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A formal agreement has been proposed between the Albatross and Petrel Agreement and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).  The proposed agreement is to be considered at the 13th Session (http://www.iotc.org/English/meetings/comm/comcurrent.php)

of the Commission, being held this week in Bali, Indonesia from 30 March to 3 April 2009.

The proposed agreement (click here) calls for ACAP and the IOTC to establish and maintain consultation, co-operation and collaboration in respect of matters of common interest to both organisations for the:

a) development of systems for collecting and analysing data, and exchanging information concerning the incidental by-catch of seabirds in the IOTC Area;

b) exchange of information regarding management approaches relevant to the conservation of albatrosses and petrels;

c) implementation of education and awareness programmes for fishers who operate in areas where albatrosses and petrels may be encountered;

d) design, testing and implementation of seabird by-catch mitigation measures relevant to fishing operations in the IOTC Area;

e) development of training programmes on conservation techniques and measures to mitigate threats affecting albatrosses and petrels;

f) exchange of expertise, techniques and knowledge relevant to the conservation of albatrosses and petrels in the IOTC Area;  and

g) reciprocal participation with observer status at the relevant meetings of each organisation.

ACAP signed a similar Agreement with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) on 7 December 2007 (click here for text).

Further agreements between ACAP and Regional Fishery Management Organizations, including CCAMLR, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT and SEAFO (click here to access RFMO links), will be discussed at the Third Session of ACAP’s Meeting of Parties, to be held in Bergen, Norway over 27 April to 1 May 2009 (see MoP3 Doc. 19 at http://www.acap.aq/en/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=113&Itemid=33).

Posted by John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer and Warren Papworth, ACAP Executive Secretary, 1 April 2009