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WWF applauds strengthened shark conservation at IOTC 29 amid ongoing tuna challenges

Posted on 30 April 2025

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) adopted 14 proposals at its 29th annual session. Compared to the 11 proposals adopted in 2024 and nine proposals adopted in 2023, this marks a noteworthy shift toward positive decision making, despite ongoing political and capacity challenges.

[La Réunion] After more than a decade of rebuilding efforts, the stock status of Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna saw a positive shift from “overfished” to “not overfished”, as acknowledged by the IOTC during its recent 29th annual session. However, concerns remain regarding the robustness of this assessment and the sustainability of current fishing pressure. Regardless, the Commission has agreed to a work plan to continue the Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) for yellowfin tuna to develop a robust harvest strategy – a crucial step away from ad-hoc, interim management decisions toward long-term, science-based governance.

In another positive turn of events, in finalizing its work on management procedures for key species, the IOTC did not increase the total allowable catches (TACs) for skipjack and bigeye tuna, despite the Scientific Committee’s assessment indicating otherwise. This marks a win for WWF which, in its position statement, urged the IOTC to not raise TACs and instead continue monitoring catches, address overcatch scenarios and prioritize developing a multi-species harvest strategy for tropical tunas by 2030. WWF also applauded the maintenance of yellowfin tuna TAC as a precautionary measure to support its full recovery.

"For Madagascar, despite this positive development in the state of the yellowfin tuna stock, the stakeholders who attended the preparatory session in Mahajanga firmly support the strengthening of its management through a more solid, science-based strategy. WWF Madagascar intends to support the Ministry in charge of Fisheries in its efforts to integrate these management and conservation measures (MCG) into national legislation, in order to ensure sustainable management and governance of tuna fishing". said Lalaina Rakotonaivo
In a landmark step, the IOTC adopted a resolution on shark conservation that consolidates five existing conservation and management measures into a single framework to enforce fins naturally attached, prohibit shark finning, and introduce bycatch mitigation measures, including phasing out shark lines and wire leaders. This resolution reflects the current best practices for elasmobranch conservation across regional fisheries management organizations and sets the bar for those focused on tuna management.

Another critical advance in shark conservation was the adoption of a long-awaited conservation measure for shortfin mako sharks, one of the most vulnerable shark species in the Indian Ocean. The new resolution introduces mandatory live-release requirements, restricts retention unless verified by observers or electronic monitoring and sets the foundation for future mortality limits. The resolution also includes provisions for gear-based alternatives for longliners, supported by mandatory data sharing and annual reviews.

The adoption of the resolution, which strengthens shark conservation, reinforces Madagascar's commitments under its National Plan for the Conservation and Management of Sharks and Rays, validated in 2022. Madagascar's position, which was defined during the preparatory session, and which is favorable to the proposed conservation and management measures, demonstrates the willingness of stakeholders to align themselves with regional best practices for the preservation of vulnerable species, including elasmobranchs.

WWF remains committed to supporting sustainable fisheries and will continue working with coastal states and other actors across the Indian Ocean and beyond to improve monitoring, data transparency and the adoption of science-based management at scale.

Key points

A total of 14 proposals were adopted – 12 binding and two non-binding
Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna status changed from overfished to not overfished
Bigeye tuna TAC was calculated at 170 000 tonnes and skipjack TAC was calculated above 650,000 tonnes
Sharks in coastal fisheries/waters or in small-scale fisheries are landed with fins naturally attached
Around 97 000 tonnes of sharks are caught in small-scale fishery, whereas, in industrial vessels shark bycatch remains very high
Short-fin mako shark catches have been decreasing in the Indian Ocean in recent years, peaking in 2016 a total catch of 5 168 tonnes and declining to a total annual catch of 2 638 tonnes in 2022.