The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) has reached a consensus measure on yellowfin tuna and agreed to establish a voluntary vessel monitoring system pilot program at its 30th annual meeting.
The IOTC met from 11 to 15 May in Male, Maldives, and advanced a number of different proposals including an agreement on a yellowfin tuna management framework that commits to reduce catches over time. It also continued to fund a management strategy evaluation for both yellowfin and for albacore tuna.
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) – which pushed for progress on management strategies ahead of the meeting – said the meeting had several constructive outcomes for yellowfin tuna. A number of environmental organizations and NGOs had long criticized the IOTC’s failure to address overfishing after it was first declared overfished in 2015. Yellowfin managed to recover and achieve a “green” rating from the IOTC’s Scientific Committee, based on a model developed in 2021.
“ISSF acknowledges both the effort by IOTC members to reach a consensus measure and their cooperative spirit throughout negotiations,” ISSF said of the latest IOTC meeting. “The discussions reflect a willingness among members to work toward a forward-looking yellowfin catch limit agreement that all Parties will adhere to and implement fully.”
However, ISSF said the consensus measure, while it provides a stable management framework for the species, did not fully align with the Scientific Committee’s maximum sustainable yield advice of approximately 421,000 metric tons (MT). However, the IOTC agreed to a total allowable catch of 436,867 MT, outside the committee’s advice.
“While the agreement includes commitments intended to reduce catches over time, the potential catch levels under the measure remain well above the level advised by scientists,” ISSF said. “ISSF urges the commission to continue refining the measure in the coming years to ensure catch levels progressively align with science-based limits and help maintain the stock’s recovery trajectory.”
IOTC is performing a stock assessment of yellowfin tuna in 2027, which ISSF said will help inform the commission about future management decisions.
Along with the yellowfin decision, the IOTC also committed funding to management strategy evaluations of yellowfin and albacore tuna.
ISSF said the “clearest positive outcome” of the meeting from the organization’s perspective was the adoption of an updated measure for mobulid ray protection. Those protections include safe handling-and-release best practices, which ISSF said will reduce post-release mortality of the species.
The IOTC also agreed to proceed on a voluntary vessel monitoring system, another measure ISSF advocated for ahead of the meeting. It also adopted a revised transshipment measure that will require any transshipment on vessels in its management area occur on vessels that have been authorized by either IOTC members or cooperating non-members.
“ISSF has consistently advocated for stronger transshipment oversight and improved alignment with international best practices, including through adoption of ISSF conservation measures related to transshipment authorization and observer coverage requirements,” ISSF said. “The new measure helps close an important oversight gap and strengthens accountability for at-sea activities.”
