European Union’s collusion with fishing lobbies is damaging the Indian Ocean tuna

European Union’s collusion with fishing lobbies is damaging the Indian Ocean tuna

Subject :Environment

Section: Species in news

Context: Members of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) agreed to reduce the use of drifting fish-aggregating devices (FADs) and to impose three-month closures on the devices, despite opposition from the European Union.

More on the News:

• The EU dominates Indian Ocean tuna fisheries; its fleet of industrial fishing vessels has long reeled in the lion’s share of tuna, including yellowfin, a stock that is now perilously close to collapse.
• Through their numbers and influence in EU delegations, industrial fishing lobbyists have stymied efforts to impose appropriate catch quotas and limit the use of destructive fishing gear like FADs, an investigation by the French NGO BLOOM Association found.
• From 3rd to 5th February, IOTC members gathered in Kenya for a special session on the use of these fishing aids. At the meeting, India pushed for a ban on drifting FADs, saying it was necessary to apply the precautionary principle given the alarming state of yellowfin tuna. Another plan, backed by several major fishing nations, including the Maldives, Indonesia and India sought annual three-month drifting FAD closures. It called for a steep cut to the number of devices a vessel can deploy at any one time, from 300 to 150.
• Kenya abruptly rescinded its support for the plan at the start of the talks. BLOOM accuses the EU of pressuring the East African nation to withdraw by threatening to cut off funding for the country’s Blue Economy program.
• In a statement, the European Commission denied the NGO’s allegations, noting that the pandemic led to increased participation from stakeholders and that these stakeholders were observers and not authorized to negotiate on the commission’s behalf.

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

• Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is an intergovernmental organization that was established in 1993.
• The Commission is responsible for the conservation and management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean, as well as the protection of the marine environment and the livelihoods of those who depend on these resources.
• Membership: The Commission has 23 Member countries and the European Union.
• Objectives: The main objectives of the Commission are to promote the sustainable use of tuna and tuna-like species, to conserve the marine environment, to ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries in the Indian Ocean, and to promote the socio-economic development of the region.
• Functions: The Commission carries out a range of functions, including the collection and analysis of data on fish stocks and fishing activities, the development of conservation and management measures, the monitoring and control of fishing activities, and the promotion of scientific research.
• Conservation measures: The measures include the establishment of fishing quotas, the regulation of fishing gear, the protection of vulnerable species, and the reduction of bycatch.
• Monitoring and enforcement: It include vessel monitoring systems, observer programs, and port state control measures.

Tuna fish

• Tuna fish are a group of large, fast-swimming, pelagic (open ocean) fish found in the world’s oceans. They are popular both as a game fish and as a food source.
• Tuna are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for human health.
• They are also an important part of the marine ecosystem, serving as a top predator and helping to regulate the populations of other species.
• There are several species of tuna, including skipjack, yellowfin, and bluefin tuna.
• Bluefin tuna is the largest and most prized species, with some individuals growing to over 500 kg in weight. However, bluefin tuna populations have been severely depleted due to overfishing, and they are now classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• Tuna are migratory fish, moving across vast distances in search of food and suitable breeding grounds.
• They are found in all of the world’s oceans, from the tropics to the poles.