The Ninth Session of the Compliance Committee (CoC) of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) was held in Fremantle, Australia for the on 18–20 April 2012. The meeting was opened by the Chair, Mr Roberto Cesari (European Union). Delegates from 24 Members of the Commission, 0 Cooperating non-Contracting Parties and 9 Observers attended the Session.
The CoC AGREED that the purpose of the meeting should be to strengthen compliance among Members, i.e. Contracting Parties, and Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties (CPCs) by firstly reviewing progress made during the 2011/2012 intersessional period, identifying outstanding issues of non-compliance as well identifying the challenges and difficulties that each CPC and notably developing coastal States are facing in enforcing and complying with IOTC Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs), and finally to encourage such improvement during the next intersessional period.
The CoC NOTED that the trends in overall fishing capacity can be assessed by comparing the active capacity in 2011 with the reference active capacity in 2006 or 2007. Capacity in 2011 reflects the possible increases in fishing pressure, relative to 2006 or 2007 levels, coming from the implementation of the Fleet Development Plans. In case of differences between CPCs records and IOTC records of active capacity for reference years, CPCs are encouraged to work with the Secretariat to resolve those differences as soon as possible.
The CoC NOTED that in 2012, a total of 28 national Reports of Implementation were provided by CPCs (26 Members and 2 Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties), up from 21 in 2011. The CoC stressed the importance of the timely submission of national Reports of Implementation by all CPCs and urged those CPCs who did not meet their reporting obligations in this regard (Eritrea, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Sudan), to provide a national Reports of Implementation to the Secretariat as soon as possible.
The CoC WELCOMED the progress made by each CPC on compliance with IOTC CMMs and encouraged each CPC to continue their efforts to improve compliance during the intersessional period.
The CoC AGREED that the individual compliance status should be summarized and will constitute the content of the ‘feedback letters on compliance issues’, that will be addressed to the Heads of Delegation during the 16th Session of the Commission (S16) by the Chair of the Commission, including the challenges being experienced by CPCs in implementing the IOTC CMMs.
The CoC NOTED paper IOTC–2012–CoC09–08a which outlines reports of IUU fishing activities in the IOTC area of competence from three CPCs. Since the reporting CPCs have not requested that the concerned vessels be placed on the IOTC Draft IUU Vessels List, the information is for the consideration of CPCs and for them to take any action that they may feel is appropriate, at the 9th Session of the Compliance Committee.
The CoC RECOMMENDED that those CPCs identified in paper IOTC–2012–CoC09–08c, a summary of possible infractions of IOTC regulations by large-scale fishing vessels (LSTLVs/carrier vessels), as well as those CPCs involved in additional cases as referred to in para. 55, investigate and report back to the IOTC via the Secretariat, the findings of their investigations, within three months of the end of the 16th Session of the Commission, by submitting reports on the follow-up on the irregularities identified.
The CoC RECOMMENDED that the Commission note that a new Performance Review was intended to occur every five years, and given that the previous review was completed in 2009, the next review should be completed by 2014.
The CoC RECOMMENDED that the Commission considers the application for the status of Cooperating Non-Contracting Party of the IOTC by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea during the 16th Session of the Commission.
The CoC RECOMMENDED that the Commission considers the application for renewing the status of Senegal as a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party during the 16th Session of the Commission
The CoC RECOMMENDED that the Commission considers the application for renewing the status of South Africa as a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party during the 16th Session of the Commission.
