The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is an intergovernmental organization mandated to manage tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas. Its objective is to promote cooperation among its Members with a view to ensuring, through appropriate management, the conservation and optimum utilisation of stocks and encouraging sustainable development of fisheries based on such stocks.
The Agreement for the Establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission was adopted by the FAO Council at its Hundred and Fifth Session in Rome on 25 November 1993. The Agreement entered into force on the accession of the tenth Member on 27 March 1996. The Financial Regulations were adopted at the First Special Session of IOTC in Rome on 21-24 March 1997 and the Rules of Procedure were adopted at the Second Session held in Victoria on 22-25 September 1997.
The objective of the Commission is to promote cooperation among its Members with a view to ensuring, through appropriate management, the conservation and optimum utilisation of stocks covered by this Agreement and encouraging sustainable development of fisheries based on such stocks.