Australian High Commission
Mauritius
Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Comoros, Reunion Island (consular)

Australia supports sustainable fisheries management in Indian Ocean countries

 

Australia continues to support developing coastal state members of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) to practice sustainable fisheries management while fostering economic growth.
 
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) have joined forces to provide capacity building and technical expertise to IOTC Member States, including Mauritius and Seychelles.
 
The program, delivered by DAWR’s Fisheries Branch, will deepen collaboration among coastal states on fisheries management, empowering them to develop regional norms for sustainable use of the ocean and protect the rights of likeminded coastal states in the region.
 
Australian High Commissioner to Mauritius and Seychelles, HE Jenny Dee, said: “We are pleased to support developing nations in the IOTC to work together to protect the future of the ocean and their economies. This is our home. Cooperation in fisheries management is essential: fish don’t have passports and don’t observe boarders so it is up to us to work together for their long-term management.”
 
“Australia has committed AUD225,000 to be delivered over two years, and we hope this will drive consensus and decide strong, unified negotiating positions among the members of the G16.”
 
“The announcement comes before the next annual session of the IOTC, where a decision on tuna allocation will be substantially progressed – a critical fisheries management issue that is important economically and socially for the sustainable development of G16 countries.”
 
Australia’s grant follows their previous AUD150,000 commitment to G16 states from 2015 to 2018, which fostered similar cooperation on Indian Ocean fisheries.
 
G16 (Group of Like-minded Coastal States in the IOTC) member states include: Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Maldives, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Thailand. 
 
3 April 2019