Three associations representing the European tuna fleet operating in the Indian Ocean have called for a "level playing field" in the implementation of measures to reduce yellowfin catches in the region.

Orthongel, the French organization of frozen tuna producers, and OPAGAC and ANABAC, two Spanish tuna catchers' associations, said that the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) should continue the "management strategy evaluation process for the tropical tuna stocks and adopt species or even multi-species management procedures", in a new position paper sent to Undercurrent News this week. 

The statement from the three organizations comes as the IOTC is under increasing pressure from NGOs and tuna buyers to address the issue of yellowfin tuna overfishing at its upcoming meeting, which will take place on Nov. 2-6 remotely due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

The tuna catchers' statement stressed the exemptions to resolution 19/01 are the "main reasons for its failure to reduce yellowfin catches in the IOTC area of competence" and called for their elimination. Resolution 19/01, which is the IOTC's latest set of measures to slow the yellowfin fishery, demands a reduction in yellowfin catches compared with the 2014 level depending on the gear type. However, it admits some exceptions [...]