R©union Island: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, participated in the 29th session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) held on R©union Island, France. Oman’s delegation was led by Eng. Yaqoub Khalfan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Fisheries at the Ministry.
According to Oman News Agency, the five-day session covered significant topics, including the sustainable development and management of tuna fisheries in member states. The meeting focused on technical and scientific efforts to improve fishing efficiency and facilitated the exchange of expertise among IOTC members. Participants also reviewed future action plans and programs, alongside recommendations and reports from specialized committees and working groups.
Oman, a member of the IOTC since 2000, actively contributes to the organization through regular participation in fisheries management. This includes involvement in meetings of the General Committee and Scientific Committee. Oman provides accurate data on catch volumes and fishing efforts, aiding scientific assessments of tuna stocks.
Oman is committed to compliance and transparency, submitting annual reports on fleets and fisheries. It collaborates with the IOTC on technical measures such as vessel monitoring systems and combating illegal fishing. Additionally, Oman plays a significant role in promoting regional measures that balance sustainable utilization and stock conservation while contributing to drafting and amending resolutions relevant to regional nations.
The IOTC is an intergovernmental organization established under an agreement within the framework of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Its primary objective is to manage tuna and related species in the Indian Ocean and adjacent regions, ensuring their conservation and sustainable use. The commission collects and analyzes fishing data, issues binding regulatory recommendations, and fosters scientific and technical cooperation among its 29 member states and one cooperating non-member. Most Indian Ocean coastal states are IOTC members, along with non-regional nations with fishing interests in international waters under international laws and treaties.