Context:
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying is organizing the 19th Working Party on Data Collection and Statistics (WPDCS19) of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
About Indian Ocean Tuna Commission:
- An intergovernmental organization that manages tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas.
- Establishment – Agreement for the establishment of the IOTC was adopted in 1993 and entered into force in 1996.
- Created within the framework of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization’s (FAO) Constitution.
- Objective – To ensure the conservation and appropriate utilization of fish stocks and encourage the sustainable development of fisheries.
- Headquarters – Victoria, Seychelles.
- Members – 31 countries (India is a member)
- Membership is open to –
- Indian Ocean coastal countries
- Countries that are members of the UN and UN special organisations
- Those who fish for tuna in the Indian Ocean
- Key functions and responsibilities –
- Drawn from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).Reviewing the conditions and trends of the stocks of Tuna and tuna-like fish.Encouraging, recommending, and coordinating research and development activities.Adopting conservation and management measures to ensure conservation of the stocks.
- Reviewing the economic and social aspects of fisheries, bearing in mind the interests of developing coastal states.
Indian Ocean is the 2nd largest tuna fishery in the world (largest being Pacific Ocean)
Tuna fish:
- A nomadic species found throughout the world’s oceans.
- It is high in protein, healthy fats, Vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Also known as Kera fish or Choora in India.
- Bluefin tuna –
- Largest and most prized species
- IUCN Status – Endangered
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
Which of the following is not a bird?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) Golden Mahseer
(b) Indian Nightjar
(c) Spoonbill
(d) White Ibis
Answer: (a)
