{"id":373883,"date":"2026-10-15T18:06:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T12:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=373883"},"modified":"2026-10-15T18:06:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T12:36:03","slug":"southern-indian-ocean-fisheries-agreement-siofa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/southern-indian-ocean-fisheries-agreement-siofa\/","title":{"rendered":"Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"content-box-green\">\n<p><strong>News:<\/strong> Central Government has approved India\u2019s accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"red-h2-box\">About Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)<\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 306px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scontent.fdel65-3.fna.fbcdn.net\/v\/t39.99422-6\/849099344_2893062424401108_3127740704528046289_n.png?stp=dst-jpg_tt6&amp;cstp=mx1080x1350&amp;ctp=s640x640&amp;_nc_cat=101&amp;_nc_map=urlgen_bucketless&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=127cfc&amp;_nc_ohc=r5U0rvuuDUoQ7kNvwHmzoV4&amp;_nc_oc=Adpe2FR2os-UJ-emM4BNSnzJTDbi5QkbBeycP5UtAdyfUstv5t2iL3VIjxCLs9w7Yt1nsnQxJN-86jjfNUOqZ4zO&amp;_nc_zt=14&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.fdel65-3.fna&amp;_nc_gid=w6p9WxqnAFpn8rd1dDHEKQ&amp;_nc_ss=7b289&amp;oh=00_AQNQTaDbFoA0QXVWhiXR62kEFSrk0YgMfc0ke7KVBdSrlQ&amp;oe=6AD6314C\" alt=\"Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)\" width=\"306\" height=\"383\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: News On Air<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)<\/strong>\u00a0is a<strong> regional framework for managing fisheries resources<\/strong> in its area of jurisdiction in the high seas.<\/li>\n<li>It is<strong> one of two major Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs)<\/strong> in the Indian Ocean. The other is the<strong> Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Aim:<\/strong> It aims <strong>to conserve and sustainably use fishery resources through cooperation among Contracting Parties<\/strong> and <strong>promote fisheries development,<\/strong> especially in least developed and small-island developing States bordering the Area.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coverage:<\/strong> It <strong>covers fish, molluscs, crustaceans and other sedentary species,<\/strong> while<strong> excluding highly migratory species listed in Annex I of the <a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/united-nations-convention-on-the-law-of-the-sea-unclos\/\">United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)<\/a><\/strong> and <strong>sedentary species falling under the fishing jurisdiction of coastal states.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Signing year: <\/strong>It was signed in<strong> Rome the 7th July 2006<\/strong> and <strong>entered into force in June 2012.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Parties to the agreement:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Contracting Parties:<\/strong> To date, SIOFA has ten contracting parties including Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Spain and France and<strong> India\u00a0(2026).<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Participating fishing entity: <\/strong>Chinese Taipei<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cooperating non-Contracting Parties: <\/strong>Comoros<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique and New Zealand<\/strong> are also<strong> signatories <\/strong>to this Agreement but have<strong> not ratified it.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Benefits of accession to SIOFA for India:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>It would allow India to participate fully in key bodies such as the<strong> Scientific Committee and the Compliance Committee<\/strong> <strong>and gain access to scientific data, research programmes and stock assessments under the agreement.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>It would also<strong> give Indian-flagged fishing vessels and enterprises the opportunity to undertake authorised fishing<\/strong>\u00a0within SIOFA&#8217;s jurisdiction.<\/li>\n<li>It could<strong> create opportunities for Indian fishers and entrepreneurs to access marine resources beyond their existing operating areas.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>India will be able to contribute more effectively to <strong>preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Participation in SIOFA\u2019s High Seas Boarding and Inspection (HSBI) Scheme<\/strong> will help<strong> advance India\u2019s regional strategic interests and strengthen coastal security.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"red-h2-box\"><strong>About Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)<\/strong><\/h2>\n<table style=\"height: 439px; width: 100%; border-style: solid;\" data-tablestyle=\"MsoTableGridLight\" data-tablelook=\"1696\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 19.3762%;\" data-celllook=\"0\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Specifications<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 79.9622%; text-align: center;\" data-celllook=\"0\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Details<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 19.3762%;\" data-celllook=\"0\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Type<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 79.9622%;\" data-celllook=\"0\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Intergovernmental Organization<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 19.3762%;\" data-celllook=\"0\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Established in<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 79.9622%;\" data-celllook=\"0\"><strong>1993 <\/strong>(came into force in 1996)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 19.3762%;\" data-celllook=\"0\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Secretariat<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 79.9622%;\" data-celllook=\"0\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Victoria, Seychelles<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 120px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 120px; width: 19.3762%;\" data-celllook=\"0\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Aim<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 120px; width: 79.9622%;\" data-celllook=\"0\">\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It is <strong>responsible for the management of tuna and tuna-like species<\/strong> in the Indian Ocean.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>It <strong>seeks to do this by promoting cooperation among its Contracting Parties (Members) and Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties<\/strong> in order <strong>to ensure the conservation and appropriate utilisation of fish stocks<\/strong> and encouraging the sustainable development of fisheries.<span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 139px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 139px; width: 19.3762%;\" data-celllook=\"0\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Members<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 139px; width: 79.9622%;\" data-celllook=\"0\">\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>There are 30 contracting parties to it<\/strong>. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Liberia<\/strong> is a <strong>Cooperating Non-Contracting Party.<\/strong><\/span><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>India<\/strong> has been a <strong>contracting party since 1996.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 60px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 60px; width: 19.3762%;\" data-celllook=\"0\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Binding decisions<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 60px; width: 79.9622%;\" data-celllook=\"0\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The decisions taken by commission are<strong> binding on all Members and non-Contracting Parties.<\/strong><\/span><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>News: Central Government has approved India\u2019s accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA). About Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) The Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)\u00a0is 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&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/southern-indian-ocean-fisheries-agreement-siofa\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10366,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1566,4182,1236,12039],"tags":[11872,3590],"class_list":["post-373883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-factly-articles","category-environment","category-international-organisations","category-knolls","tag-9pm-daily-factly","tag-pib","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10366"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=373883"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373883\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=373883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=373883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=373883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}