18th Indian Ocean Tuna Commission:

Mechanism must be enforced to check excessive exploitation

By Naalir Jamaldeen

Sri Lanka's fishing fleet largely consists of artisanal 'multi-day' vessels, totalling around 2,800. Fish provides over 70 percent of the protein intake of the people. Our per capita intake of seafood has increased over the years, and now stands at 45 grams per day, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne told the 18th Indian Ocean Tuna Commission at BMICH last week.

Minister Dr. Senaratne presents a copy of the magazine to Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris. Minister Basil Rajapaksa looks on.

"It is still below the target of 60 grams recommended by the WHO.

Therefore, there is a need to increase production from capture and culture fisheries to feed the population. To achieve this target we have to increase fish production to 686,000 metric tons by 2016," he said.

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission is an integral body within the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa was the chief guest.

The meeting was convened by Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development.

Dr. Senaratne said the presence of over 250 delegates, observers and invited guests from over 35 countries shows the importance countries bordering the Indian Ocean and beyond attach to this meeting and tuna resources in the Indian ocean.

However, things changed with the population growth, industrialisation, technological development and growth of market economies. Technological development in the fishing industry in the 60s and 70s gave rise to virtual killing machines which could hunt fish much speed and efficiently in any ocean, harvesting thousands of kilos of fish in one run. Even at this moment.

Over-fished

Hundreds of much improved mega fishing vessels are being designed and built in many parts of the world, to hunt already depleted fish stocks in our ocean.

When we consider the fact more than more than 75 percent of marine stocks are over-fished and 12 percent are fully utilised as per FAO, it is difficult to justify such action.

This has been highlighted in the address by the Renato Curto President and CEO of Tri Marine International, he said.

Twelve 12 percent of world population depend on the fisheries sector. Today our aim is to protect aquatic resources and to increse fish production and keep tuna resources for the next generation,18th Indian Ocean Tuna Commission Chairman Moure Dharmalingam said.

Sri Lanka provided logistics and facilities to host this event and discuss future plans of the fisheries sector. This meeting bares testimony to our commitment to develop the fisheries sector.

Dharmalingam said the fisheries sector has to play a vital role in protecting the eco system of our oceans and also the economic activities of the fishing industry.

It can focus on closer collaboration. Twelve percent of our people depend on fisheries. Our aim is to achieve a high level of fish production.

Tuna and Tuna varieties can give us long-term benefits. We are bound to overcome challenges to protect tuna resources for the next generation. We are obliged to use scientific advice to go further in the sector. We need to continue our support in the fisheries sector.

Today 31 member countries participated at the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). Membership is open to other countries which are yet to join the IOTC.

Emphasis on the blue economy has today become a feature worldwide to uplift living standards, especially in developing countries, and Sri Lanka is playing a pioneering role in carrying forward many of these initiatives as a Founder Member of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris said.

He referred to the increasing attention being paid to the resources of the ocean and to issues connected with the conservation, management and optimal use of marine resources.

It was in furtherance of these objectives that the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission was set up in 1993.

The Minister identified what he regarded as the priorities of the Commission at this time.

Among these are strong institutional mechanisms to enforce regulatory norms designed to prevent excessive exploitation of fisheries resources, a systematic approach to management including salutary limitations, sustainable measures to enhance available stocks, and the importance of supporting research on such matters as the breeding, growth and movement of tuna.

Other matters stressed by the Minister included the urgent need for environment friendly methods of fishing, in particular the avoidance of bottom trawling with consequent irreparable damage to the sea bed and the ocean floor, and the crucial necessity for expanding the scope of South-South co-operation and trade in the field of fisheries.

Value addition

He pointed out that much of the tuna catch belonging to developing nations is today sent for processing to other countries which have the advantage of superior facilities in this regard, with the result that the countries having ownership of the resources are deprived of a substantial share of the benefit accruing from these resources.

The remedy, he pointed out, is a far sharper focus on the development of facilities and techniques for value addition within countries of the Indian Ocean region.

Minister Peiris also characterized, as a priority, collective action in this regard as well as greater attention being paid to the vital economic interests of countries in the region in respect of exploitation of fisheries resources within the Continental Shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone - matters which are of immediate relevance to Indian Ocean nations in the context of modern trends regarding the legal regime of the oceans.

He emphasized the importance of ensuring a tranquil environment in the oceans, with the attendant need for vigorous initiatives against piracy and other activity inimical to security at sea.

Prof. Peiris underlined the continuity of Sri Lanka's involvement in this field. He said that, in 1968, Sri Lanka became a member of the Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission, and in 1982 the Asia Pacific Tuna Project was transferred from the Philippines to Sri Lanka.

In 1993 the Food and Agriculture Organisation set up the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, and Sri Lanka become a member the very next year.

He strongly commended the dynamism shown by Minister Rajitha Senaratne in invigorating Sri Lanka's role in the Commission.