As the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) annual meeting concludes, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) welcomes several constructive outcomes for Indian Ocean tuna fisheries, particularly on bycatch mitigation, transshipment oversight, and continued investment in science-based management procedures. However, ISSF remains concerned that the adopted yellowfin tuna measure does not fully align with IOTC Scientific Committee advice.
Ahead of this year’s annual meeting, ISSF urged the Commission to build on recent progress in Indian Ocean tuna fisheries management by focusing on strengthening science-based tuna conservation measures and improving monitoring systems and bycatch mitigation measures.
The final meeting outcomes reflect progress in several of these areas, particularly for mobulid ray conservation, transshipment oversight, and continued investment in management procedures. Yet important gaps remain on tuna conservation measures, particularly yellowfin catch limits, and monitoring systems.
Yellowfin Agreement Reflects Cooperation, But More Progress Is Needed
Yellowfin tuna remained one of the central issues of this year’s meeting.
ISSF acknowledges both the effort by IOTC members to reach a consensus measure and their cooperative spirit throughout negotiations. 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.
The adopted measure represents progress toward a more stable management framework for yellowfin tuna. However, the measure does not fully align with ISSF’s recommendation that catch levels remain within the Scientific Committee’s advice of approximately 421,000 tonnes.
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 — possibly jeopardizing the health of the recently recovered IO yellowfin tuna stock. 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. Next year’s yellowfin stock assessment will help inform future management decisions.
The Commission also agreed to continue funding management strategy evaluation (MSE) work for yellowfin and albacore tuna in 2027-2028. ISSF welcomes this investment in management procedures and continued collaboration to support this MSE work alongside scientists, industry partners, and other organizations.
ISSF also welcomes the decision to avoid adopting a proposed skipjack measure that was not aligned with the recently adopted management procedures for the stock. Maintaining confidence in science-based management procedures is fundamental to effective long-term fisheries management.
Mobulid Ray Measure Marks a Strong Outcome
The clearest positive outcome of the meeting is the adoption of an updated measure for mobulid ray protection.
ISSF applauds the inclusion of safe handling-and-release best practices recommended by the IOTC Scientific Committee. These measures provide practical tools for skippers and crew to reduce post-release mortality and improve protections for vulnerable species associated with tuna fisheries.
This outcome reflects years of collaborative technical work involving ISSF scientists, fishers, vessel crew, researchers, and partner organizations to develop and refine handling-and-release practices. Translating this work into RFMO measures is an important example of how scientific research and on-the-water experience can support practical and implementable conservation improvements in tuna fisheries.
Monitoring and Oversight Continue to Advance
Several meeting outcomes reflect incremental progress on monitoring, control, and surveillance measures.
ISSF welcomes agreement to proceed with a voluntary vessel monitoring system (VMS) pilot program funded by the Commission. Continued progress toward a more centralized and adequately resourced regional VMS system would strengthen vessel monitoring and improve regional efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Commission also adopted a revised transshipment measure requiring transshipments to occur only between vessels authorized by IOTC Members and 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. The new measure helps close an important oversight gap and strengthens accountability for at-sea activities.
Another positive outcome is the Commission’s decision to maintain vessels on the IUU vessel list when insufficient flag-state action had been taken, despite requests to remove them. Upholding the integrity of IUU vessel listing procedures is an important part of effective RFMO oversight and accountability.
The meeting also included discussion on labor standards and crew welfare in tuna fisheries, an issue that remains relatively nascent within IOTC processes. ISSF encourages the Commission to continue advancing discussions on social responsibility alongside environmental sustainability.
Looking Ahead
ISSF is disappointed that proposals to improve information on smaller authorized vessels were not adopted. Better understanding of artisanal and small-scale fleet activity is important for stock assessments, allocation discussions, and broader fisheries management.
Even with these unresolved issues, the outcomes demonstrate continued engagement on improving fisheries management tools and advancing science-based processes. ISSF remains committed to supporting IOTC members, scientists, industry representatives, and NGOs in the ongoing work to strengthen monitoring, accountability, and long-term sustainability across Indian Ocean tuna fisheries.
