About - Overview and Structure

The main objective of the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) is to promote the sustainable utilization of the living marine resources of the Southwest Indian Ocean region, through the proper management and development of the living marine resources, and to address common problems of fisheries management and development faced by the members of SWIOFC, without prejudice to the sovereign rights of coastal States.

SWIOFC promotes the application of the provisions of the FAO Code of Conduct on Responsible Fisheries, including the precautionary approach and the ecosystem approach to fisheries management.

To contribute to improved governance through institutional arrangements that encourage cooperation amongst members;
To help fishery managers in the development and implementation of fishery management systems that take due account of environmental, social and economic concerns;
To keep under review the state of the fishery resources in the area and the industries based on them;
To promote, encourage and coordinate research related to the living marine resources in the area and draw up programmes required for this purpose, organizing such research as may be necessary;
To promote the collection, exchange, dissemination and analysis of statistical, biological, environmental and socio-economic data and other marine fishery information;
To provide a sound scientific basis to assist Members in taking fisheries management decisions;
To provide advice on management measures to member governments and competent fisheries organizations;
To provide advice and promote co-operation on monitoring, control and surveillance, including joint activities, especially as regards issues of a regional or sub-regional nature;
To encourage, recommend and coordinate training in the areas of interest of the Commission;
To promote and encourage the utilization of the most appropriate fishing craft, gear, fishing techniques and post harvesting technologies.

Structure

Since its first Session in 2005, the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) has reinforced its structure and steadily enhanced the implementation of its mandate, currently functioning as a neutral high-level forum for its 12 Members to cooperate at regional level, and address fisheries monitoring and management concerns, science and research needs, and fisheries policy development and implementation.

The SWIOFC, with the support of regional projects and initiatives steered by the Commission, has been working as an exchange platform and has built an important momentum by sharing capacity, experience and advice regarding fisheries management under an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF). This effort has reinforced the trust and cooperation between members and observers and has raised expectations to achieve results towards more effective fisheries management for sustainable fisheries in the region.

Within the SWIOFC structure, the Scientific Committee brings together senior fisheries scientists and high-level technical experts from the countries and coordinates the production of knowledge and advice to inform fisheries management. The scientific committee has created, under its structure, several technical groups focusing on different aspects of the production of advice and/or addressing priority issues.