Don’t skip the skipjack

The European Union has successfully driven the adoption of several crucial conservation measures at the recent meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). 

Big news for all tropical tuna 

For the very first time, all major tropical tuna in the IOTC have specific catch limits! The binding catch limits for yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna and now skipjack tuna marks a major step to ensure that the tropical tuna fishery in the IOTC is sustainable. 

For the first time in the Indian Ocean, skipjack tuna also gets its quota: following the introduction of management procedures for skipjack tuna in May 2024, IOTC members have reached a significant agreement. Major fishing parties (such as the EU, Indonesia, and the Maldives) will now have their own binding catch limits, with a view for this fishery to remain sustainable for the foreseeable future. 

At the same time, other countries that wish to develop their fisheries are encouraged to do it in a responsible manner, with the goal of maintaining catches to sustainable levels before being allocated their own catch limit. This approach not only benefits the health of the tuna stock but also provides clarity and stability for fishing operators, allowing them to plan for the future with confidence. 

This year’s IOTC meeting saw improved opportunities for the bigeye tuna, thanks to the EU-Japan initiative to increase the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) by 15%, in line with the scientific advice. Full respect for the scientific advice and EU leadership in promoting and respecting precise catch limits have been the essential building blocks in bringing this stock back to a sustainable status. 

The European Union took positive note of the recovery of yellowfin tuna stock: the latest assessment of the stock estimates that the species is no longer overfished or subject to overfishing. This positive development is a result of the rebuilding plan adopted by IOTC in 2021, to which the EU has been the most important contributor by significantly reducing its catches over the last five years. 

While the IOTC’s Scientific Committee new stock assessment (2024) provided a more accurate picture of the stock's health, the Scientific Committee also advised caution. It recommended that no hasty decisions be made regarding the stock's management and a possible increase in catch levels, until an additional review of the existing data is carried out later this year. 

As a result, the IOTC decided to postpone any substantive decisions on the total allowable catch for yellowfin tuna until next year. 

Major milestones for sharks 

As a leading player in IOTC, the EU has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable fisheries management and the protection of vulnerable species. 

A major achievement was the adoption of the EU's proposal to reduce the mortality of shortfin mako shark through a retention ban. The new measure requires the release of all live specimens immediately, thus significantly reducing mortality rates. To avoid wasteful discarding practices, which provide no ecological benefits, the EU also ensured that the retention of dead specimens in the presence of a human or electronic observers, who can verify the status of the animal, would still be possible.  

Furthermore, the EU collaborated extensively with several other delegations and the ‘shark community’ at large to enhance shark protection, resulting in the adoption of a proposal that strengthens conservation efforts for these species. 

Although the EU's proposal to introduce the principle of 'fins naturally attached' could not be adopted as such due to renewed opposition from some countries, important improvements were achieved to control and prevent the unacceptable practice of finning. The European Union remains committed to continuing to promote the principle of ‘fins naturally attached’ across the Ocean to prevent illegal and unsustainable practices. 

Background 

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is the regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO) mandated to manage the fisheries on tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas. It was established in 1993 and entered into force in 1996. 

The IOTC is an intergovernmental organisation gathering the countries bordering the Indian Ocean and the countries having an interest in the tuna fisheries in the area.  The objectives are to promote cooperation among its members for the conservation and optimal utilisation of the tuna stocks in the area and to ensure the establishment of sustainable fisheries in the region. To achieve these objectives, IOTC members meet annually, discuss and adopt measures for the conservation and management of tuna and tuna-like species. 

The EU became a member of IOTC in 1995. The other members of IOTC are Australia, Bangladesh, China, Comoros, France on behalf of its overseas territories, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Yemen. 

This year’s annual meeting was hosted by the EU and took place in La Réunion, France, from 13 to 17 April 2025. There was a record number of 26 proposals, of which 11 introduced by the EU. A total of 14 proposals were adopted.  

Among the 14 proposals adopted, other key measures were adopted in addition to those detailed above, including strengthened regulations around transhipment at sea and other control measures. Additionally, proposals have been adopted to simplify and improve the IOTC's governance structure, manage fishing effort, implement the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement or task the IOTC's Scientific Committee (SC) on further work on the impacts of climate change on tuna stocks.  

The EU, represented by the Commission, plays an active global role by participating in 18 RFMOs. This makes the EU one of the most prominent actors in RFMOs worldwide, enabling it to promote international ocean governance and the sustainability of international fisheries.