Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)

About Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)

• The Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) is a regional framework for managing fisheries resources in its area of jurisdiction in the high seas.
• It is one of two major Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) in the Indian Ocean. The other is the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
• Aim: It aims to conserve and sustainably use fishery resources through cooperation among Contracting Parties and promote fisheries development, especially in least developed and small-island developing States bordering the Area.
• Coverage: It covers fish, molluscs, crustaceans and other sedentary species, while excluding highly migratory species listed in Annex I of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and sedentary species falling under the fishing jurisdiction of coastal states.
• Signing year: It was signed in Rome the 7th July 2006 and entered into force in June 2012.
• Parties to the agreement:
  • Contracting Parties: To date, SIOFA has ten contracting parties including Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Spain and France and India (2026).
  • Participating fishing entity: Chinese Taipei
  • Cooperating non-Contracting Parties: Comoros
  • Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique and New Zealand are also signatories to this Agreement but have not ratified it.
• Benefits of accession to SIOFA for India:
  • It would allow India to participate fully in key bodies such as the Scientific Committee and the Compliance Committee and gain access to scientific data, research programmes and stock assessments under the agreement.
  • It would also give Indian-flagged fishing vessels and enterprises the opportunity to undertake authorised fishing within SIOFA’s jurisdiction.
  • It could create opportunities for Indian fishers and entrepreneurs to access marine resources beyond their existing operating areas.
  • India will be able to contribute more effectively to preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
  • Participation in SIOFA’s High Seas Boarding and Inspection (HSBI) Scheme will help advance India’s regional strategic interests and strengthen coastal security.

About Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)