for adoption by the Commission. The strategic plan shall be used to guide the work of the IOTC Scientific Committee, and Working Parties, in assisting the Commission to effectively achieve its mandate;
4. Ensuring that relevant, professionally independent and objective scientific advice, based on the best available and peer-reviewed scientific analysis, is presented by the IOTC Scientific Committee to the Commission;
5. Ensuring that sources and history of revisions of all documents submitted to and assessed by the IOTC Scientific Committee and its Working Parties are fully documented;
6. Providing clear, transparent, and standardised formats for the provision of advice to the Commission;
7. Providing for well-defined rules for formulating scientific advice to the Commission, reflecting different views while striving for consensus, to promote consistency and transparency.