IOTC: years long dialogue leads to dFAD management establishment

Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources on Tuesday, said a crucial resolution seeking to establish the drifting Fish Aggreate Device (dFAD) management system was passed at the recently concluded 28th annual Indian Ocean Tun Commission (IOTC) meeting.

The Maldives took part in this year's IOTC held at Thailand from May 13 to 17.

The ministry said it reiterated the call to monitor and sustain aquatic life of the oceans, and said that with the adoption of the dFAD management system proposal will play a vital role in regulating the use of dFADs deployed by purse fishing vessels operating in the Indian Ocean, and establish a dFAD register and monitoring system with stricter limits on the number of dFADs, as well as a reduction of supply vessels.

Purse fishing is primarily used to catch yellowfin tuna, while the ministry claimed the population of yellowfin in the Indian Ocean has depleted significantly over the years. 

The ministry further highlighted that the adoption of the dFAD management system proposal will enhance revitalizing yellowfin population in the region.

Facilitated by the Maldives, the proposal was adopted with the deliberation and approval of Africa, Indonesia, Pakistan, European Union (EU), South Korea, Mauritius and Seychelles. The ministry also said the adoption of the dFAD management system measure is among the top achievements at the IOTC, especially since it was adopted "after years of intense regulations and setbacks".

Additionally, the 28th session of IOTC concluded with the adoption of the Management Procedures (MP) for skipjack tuna and swordfish - making it the first a swordfish management procedure is established globally, which is also the first non-tuna management procedure ever adopted by a regional fisheries management organization.

The proposal was backed by both the Maldives and the EU.

Besides this, Maldives and Korea co-led the proposal on climate change, aimed on strengthening the current measure providing guidance on the incorporation of climate change impacts on the functioning of the IOTC. The proposal also introduced a standing agenda item on climate change in relation to IOTC fisheries in the Scientific Committee meetings of the commission.

Other key issues were highlighted and deliberated at the IOTC session, where, out of the 24 proposals submitted by six countries, 16 were adopted with the approval of 30 member conutries.

While 16 progressive proposals were adopted at the 28th session, Maldives noted its disappointment over the withdrawal of the proposal submitted by the country along with Pakistan on the conservation of sharks.

IOTC is the regional fisheries management organization for the Indian Ocean, which consists of the ocean's coastal states and other member countries - with a total membership of 30 states including India and the Maldives, the latter achieving membership in 2011.