Suggested improvements to 19/02 that will ensure the effective management of dFADs

Noting concerns of non-compliance provided to the IOTC Compliance Committee in May 2022 through submissions IOTC-2022-CoC19-INF03_Rev2 and IOTC-2022-CoC19-INF04, Kenya proposes various improvements to Resolution 19/02 in follow up to submission IOTC-2022-S26-REF06 as below:

• Implement a dFAD Register, following at minimum the requirements listed in IOTC-2022-S26-REF06
• Implement precautionary limits on the number of dFADs that may be deployed and registered to any vessel in the dFAD Register, following at minimum the requirements listed in IOTC-2022-S26-REF06
• Apply an oceanwide dFAD closure of at least three months, with a 15 day period in advance during which dFAD deployments are prohibited and any fished dFADs must be retained by that vessel to reduce the likelihood of dFAD loss during the closure period
• Implement a dFAD Monitoring System that is developed and administered by a an independent third party, following at minimum the requirements listed in IOTC-2022-S26-REF06
• Improve dFAD marking, reporting and compliance obligations following at minimum requirements listed in IOTC-2022-S26-REF06
• Immediately prohibit the deployment of dFADs that are not fully constructed of biodegradable materials or are an entanglement risk due to having any netting or other meshed materials in their design.
• Require the immediate removal from the ocean of any dFADs that are currently constructed of non-biodegradable materials or contain entangling netting.