CMM 17 (2025), adopted under the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA), establishes a precautionary and ecosystem-based framework for the regulation of new and exploratory fisheries in the Agreement Area, aimed at ensuring the gradual development of fisheries based on adequate scientific information, including assessment of impacts on target, non-target, endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species and vulnerable marine ecosystems. The measure requires any Contracting Party, cooperating non-Contracting Party or participating fishing entity seeking to authorise such fisheries to submit a detailed Fishery Operations Plan (FOP) and Data Collection and Analysis Plan (DCAP), including specifications on vessels, fishing areas, target species, gear, reference points and catch/effort limits, impact assessments (notably for bottom fishing), and monitoring arrangements, with mandatory scientific observer coverage and data reporting obligations as a condition for participation. Institutional roles are allocated among the Scientific Committee (scientific review and advice), the Compliance Committee (compliance and management advice) and the Meeting of the Parties (approval and oversight, including time-bound authorisation of up to three years), while the measure provides for periodic review, criteria for reclassification as established fisheries, and annexed templates and lists to support implementation.
2025-01-01