EUROPEAN UNION: The European Union made public four ambitious proposals for the next Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) session taking place from 8 to 12 May 2023. The objective is to improve the conservation of tuna and the management of fisheries. According to the IOTC Scientific Committee, the current situation of the stock and level of fishing in the Indian Ocean are not sustainable. Along with the new proposals, the EU has tabled an objection to the IOTC Resolution 23/02 on the management of drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs).

At the next IOTC annual session, the EU will promote the adoption of the following proposals:

A multiannual plan for the management of tropical tunas, to improve the management of the three tropical tuna stocks (yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna and skipjack tuna). The IOTC Scientific Committee considers that the current situation of the stock and level of fishing in the Indian Ocean are not sustainable. This multi-species plan would last for 3 years and would bring down the level of catches in line with the scientific advice. Multi-species plans have been successfully adopted and implemented by other regional fisheries management organisations (RFMO) but this would be the first time in the IOTC. The EU proposes a proportional catch reduction taking into account both the current level of catches for each IOTC member and their development status to ensure that developing countries are treated fairly.

A scheme for the boarding and inspection of vessels in the high seas. Ensuring the inspection of fishing vessels in the high seas is one of the most important and efficient tools to ensure compliance with the IOTC rules and, more importantly, to fight Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. IUU fishing is the largest threat to the sustainable management of fisheries and of the marine ecosystem. The EU hopes to build on the initial discussion started in 2022 where most of the Members of the IOTC expressed their support for the proposal.

An update of the rules of the IOTC Compliance Committee to improve the compliance process, to make sure that fishing activities are conducted in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and conservation measures. The Compliance Committee is the body that monitors the implementation of the existing rules and obligations by IOTC Members. Compliance has been a weak point of the IOTC and this proposal will identify and address the areas of non-compliance. It will also support developing coastal countries to better monitor their fleets, ports and water under their jurisdiction.

A new resolution for the management of drifting fish aggregating devices (FADs) to replace Resolution 23/02, adopted in the February special session of IOTC. The EU's objective is to improve the obligations that are technically difficult to implement, to clarify unclear provisions, and to align the text to the scientific advice. The proposal addresses all the relevant aspects of the FAD fishery from marking, to tackling plastic pollution to limiting the number of FADs while also improving the most challenging provisions from Resolution 23/02 to ensure its effective implementation.

Source: Comisión Europea

VIET NAM: According to statistics of Vietnam Customs, Germany is one of the few markets of Vietnamese tuna that can maintain a good growth momentum in the first two months of 2023. Tuna export turnover to this market continuously increased in the first 2 months of the year, reaching more than 5 million USD, up 47% over the same period in 2022. This has helped Germany become the 3rd largest single tuna import market of Vietnam in this period.

In 2022, Germany is the largest tuna import market of Vietnam in the EU bloc, accounting for about 3% of total tuna export turnover, up 20% compared to 2021.

Canned tuna and frozen tuna meat/loin are still Vietnam's main export products to Germany, accounting for 63% and 30% respectively in the first 2 months of 2023. Compared to the same period in 2022, Vietnam's exports of both these products increased by 28% and 68% respectively.

According to data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, the inflation rate in December 2022 dropped from a record high of 10.4% in October 2022 to 8.1%. Prices fell thanks to a one-time payment under the government bailout package to consumers' winter gas bills in December.

However, the effect of this package seemed to have waned in January 2023, when the inflation rate rebounded to 8.7% and the prices of consumer goods, household goods  and services simultaneously increased. Food prices in Germany also increased by 21.8% in February 2023 compared with the same period last year. The inflation rate for groceries is still more than double the overall inflation rate. This is expected to cause Germans to still tighten their spending. Inflation will continue to make German tuna imports unstable this year.

Besides, preferential tariff quotas for processed and canned tuna products from Vietnam to the EU are gradually being used up while inventories are still high. Therefore, it is expected that Vietnam's tuna exports to this market will slow down.

Currently, there are 11 companies participating in exporting tuna to the German market. FoodTech, KTCFood and Bidifisco are the 3 biggest tuna exporters to this market, accounting for 64% of the total export turnover to this market.

Source:  Vasep

FIJI: Fiji’s Minister for Fisheries, Kalaveti Vodo Ravu, officially launched the inaugural Fiji Tuna Symposium on 5 April, 2023 with a commitment to strengthen partnership for the sustainable development of Fiji’s domestic tuna industry.

The two-day event, organised in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji Fishing Industry Association, Conservation International, and Worldwide Fund for Nature, brings together all stakeholders to think and plan using a triple bottom approach, i.e., environment, economic, and social lenses.

During his opening speech, Ravu acknowledged the partnership’s innovation and to remove the “working in silos” between all stakeholders in the plight to collectively identify barriers and opportunities to further strengthen economic, environmental and social aspirations in the tuna industry.

“This partnership is now a proof of alliance between the Fiji Government, private sector, and civil society partners to sustainably use our unique yet vulnerable marine resources,” said Ravu.

The Minister recognised Fiji’s position as a Large Ocean State, and emphasised on the Pacific Fisheries leaders’ endorsement of the Regional Roadmap for Sustainable Pacific Fisheries that puts a strong emphasis on increasing economic returns from Fisheries.

“Today, Fiji’s domestic tuna industry contributes to an average of FJD$200 million (US$100 million) towards Fiji’s Gross Domestic Production; directly employing over 16,000 Fijians, with around 1,677 people as crew on offshore fishing vessels and over 2000 employed in the processing plants” said Ravu.

The Fiji Fisheries 10-year Strategic Development Plan [2019-2029] commits to building a sustainable and profitable Tuna industry, to positioning Fiji as the “geography-of-choice to process fish commodities and identify sustainable markets for offshore non-tuna species.”

“We all know that these are ambitious goals for our small island nation economy. However, this ambition becomes a bit more achievable with a collective effort from all key stakeholders and this inaugural symposium is a positive step in the right direction – this symposium is an opportunity to assess our progress, analyze challenges and secure opportunities to bring to fruition our 2029 goals.”

New research shows that climate change will dramatically alter the geographical abundance of tuna stocks in Pacific waters, as the projections indicate that warming waters will cause the tuna stocks to migrate to areas beyond national jurisdiction, forcing the tuna to potentially move out of the Pacific Island Countries exclusive economic zones.

Susana Waqainabete-Tuisese, Senior Director, Pacific Region, Conservation International, is optimistic that the symposium “brings an opportunity to break down the silos to critically deliberate on this fisheries-climate change nexus; identification of issues and opportunities in Fiji’s tuna industry; highlighting human rights dimensions, and identifying financing and investment needs for tuna fishing industry in Fiji.”

“In every natural resource sector where economic, social, and environmental considerations are of paramount importance it is often seen that while socio economic issues are often the priority of policy interventions, discourse on the latter is often done independently,” said Waiqanibete-Tuisese.

Adding to the conversation, Fiji Fishing Industry Association President, Radhika Kumar emphasised on the fishing industry being a vital part of Fiji’s growing economy.

“The Fiji Fishing Industry Association has over 70 percent of its national fleet under Marine Stewardship Council and sustainably harvests, processes and exports albacore, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna. Furthermore, Fiji has also ratified the Port State Measures Agreement in 2019, to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) caught fish landing in our ports (Ministry of Fisheries, 2019).”

“While progress has been made, this symposium gives us the opportunity to strengthen our holistic partnership and pave the way forward for the domestic tuna industry in Fiji.”

Dr Mark Drew, WWF-Pacific’s Director added that WWF is committed to working with the Fiji government, the private sector and partners to ensure a robust, sustainable and gender inclusive offshore fisheries industry.

“Leading up to this symposium, scientific data, expert analysis and learnings from stakeholders across the region point to the urgency and that we are running out of time to address sustainable fisheries in Fiji and beyond. Actions are needed at a much greater scale and time sensitive if we are to ensure a healthy and prosperous future.”

The Symposium is expected to generate a “Partnership Statement that will guide the development of a three-year roadmap aimed at addressing key issues elevated over these two days.’

SOURCE: CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL/PACNEWS