Since its inception, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission has entered into a number of arrangements with other institutions, almost invariably of a technical nature, either to conduct activities in cooperation or to facilitate exchange of information that would enhance the output of both organisations.
The arrangements take the form of either a formalised Memorandum of Understanding, or informal arrangements to share information. The following provides details of those arrangements and links to relevant webpages.
Memorandum of Understanding
Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP)
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In 2009 the IOTC and ACAP signed an MoU to promote cooperation between the two organisations to enhance the conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels in the IOTC area of competence. That MoU put into place arrangements and procedures to promote cooperation between the two organisations and enhance the conservation of seabirds. Website: http://www.acap.aq/
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In 2015 the IOTC and ACAP renewed the MoU aimed at further facilitating cooperation between the IOTC and the ACAP Secretariat with a view to supporting efforts to minimise the incidental bycatch of albatrosses and petrels listed in Annex 1 of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels within the IOTC area of competence.
Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT)
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At its 1st Special Session in 1997 the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission recognised that CCSBT should have the prime responsibility for the conservation and management of southern bluefin tuna (while also recognising the legal competence of IOTC to do so). The IOTC signed an MoU with CCSBT on the arrangements to include the exchange of data relating to the transhipment and observer program as a means to eliminate duplication of work and reducing data collection costs. Website: http://www.ccsbt.org
Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation (OFCF) of Japan
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At its 6th Session in 2001, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission recognised the need for the execution of a joint project with the Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation (OFCF) of Japan, to provide assistance in the improvement the data collection and processing systems in developing countries from the region with important fisheries on species under the mandate of the Commission. Since then, the OFCF and IOTC have renewed the MoU a further 3 times.
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
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In 2007, in acknowledgement of the commonalities between IOTC and the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC) the Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding between IOTC and WCPFC that puts into place arrangements and procedures to promote cooperation between the two organisations and enhance the conservation and sustainable use of species which are within the competence of both organisations. Website: https://www.wcpfc.int/
Other arrangements/agreements
Indian Ocean – South-East Asian (IOSEA) Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding
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The IOTC cooperates informally with IOSEA (Indian Ocean – South-East Asian Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding). A number of Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) IOTC members are also IOSEA Signatory States. The cooperation is at the level of the subsidiary body of the IOTC in particular the Working Party on Ecosystems and Bycatch and the Scientific Committee. Website: http://ioseaturtles.org/
