By Atuna   

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) meeting has ended today in Busan, Korea, and the preliminary results announced included the non-agreement on a tuna fishing quota – such as the 300.000 tons a year for yellowfin recommended by the scientific commission – and the agreement on a time-area tuna closure for 2011 and 2012, while building a process to improve data and discuss intersectional quota allocation criteria. 

Further details on the closure, such as duration and dates, will be announced soon. By the end of that period, 2012, the Commission shall adopt an allocation quota system or any other relevant measures for yellowfin and bigeye tuna.  

In addition, port measures and market related measures were adopted.

The IOTC Secretariat is content with the results and optimistic about the new stock management measures, even though member countries decided not to follow the scientific advice and restrict their catches to the levels recommended.

Conservation organizations such as the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) had hopes that a catching quota would be established for yellowfin tuna at least, and reactions to the meeting results are hard to predict.