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Membership of IOTC is open to Indian Ocean coastal countries and to countries or regional economic integration organisations which are members of the UN or one of its specialised agencies, and are fishing for tuna in the Indian Ocean. There are currently 29 Contracting Parties (Members), the majority of which are Nation States.
| Country | Acceptance | Country | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 13 November 1996 | Mauritius | 27 December 1994 |
| Bangladesh, People's Republic of | 24 April 2018 | Mozambique | 13 February 2012 |
| China | 14 October 1998 | Oman, Sultanate of | 5 April 2000 |
| Comoros | 14 August 2001 | Pakistan | 27 April 1995 |
| European Union | 27 October 1995 | Philippines | 9 January 2004 |
| France (OT) | 3 December 1996 | Seychelles | 26 July 1995 |
| India | 13 March 1995 | Somalia | 22 May 2014 |
| Indonesia | 20 June 2007 | Sri Lanka | 13 June 1994 |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | 28 January 2002 | South Africa | 16 February 2016 |
| Japan | 26 June 1996 | Sudan | 3 December 1996 |
| Kenya | 29 September 2004 | Tanzania | 18 April 2007 |
| Korea, Republic of | 27 March 1996 | Thailand | 17 March 1997 |
| Madagascar | 10 January 1996 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 22 December 2020 |
| Malaysia | 22 May 1998 | Yemen | 20 July 2012 |
| Maldives | 13 July 2011 |
In addition to being a full Member, States with a real interest in the Indian Ocean fisheries of tuna and tuna-like species can participate in the IOTC process as a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party (CNCP). This status is granted for a period of one year, upon request from the State. CNCPs are not obliged to pay a financial contribution, but they do not enjoy voting rights on IOTC matters, and they are subject to the same regulations as the full Members. CNCP status is reviewed annually by the Commission.
2024/25 Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties:
| Country | CNCP since |
|---|---|
| Liberia | 2015 |
| Panama | 2025 |
Sub-commissions may be formed to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation on matters related to the management of stocks that are not shared by all Contracting Parties. In particular, they may examine management options and recommend to the Commission appropriate conservation and management measures. To date, the Contracting Parties have not considered necessary to establish any sub-commission.
The Compliance Committee (CoC) meets annually and monitors the compliance of the IOTC Contracting Parties and Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties with adopted Conservation and Management Measures (CMM).
Standing Committee on Administration and Finance
The Standing Committee on Administration and Finance (SCAF) meets annually and advises the Commission on administrative and financial matters, in particular the operational budget for the current year and the provisional budget for the ensuing year.
The Scientific Committee (SC) meets annually and provides advice to the Commission on the status of stocks and the management actions necessary to ensure sustainability of the fishery.
Working Parties
The primary function of the Working Parties is to analyse technical problems related to the management goals of the Commission. For example, Working Parties related to the different species analyse the status of the stock and offer options to the Scientific Committee for management recommendations to the Commission. The current active Working Parties are:
Observers to IOTC meetings
Meetings of the Commission and all of its subsidiary bodies are open to Observers. The list of current, pre-approved observers who may attend IOTC meetings, as well as the processes for applying to be an observer at IOTC meetings may be consulted on the Observers page.