Tuna stock management issues at the heart of discussions

On Sunday, April 13, 2025, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French Minister for the Ecological Transition, opened the discussions of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), hosted this year in Réunion.

This meeting brings together the countries bordering the Indian Ocean to discuss the management of fisheries resources, with a particular focus on tuna stocks. One of the points of contention concerns drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), used by tuna purse seiners. These controversial tools, although effective in attracting tuna, represent a threat to marine ecosystems.

By 2023, measures aimed at reducing their use had been adopted by the majority of IOTC members. However, the European Union and South Korea had expressed their opposition, calling for further studies and the implementation of staggered moratoria until 2026.

Agnès Pannier-Runacher reaffirmed the position of France and the European Union in favor of a balanced approach, reconciling economic competitiveness and environmental protection. This guideline is in line with the commitments made at COP16 on biodiversity.

The IOTC meeting in Réunion marks an important step in the implementation of responsible fisheries policies and the protection of marine ecosystems in the Indian Ocean.