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The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Regional Observer Programme (ROP) monitors transhipments at sea between large-scale tuna longline fishing vessels (LSTLVs) and carrier vessels. This programme has been operating in the IOTC area under Resolution 11/05 since 1 January 2009 (initially under Resolution 06/02, followed by 08/02). This Resolution requires observers deployed on carrier vessels to verify the identity of the LSTLV and monitor quantities of transhipped products to ensure they are consistent with those recorded in the transhipment declaration. Monitoring of transhipments enhances the traceability of products and the programme also helps deter Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) activity in the Indian Ocean region.
Although sharks are not part of the 16 species directly under the IOTC mandate, sharks are frequently caught as bycatch in association with other species, and can be as much a target as tuna for some fleets (WPEB, 2012). As such, the IOTC Members and non-Contracting Parties are required to report information at the same level of detail as for the 16 IOTC species (Resolution 10/02). Nevertheless, many IOTC Members and Cooperating non-Contracting Parties (CPCs) fail to submit complete, accurate and timely shark catch records. The lack of appropriate reporting of catch and effort data by some deep-freezing longline fisheries is highlighted in Appendix VIII of the 2012 WPEB final report. As the ROP has 100% observer coverage across transhipments occurring on the high seas, the data collected by observers on carrier vessels can provide another information source on the extent of shark fishing by longline vessels in the Indian Ocean. A preliminary analysis of this information is summarised below.
