Actions taken by Iran to Improve Catch & Effort Data in 2018

This document presents summary information about fisheries statistical data in Iran, according to IOTC
resolutions and recommendations concerning mandatory minimum data submit to IOTC and basic actions toimproving Data collection system with approvals and recommendations of the Scientific Committee and
WPDCS.
In 2018 total fish production in Iran was 1,262,403 tonnes, including 489,205 tonnes, aquaculture and
773,198 tonnes, catch which comprised 731,161 tonnes (95%) from southern waters, and 42,036 tonnes (5%)
from northern waters. Total catch in southern waters ( by more than 10000 artisanal fishing vessels), which can
be distribute as 558,758 tonnes (76%) attributed to Persian Gulf and Oman Sea as coastal fisheries, 172,404
tonnes (24%) from High seas (western Indian Ocean).
For better collaboration with IOTC, much effort have been carried out to extract all necessary outputs
required to meet the concerned IOTC, Resolutions such as submission catch and effort data by gear, costal fishing
ground and High seas fishery. Developing our data collection system and software is in progress to meet
mandatory minimum statistics requirements and submission catch and effort data by gear, costal fishing ground
and high seas fishery for recent 10 years. We have taken various actions to implement the Scientific Committee
and IOTC Resolutions and Recommendations.
In complying with IOTC regulations, we are decreasing the fishing pressure on coastal species by
substituting a number of gillnetters with logline fishery to meet IOTC mandates. In addition, data collection for
offshore Fishery is ongoing, to this end, we are collecting and filling the data though logbooks. In addition, the
species for which the size data reported include six tuna species comprised of: YFT, SKJ, BET, KAW, COM and
LOT at 17 landing places. Size data collected by type of Fishery including: Gillnet Purse seine and Hook or Troll
fishery. Tuna and tuna-like Species identification was improved in 2019 by holding training courses to
differentiate BET from YFT, KAW from Bullet and frigate tuna, to identify billfishes, shark species and so forth.
Historical catch & effort data (2008-2017) have been provided to standardize CPUE for neritic tuna. We have
carried out many actions for reporting of gillnet fishery by-catch and discard species such as sharks, dolphins,
sea turtles, etc.