Good Practices with Regional Management Bodies: Case of the

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

Rondolph PAYETExecutive Secretary

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

Established in 1996 , it is the only RFMO based in the IO, and the only tuna RFMO under the FAO of United Nations framework.

Headquarters – based in Victoria, Seychelles 31 full Member States and 2 Cooperating States Most of the tuna fishing nations are members

(over 80-90% of the catch). The objective of the IOTC is to promote cooperation

among its Members to ensure, through appropriate management, the conservation and optimum utilization of stocks covered by the Agreement and to encourage sustainable development of related fisheries

Performance review (2nd)

IOTC

Decisions are binding by majority rule. Decisions (Resolutions) taken collectively but

implemented at national Level. Objection procedures• Most CMMs adopted by the IOTC apply

throughout the entire competence area, including coastal State EEZs, and thus potentially affect coastal States’ sovereign rights over the living resources in their EEZs as the CMM in some way or another restrict fishing activities.

Countries must translate the Resolutions in national laws.

Members make contribution's to the organisation ( GDP, Catch level, development status)

Carry out capacity building activities

IOTC

The structure of IOTC

Commission(31+2 Member States

decide on actions)

Scientific Committee(advise on

status)

Scientific Committee(advise on

status)

Compliance Committee(advise on

enforcement)

Compliance Committee(advise on

enforcement)

Working Groups (scientific analysis)

•Tropical Tunas•Billfish•Temperate Tunas•Ecosystems•Data Collection•Methods

Working Groups (scientific analysis)

•Tropical Tunas•Billfish•Temperate Tunas•Ecosystems•Data Collection•Methods

Secretariat(support all

processes at all levels

IGO and NGOIGO and NGO

• Yellowfin, skipjack, bigeye, albacore tunas and swordfish the main species. •Neritic tunas important at a sub-regional level.•16 Species in total + sharks, seasbirds, whales ( associated species).• Virtually all the transboundary stocks of importance in the IO.• About 40% of catches in the high-seas.

What are the species under IOTC mandate?

Catch 1973-2012

0.0

0.4

0.8

1.2

1.6

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Mill

ions

of m

etri

c to

ns

Catch IOTC Species 1973-2012

GUT

COM

BLT

FRI

KAW

LOT

SFA

MLS

BUM

BLM

SWO

SKJ

SBF

ALB

BET

YFT

Species

Year

Sum of Catch

WS

Compliance

ComplianceMeter

Compliant Partially Compliant Not Compliant

Implementing year 2010 2011 2012

Compliance rate 25% 38% 46%

Compliance – where we are

2010 2011

20122012

Approaches – Science to

Governance/Decision making

•Evaluation of uncertainty in the stock status, development of robust management strategies.

•Precautionary approach

•Incorporating ecosystem considerations into management decisions.

•The development Management Strategy Evaluation for Harvest Control Rules.

Better science to guide decision making:

What is Management Strategy Evaluation? •A strategic risk assessment tool •Prospective evaluation of alternative management strategies •Selection of management strategies that are most likely to meet management objectives and “robust” to major uncertainties •Two components

• Consultative process• Technical implementation

Management Strategy Evaluation and Harvest Control Rules

•Objectives • What the strategy is designed to achieve.

•Monitoring •Assessment

• Stock assessment or simple analysis •Harvest Control Rules or Decision rule

• An agreed basis for using the output of monitoring to change/not change the level of fishing

•Implementation • Management measures designed to achieve

change in fishing mortality.

Components of a Harvest Strategy

Development of Harvest Strategies for Conservation Measures

•Evaluation of their performance against management objectives.•Understand their sensitivity and robustness to uncertainties•Use of simulation tools to explore the robustness of management options to uncertainties in the system

•Compare the evolution of “real” and perceived systems to quantify errors and biases

•To quantify the success at achieving pre-agreed objectives

Management Strategy Evaluation and Harvest Control Rules

What is MSE

Challenges

Sustaining Catch levels and Controlling fishing capacity

Participation of developing countries Translation of the conservation and management

measures into national laws Compliance to Conservation and management

measures Managing the fisheries development aspirations

of the developing/coastal states Financial contributions Distribution of the conservation burden and

benefit is a critical challenge to the conservation and management of trans-boundary fish stocks - How to share the conservation burden

Implications for IW LEARN Projects/GEF – Marine Fisheries Perspectives Traditional Approach

Science-based approach tends to drive the Strategy/institutional frameworks

Alternative Approach Determine the strategy First ( a dialogue

between the scientist/Decision-makers). Determine your decision rule ( what to do

when X happens) Advise what science needs to address Implementation of management

decision/monitoring and assessments. Performance Review of the

Commissions/Authority

Area Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) Project – Tuna

FAO (with WWF) implemented (GEF funded) –

Support Tuna RFMOs improving science to management/governance Promote Sustainable management of tuna

resources Strengthen Monitoring and surveillance of

fisheries Reduce ecosystem aspects.

Thank You

Website: www.iotc.org