WWF-Australia - for a living planet

Indian Ocean tuna and swordfish fisheries need a shake-up

15 May 2007

Indian Ocean tuna and swordfish fisheries need a shake-up

THE ISSUE:

Tuna and swordfish stocks in the Indian Ocean are fished to their limit, or beyond. In addition, every tenth tuna caught is estimated to be illegally fished and not included in the official statistics, further aggravating the situation. This fishing pressure clearly is too high. But the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) - the body charged with managing the fishery - has been notoriously slow to act, even on the advice of its own scientists.

The entire ecosystem is also under pressure, with countless sharks, turtles and seabirds killed each year when caught as bycatch in huge purse seine nets or on kilometre-long lines with thousands of hooks targeting tuna and swordfish.

Unless IOTC members shoulder their responsibility to sustainably manage tuna and swordfish fisheries - worth more than a staggering USD 2 billion a year - we can expect further depletion of the ailing marine wildlife, loss of an important food source and ultimately a loss of livelihoods in the countries bordering the Indian Ocean and beyond.

THE MEETING:

On May 13-18, the 24 member states of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission meet in Mauritius to discuss the management of the tuna and swordfish fisheries. This meeting is an opportunity for the IOTC to turn words into action, to ensure that existing resolutions are enforced and to reduce fishing pressure, especially on swordfish which is a central issue in the negotiations.

WHAT WWF WANTS:

Implement the Kobe Action Plan: The IOTC must take seriously the messages at the January 2007 meeting of the five tuna regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) in Kobe, Japan. This meeting highlighted the crisis facing the tuna and swordfish fisheries worldwide, the Indian Ocean being plagued by some of the worst problems. IOTC member countries must implement the Kobe Action Plan to safeguard the future for tuna and swordfish and the livelihoods depending upon a healthy Indian Ocean. The status of bigeye, yellowfin tuna and swordfish are of particular concern.

"Despite bigeye tuna being classified as vulnerable to extinction, many doubt that current management measures will be effective," said Alistair Graham, High Seas Policy Adviser at WWF International.

"This meeting can make a head start for swordfish and albacore tuna, setting an important precedent for other species in the IOTC mandate if it implements the actions agreed in Japan."

Independent performance assessment: At Kobe, an agreement was made on the need for RFMOs' performance to be assessed by independent panels.

"This meeting could provide a great opportunity for the IOTC to show real leadership while in the spotlight by committing to a full performance assessment," Alistair Graham said.

Observer programmes and science-based catch limits: Catch limits must be set according to scientific advice, and compulsory observer programmes implemented on all vessels to ensure transparency in reporting catch data.

"A functioning, transparent system for catch and bycatch data collection and reporting is the basis for good fisheries management. Having observers on all vessels would ensure this," said Alistair Graham.

Protect sharks and other bycatch: The IOTC has still not fulfilled its obligations decided at its 2005 meeting to assess the plight of sharks taken in the Indian Ocean. Such data is crucial to establishing functioning conservation plans.

"IOTC members must commit to investing in comprehensive scientific assessments of the key shark species taken by IOTC fisheries and to heed scientific advice on bycatch reduction," said Alistair Graham.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE:

SPOKESPEOPLE:

Alistair Graham, High Seas Policy Adviser, WWF International
Phone: + 61 4 39 568 376
Email:

Paul Gamblin, Senior Policy Advisor, WWF-Australia
Phone: +61 8 9442 1207
Mobile: 0410 221 508
Email:

Find out more

Jessica Battle, ,
Phone: +41 22 364 9025
Mobile: +41 78 8914844
Email:

NOTES:

IOTC members are: Australia, China, Comoros, Eritrea, European Community, France, Guinea, India, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, United Kingdom and Vanuatu. Cooperating non-contracting parties: Belize, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa. www.iotc.org

The main high seas market species fished in the Indian Ocean - stock status , conservation status