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This document presents summary information about fisheries statistical data in Iran, accordance with IOTC resolutions and recommendations concerning the mandatory minimum data to be submitted to IOTC, as well as basic actions to improve the data collection system, with the approvals and recommendations of the Scientific Committee and WPDCS.
In 2023 the total fish production in Iran was 1,418,215 tonnes, comprising 639,936 tonnes from aquaculture and 778,279 tonnes from catch, this catch included 741,308 tonnes (95%) from southern waters, and 36,971 tonnes (5%) from northern waters. The total catch in southern waters can be distributed as 606,899 tonnes (82%) attributed to Persian Gulf and Oman Sea as coastal fisheries, 134,408 tonnes (18%) from the high seas (outside of Iran's EEZ in western Indian Ocean). More than 14000 artisanal fishing vessels are active. For better collaboration with the IOTC, significant efforts have been made to extract all necessary outputs required to meet the concerned IOTC, resolutions. The development of our data collection system and software is in progress to meet mandatory minimum statistical requirements and report catch and effort data by gear, coastal fishing grounds, and high seas fishery to the IOTC. We have taken various actions to implement the resolutions and recommendations of the Scientific Committee and IOTC.
In compliance with IOTC regulations, we are reducing the fishing pressure on coastal species by substituting a number of gillnetters with logline fishery to meet IOTC mandates. Moreover, data collection for high seas fishery is ongoing, to this end we are collecting and recording the data through logbooks. In addition, the species for which size data is reported include six tuna species: YFT, SKJ, BET, KAW, COM and LOT across 17 landing sites. Size data is collected by type of Fishery, including: gillnet, purse seine and hook or troll fishery. The identification of tuna and tuna-like species has been improved by conducting training courses to differentiate BET from YFT, KAW from Bullet and Frigate tuna, and to identify Billfishes, shark species, and others.
In order to comply with the Commission's regulations, information on two species of sharks, namely mako shark and hammerhead shark, as well as two species of billfish, specifically blue marlin and shortbill-spearfish, has been revised. The catch and length frequency data of these marine species have been completed in 1RC, 3CE and 4SF forms and submitted to the IOTC Secretariat.
Catch & effort data have been reviewed and modified to determine the exact catch of vessels longer than 24 meters. We have undertaken numerous actions to report the by-catch and discard species such as sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, and others in gillnet fishery.
Every year, efforts are made to adapt and implement the recommendations of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) in Iran, with a focus on finding suitable areas for implementation that involve the cooperation and participation of the fishing community. Strengthening fisheries education and training programs to improve fishing conditions is considered a crucial approach in managing the sustainable exploitation of neritic tuna stocks, as well as catch & effort data collection in the country.
