News
Tenth Meeting of the Working Party on Collaboration and Cooperation in Tuna Fisheries
On the 29 October 2020 the Working Party on Collaboration and Cooperation in Tuna Fisheries (WPCCTF) of the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) held its 10th meeting virtually.
A key focus for the working party has been the introduction of region-wide agreement on minimum terms and conditions (MTC) of access by foreign fishing vessels. Progress on national level implementation was reviewed as were the next steps including options to explore the potential for regional observers and a regional vessel monitoring system.
Patrice Talla, the Food and Agriculture Organization Sub-Regional Coordinator in Southern Africa said: “The tuna fisheries in the SWIOFC region are an important part of the multibillion-dollar tuna industry. Sustainable use is one of the key areas of concern of the SWIOFC. Efforts to implement the MTCs are commendable.”
A proposal to establish a Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Framework Agreement (SWIO-FFA) was discussed. This included consideration of the legal, policy, and budgetary aspects; institutional framework of the agreement; and cost-benefit analysis; as well as the policy brief and, orientation and funding options for the SWIOFC documents.
Regional monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) initiatives were reviewed. Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States were urged to sign the Charter establishing the Regional MCS Coordination Centre (MCSCC) so that it can move to full operation.
Efforts to harmonise activities between the MCSCC and the programme régional de surveillance des pêches (PRSP), which covers the Indian Ocean Commission States as well as select mainland States, to ensure synergy were noted.