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The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC),
NOTING the imperative international responsibility concerning the conservation of the resources of tunas and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean for the needs of present and future generations;
NOTING that the sustainability can be ensured only if all the Parties which fish for these species cooperate with the Commission, which is the competent international body for the conservation and management of these species within its area of competence;
BEARING IN MIND that the United Nations Conference on Straddling Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks has underlined the importance of ensuring the conservation and optimum utilisation of highly migratory species through the action of regional fishery bodies such as the IOTC;
RECALLING the Resolution of the Third Session of the IOTC concerning the registration and exchange of information on vessels, including those flying flags of convenience, which fish for tropical tunas in the area of competence;
RECALLING ALSO the Resolution of the Third Session of the IOTC on cooperation with Non-Contracting Parties;
ADOPTS, in conformity with the provisions of Article IX, paragraph 1, of the IOTC Agreement, that:
Each year, the IOTC Executive Secretary shall contact all Non-Contracting Parties known to be fishing in the IOTC Area for species under IOTC competence to urge them to become a Contracting Party to IOTC or attain the status of a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party. In doing so, the IOTC Executive Secretary shall provide a copy of all relevant Recommendations and Resolutions adopted by the Commission.
Any Non-Contracting Party requesting the status of a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party shall apply to the IOTC Executive Secretary. Requests must be received by the IOTC Executive Secretary no later than ninety (90) days in advance of an Annual Session of the Commission, to be considered at that meeting.
Non-Contracting Parties requesting the status of Co-operating Non-Contracting Party shall provide the following information in order to have this status considered by the Commission:
An applicant for Cooperating Non-Contracting Party shall also:
The IOTC Compliance Committee shall be responsible for reviewing requests for cooperating status and for recommending to the Commission whether or not an applicant should receive cooperating status. In this review, the IOTC Compliance Committee shall also consider information regarding the applicant available from other RFMOs as well as data submission of the applicant. Caution shall be used so as not to introduce into the IOTC Area the excessive fishing capacity of other regions or IUU fishing activities by granting cooperating status to the applicant.
Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties status shall be annually reviewed and renewed unless revoked by the Commission due to non-compliance with IOTC Conservation and Management Measures.
The Resolution 99/04 On the Status of Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties, adopted at the 1999 Commission meeting, is substituted by this Resolution.
