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Tuna for tomorrow

Year of publication 2012

Pages 92 p.

Author Guillett, R.

Publisher FAO/IOC ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The Indian Ocean is one of several important tuna fishing areas of the world. Compared to the Atlantic and eastern/western Pacific, a high proportion of catches in the Indian Ocean comes from areas beyond national jurisdiction. In addition, tuna catches in this region are split about equally between industrial and non-industrial fisheries. The various types of Indian Ocean tuna fishing is set in a diversity of cultures and economic situations. Indian Ocean tuna is an important component of food security, as well as a basis for significant industrial activity. These activities are set in a complex situation in which the different stakeholders have vastly different aspirations for the future. Although the amount of tuna in the Indian Ocean is large, like all fish resources in the world, it is not infinite. We often hear of collapses of fish stocks in other parts of the world – and to prevent over- exploitation of Indian Ocean tuna, some form of control is required. The process of gatheri ng fisheries information and then using it to formulate and apply such control is never simple, but for Indian Ocean tuna fishing the situation is very complex – perhaps among the most complicated in the world, considering the mixture of fishing activity, speed of development, geographic area, countries and stakeholders involved. Recent publicity related to tuna fisheries worldwide adds additional complexity to the management environment. It is important that the various stakeholders involved wi th Indian Ocean tuna are aware of the major issues. The purpose of this booklet, therefore, is to summarize in non-technical terms what we know about tuna in the Indian Ocean, the health of this resource, the institutions/processes involved with safeguarding tuna and the major concerns for the future.

Language English

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