Support for the development of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management for Indian Ocean tuna fisheries

The Sustainable Indian Ocean Tuna Initiative (SIOTI) is a large-scale FIP comprising the major purse seine fleets and tuna processors in the Indian Ocean. As part of its Action Plan, SIOTI supported this study with the overall objective of examining the core requirements of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) resulting from the ecosystem impacts of tuna purse seine fishing in the Indian Ocean. To do so, this study summarizes the current progress of IOTC in implementing the EAFM and proposes several research avenues and options to facilitate its operationalization. It also reviews the key risk areas associated with the ecosystem impact of purse seine fisheries on the foodweb structure and function, and identifies potential options to improve fisheries management that explicitly accounts for ecosystem impacts. Ultimately, this study aims to inform the actions and activities planned in the SIOTI Action Plan established under the three critical and non-critical Improved Performance Goals (IPG6, IPG15 and IPG16) related to the ecosystem impacts of purse seine tuna fishing.