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Collaboration and cooperation in Western Indian Ocean tuna fisheries management

The management of Western Indian Tuna fisheries came under the spotlight at the eighth meeting of the Working Party on Collaboration and Cooperation in Tuna Fisheries (WPCCTF) held in Mozambique from 19 to 21 September 2018.

The meeting was attended by delegates from Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa and the United Republic of Tanzania. The Indian Ocean Commission-SWIOFish1 project, European Union, Indian Ocean Commission, IUCN Species Survival Commission, Marine Stewardship Council, Southern African Development Community, Stop Illegal Fishing, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, World Bank, and WWF participated as observers.

The issues under discussion included:

·      Progress on proposed regional minimum terms and conditions (MTC) designed to coordinate common licensing and access conditions for the region.

·      Progress, challenges and best practices on the accession and implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement within the region.

·      Consideration of the implications for a South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Framework Agreement.

The tenth meeting of the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission will meet in October 2018 to progress the regional agenda.