FishSource

Indian Ocean tuna - purse seine (SIOTI) (FIP)

Access FIP Public Report

Last Updated: 2024-04-19

Access FIP ETP Workplan Analysis

Progress Rating: C

Evaluation Start Date: 2017-03-06

Type: Comprehensive

Status: Active

FIP Lead: Thai Union (TU), Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Koyson Ltd. (KL)

Stock Profile Link
Bigeye tuna - Indian Ocean
Skipjack tuna - Indian Ocean
Yellowfin tuna - Indian Ocean

Comments:

The last stage 4 result was reported between 12-24 months ago with stage 3 results reported within the past 6 months. The FIP becomes C rated.

1. FIP Development	Aug 16	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 11 August 2016 — MSC Pre-assessment publicly available
2. FIP Launch	Oct 16	Confirmation of project participants 11 October 2016 — Participants confirmed
2. FIP Launch	Aug 24	Workplan made public 28 August 2024 — Updated 2024 Workplan 19 May 2023 — Updated 2023 workplan 6 March 2017 — Workplan is available
3. FIP Implementation	Jun 24	FIP activities undertaken 25 June 2024 — A data sharing certificate has been made available by ORTHONGEL indicating that data sharing has been maintained across each vessel. 1 June 2024 — The FIP has updated its shark finning prohibition and best practices policy. 1 June 2024 — The FIP has developed an AIS logbook template used to ensure that all occasions when the AIS is not operational, the action is recorded and fully justified. 26 January 2024 — ANABAC vessels have received certification that demonstrates the vessels are not participating in shark finning. 13 July 2023 — A consultant (Landmark Fisheries Research) commissioned by Europêche Tuna Group (integrated among others by ANABAC and ORTHONGEL and Fleet Members of SIOTI, to work on an action under IPG1, attended the WPTT in 2023 and produced a report for ETG on the outcome of the stock assessment (IOTC-2023-WPTT25-INFO02) . 1 July 2023 — The FIP has signed an MoU with the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) in an effort to collaborate on the FAD watch project. 25 June 2023 — A harvest control rule and reference points for Indian Ocean skipjack are defined by IOTC Res. 16/02. 1 December 2022 — Study on the post-release survival of silky sharks was conducted; the study concluded that the best potential post-release survival rates can be achieved through safe handling/ release practices and other mitigation measures implemented on the vessel 24 October 2022 — The FIP attended the 24th (virtual) IOTC Working Party on Tropical Tunas; while there has been an increase in catch by some CPCs, SIOTI flag states continue to comply with the catch limit allocations 19 October 2022 — The work on the potential benefits of multispecies catch limits in harvest strategies was presented to the 13th Session of the Methods Working Group; recommendations for improving the model were made in the session 1 October 2022 — The 3rd surveillance audit of Echebastar has been made available; the report highlights that catch continues to exceed the catch limit set by the HCR and progress on additional control tools and dealing with allocation is needed 6 June 2022 — FADWATCH research project progress report made avilable; ATZI has conducted a dFAD dynamics and impact analysis in addition to an initial FAD survey 3 June 2022 — Intermediate report produced and updated on the study of the migratory pattern and habitat of the silky shark in the Indian Ocean; the study addressed mortality/ post-release survival and the overlap of the FAD purse-seine fishery in addition to migratory patterns 1 December 2021 — Silky shark tagging project study report updated; the post-release mortality of sharks is at its lowest when individuals are in good condition 25 October 2021 — SIOTI attended the IOTC Working Party on Tropical Tunas and Scientific Committee meetings in the 2nd semester of 2021. 25 August 2021 — Second surveillance report made available for the Indian ocean skipjack tuna stock 1 August 2021 — New assessment on accidentally captured silky shark post-release survival in the Indian Ocean tuna purse seine fisher 1 August 2021 — SIOTI Action Plan Review for year 4 29 July 2021 — Letter of Certification on Levels of Target Species in ANABAC Catch Composition 29 July 2021 — Code of Practice for Responsible Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fisheries updated 11 June 2021 — Resolution 21/03 On Harvest Control Rules for Skipjack Tuna in the IOTC Area of competence was adopted at the 25th Session of the Commission 4 March 2021 — Management strategy meeting held virtually March 2021 21 October 2019 — SIOTI supported a study to explore alternative assessment models in terms of improving the assessments of yellowfin tuna. The resulting paper was presented at the 21st Session of the Working Party of Tropical Tunas. 1 September 2019 — The shark finning risk assessment was finalized and submitted and concluded that the risk of shark finning occurring in the SIOTI fleet was low. 1 September 2019 — Paper submitted on the core requirements of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) resulting from the impacts of tuna purse seine fishing in the Indian Ocean. 25 July 2019 — SIOTI support for training and rolling out of the ROS e-Reporting tools, extending the functionality of the tools, and ensuring interoperability of the tool with third party proprietary tools is complete. The consultant and IOTC secretariat provided training in Mauritius in April 2019, supported by SIOTI. 1 July 2019 — INOFAD looking at shark hotspots around the Indian Ocean. Buoys with cameras. Will provide basis for spatial measures 1 May 2019 — SIOTI and WWF have hosted a meeting with industry and some coastal states at the Brussels seafood expo in May 2019 to discuss HS/HCR options 1 April 2019 — SIOTI have, in April 2019, commissioned a consultant (Dr Maria Jose Jorda) to produce a working paper on EAFM for submission to the Sept 2019 WPEB. 8 December 2018 — Following a call by the SC (IOTC-2018-SC21-R: Appendix 38) for support from members in improving the assessments of yellowfin tuna, SIOTI have drafted a TOR and services agreement for exploration of alternative assessment models. 29 November 2018 — OPAGAC conducted a preliminary analysis on non-target species mortality, with a focus on ETP species (sharks, rays, mammals, turtles), in purse seine relative to other gears in the Indian Ocean. 10 September 2018 — Provision of short-term technical assistance to conduct an initial 2-day workshop with SFA / IRD / IOTC to review bycatch observer program and current bycatch data compilation processes. 1 June 2018 — Provision of short-term technical assistance to conduct an initial 2-day workshop with SFA / IRD / IOTC to review bycatch observer program and current bycatch data compilation processes. 1 May 2018 — The project management team have reached out to the fisheries administration of Seychelles to gauge support for strengthening compliance through IOTC recommended measures. 1 May 2018 — Development of a positional paper that analyses compliance history and trends in the purse seine fishery in the Indian Ocean. 30 April 2018 — AZTI-Tecnalia completed their report on the current status of purse seine observer programs, which was submitted to the IOTC Working Party on Ecosystem and Bycatch 1 April 2018 — Study by Gilles Hosch commissioned by SIOTI in March 2018 and report delivered in April 2018. 7 March 2018 — SIOTI are currently liaising with WWF to support planned meetings with coastal states that are relevant to this work. 1 March 2018 — In March 2018, SIOTI commissioned AZTI to produce a briefing document on the current status and planned development of harvest strategies within IOTC. 1 March 2018 — In March 2018, SIOTI commissioned AZTI-Tecnalia to provide a report on the current status of purse seine observer programs, in conjunction with the annual coordination meeting between AZTI, IEO and IRD. The report further identifies entry points for SIOTI support. 1 June 2017 — Non entangling FADs trialled 1 April 2017 — The UoA aims to maintain secondary species above a biological based limit. 1 April 2017 — Put in place well defined and effective harvest control rules 1 April 2017 — Implement stock rebuilding strategy for YFT with a timeframe that is shorter of 20 years or 2 times its generation time 1 April 2017 — The management policy has clear long-term objectives to guide decision - making that are consistent with MSC fisheries standard and incorporates the precautionary approach. 1 April 2017 — The UoA does not cause serious or irreversible harm to the key elements of ecosystem structure and function. 1 April 2017 — Enforcement of fishery management measures
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	May 23	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 June 2024 — Resolution 24/02 by the IOTC was adopted which mandates the management of dFADs in the Indian Ocean, requiring the use of instrumented buoys, annual reporting, and restrictions on buoy numbers to reduce bycatch and protect marine ecosystems. It also promotes non-entangling, biodegradable FAD designs and establishes tracking and recovery policies to mitigate environmental impacts. 19 May 2023 — Several conservation management measures were adopted at the 27th Session of the IOTC including conservation measures for cetaceans, mitigation measures for seabird bycatch, establishing catch limits for bigeye tuna in the IOTC and establishing a voluntary fishing closure in the Indian Ocean. 25 May 2022 — Several conservation management measures have been adopted at the 26th IOTC session; a regional observer program has been established and MPI harvest objectives adopted. 25 August 2021 — Increase to PI 3.1.1; substantial progress made with regard to identifying and closing legislative gaps. 25 July 2019 — Increase in PI Score 1.2.3 25 July 2019 — PI increase 2.2.3 25 July 2019 — PI increase score 2.5.2 25 July 2019 — Increase in PI score 2.1.3
5. Improvements on the Water	Aug 21	Verifiable improvement on the water 24 August 2021 — Increase in 2.5.1; findings of Juan-Jorda (2021) and the MSC Public Certification Report for CFTO (Sieben et al, 2021)- the ecological trap hypothesis in relation to FAD use and the scale of fisheries removal impacts on the ecosystem as more purse seine fleets are considered. 24 August 2021 — Increase in PI 1.1.2; rebuilding plan underway (IOTC Circular 2021-31)
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public