The amendments provides that Contracting Party and Cooperating non‐Contracting Party, Entity, or Fishing Entity (CPCs) will continue collaborative research with the IATTC staff and the established scientific working group to investigate FAD-related tuna catches, bycatch, mortality rates, and the ecological impacts of fishing practices, including area closures and maximum set limits. The use of tender vessels supporting FAD fishing in the EPO is prohibited, and ongoing research into selective fishing gear aims to reduce bycatch and the capture of undersized tunas. Scientific advice will be provided on the potential implementation of a FAD register, coordinated with other RFMOs to enhance management and regulatory coherence. Voluntary recovery programs for drifting FADs are encouraged to prevent environmental loss, with collected FADs to be disposed of or recycled, without affecting normal fishing operations, in effect through 31 December 2028. CPCs participating in recovery initiatives must report data to the IATTC Secretariat for confidential scientific analysis, enabling annual assessment and feedback to relevant advisory groups.
2024-01-01