BACKGROUND:
In 2013 the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Performance Review made two major recommendations related to compliance with data collection and reporting and following up on infringements.
Compliance with data collection and reporting requirements
Para 102. The Commission, through its Compliance Committee, needs to strengthen its compliance monitoring in relation to the timeliness and accuracy of data submissions. To this end, the performance review recommended:
“b) to facilitate thorough reviews of compliance, the Commission should invest in the development and implementation of an integrated electronic reporting program. This should include automatic integration of data from CPCs into the IOTC Secretariat’s databases and automatic cross-referencing obligations and reports for the various obligations, in particular related to the provision of scientific data.”
Follow-up on infringements
Para 153. The performance review recommended that:
“b) The IOTC further develop an online reporting tool to facilitate reporting by CPCs and to support the IOTC Secretariat through the automation of identification of non-compliance.”
These recommendations were the basis for the development of the Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Information System (e-MARIS) initiative.
At its 15th session, paragraph 105 – CoC15 report, the CoC ACKNOWLEDGED the funds secured by the IOTC Secretariat for e-MARIS and RECOMMENDED the Commission endorsed the IOTC Secretariat pursuit of the development of the e-MARIS application.
At its 22nd session, Paragraph 79 – S22 Commission report, the Commission “ENDORSED the list of recommendations, as amended, made by CoC15 in its 2018 report”.
