The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC),
RECALLING Resolution 10/06 On reducing incidental bycatch of seabirds in longline fisheries, and in particular, its paragraph 8;
RECOGNISING the need to strengthen mechanisms to protect seabirds in the Indian Ocean, and to harmonise them with ICCAT measures that will enter into force no later than July 2013;
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) International Plan of Action for Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOA-Seabirds);
NOTING the recommendations of the IOTC Scientific Committee, in agreement with the IOTC Working Party on Ecosystems and Bycatch (WPEB) on measures to mitigate seabird interactions as outlined in their 2007, 2009 and 2011 Reports;
ACKNOWLEDGING that to date some IOTC Contracting Parties and Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties (hereinafter referred to as “CPCs”) have identified the need for, and have either completed or are near finalising, their National Plan of Action on Seabirds;
RECOGNISING the global concern that some species of seabirds, notably albatrosses and petrels, are threatened with extinction;
NOTING that the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, which opened for signatures at Canberra on 19 June 2001, has entered into force;
NOTING that the ultimate aim of the IOTC and the CPCs is to achieve a zero bycatch of seabirds for fisheries under the purview of the IOTC, especially threatened albatrosses and petrel species in longline fisheries;
BEARING in mind studies undertaken in other longline tuna fisheries, demonstrating the economical benefit of measures to mitigate incidental bycatch of seabirds, by significantly increasing catches of targeted species;
ADOPTS, in accordance with the provisions of Article IX, paragraph 1 of the IOTC Agreement, the following:
CPCs shall record data on seabird incidental bycatch by species, notably through scientific observers in accordance with Resolution 11/04 and report these annually. Observers shall to the extent possible take photographs of seabirds caught by fishing vessels and transmit them to national seabird experts or to the IOTC Secretariat, for confirmation of identification.
CPCs that have not fully implemented the provisions of the IOTC Regional Observer Scheme outlined in paragraph 2 of Resolution 11/04 shall report seabird incidental bycatch through logbooks, including details of species, if possible.
CPCs shall provide to the Commission as part of their annual reports, information on how they are implementing this measure.
CPCs shall seek to achieve reductions in levels of seabird bycatch across all fishing areas, seasons, and fisheries through the use of effective mitigation measures, while giving due consideration to the safety of crew members and the practicability of mitigation measures.
In the area south of 25 degrees South latitude, CPCs shall ensure that all longline vessels use at least two of the three mitigation measures in Table 1. These measures should also be considered for implementation in other areas, as appropriate, consistent with scientific advice.
Mitigation measures used pursuant to paragraph 5 shall conform to the minimum technical standards for these measures, as shown in Table 1.
The design and deployment for bird scaring lines should also meet the additional specifications provided in Annex I.
The IOTC Scientific Committee, based notably on the work of the WPEB and information from CPCs, will analyse the impact of this Resolution on seabird bycatch no later than for the 2016 meeting of the Commission. It shall advise the Commission on any modifications that are required, based on experience to date of the operation of the Resolution and/or further international studies, research or advice on best practice on the issue, in order to make the Resolution more effective.
The Commission should hold a workshop in the intersessional period before the entry into force of this Resolution to facilitate its implementation, particularly focusing on how to address safety and practical concerns. CPCs shall ensure that fishers make a trial of the safety and practicality of these measures for review at the workshops with a view of resolving their concerns and assuring the orderly implementation, including training for and adaptation to these measures. A second workshop should be held, if necessary to explain the science, theory and application of the line weighting measure.
This Resolution shall enter into force on 1 July 2014.
As of 1 July 2014, the Resolution 10/06 on reducing incidental bycatch of seabirds in longline fisheries and the Recommendation 05/09 on incidental mortality of seabirds are superseded by this Resolution.
Table 1. Mitigation measures
Mitigation |
Description | Specification |
Night setting with minimum deck lighting |
No setting between nautical dawn and before nautical dusk. Deck lighting to be kept to a minimum. |
Nautical dusk and nautical dawn are defined as set out in the Nautical Almanac tables for relevant latitude, local time and date. Minimum deck lighting should not breach minimum standards for safety and navigation. |
Bird-scaring lines (Tori lines) | Bird-scaring lines shall be deployed during the entire longline setting to deter birds from approaching the branch line. |
For vessels greater than or equal to 35 m:
|
Line weighting | Line weights to be deployed on the snood prior to setting. |
Greater than a total of 45 g attached within 1 m of the hook or; Greater than a total of 60 g attached within 3.5 m of the hook or; Greater than a total of 98 g weight attached within 4 m of the hook. |