June 5, 2024

UOW expert to chair Indian Ocean fisheries allocation negotiations

Professor Quentin Hanich elected chair of crucial talks aimed at ensuring sustainable fisheries

University of Wollongong (UOW) fisheries governance expert Professor Quentin Hanich has been elected by representatives from 27 countries to chair the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s (IOTC) negotiations on the allocation of regional tuna fisheries.

He was elected during a recent IOTC meeting aimed at adopting new conservation and management measures.

“I am honoured to be trusted by the region to chair this important negotiation,” Professor Hanich said.

“The Indian Ocean tuna fisheries supply almost a quarter of the world’s tuna and provide critical food security to coastal and small island developing states. These fisheries are crucial from Africa to Indonesia, India to Madagascar. They also support large processing canneries and global supply chains in Europe, Asia, and Australia.

“My priority will be to facilitate cooperation and build consensus among the member states.”

The IOTC is tasked with managing tuna stocks in the Indian Ocean by promoting cooperation among its 29 member states. These include Australia, Indian Ocean coastal and small island developing states, and distant water fishing nations like the European Union, Japan, China, and Korea.

An allocation system for managing the Indian Ocean’s tuna fisheries is crucial for enabling conservation limits and the rebuilding of overfished species like yellowfin tuna. The IOTC has established a technical committee to develop allocation criteria for management of the tuna fisheries, but progress on developing an allocation system has been slow.

In his new role, Professor Hanich will consult with member states, prepare a revised draft proposal, and chair the next committee meeting in October 2024.

Professor Hanich leads the Fisheries Governance Research Program at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), where he is a Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Chair. His extensive experience in ocean governance, marine conservation, and fisheries management spans the Asia Pacific region.

Professor Hanich has chaired international treaty working groups, facilitated intergovernmental workshops, advised ministerial meetings, and national delegations. He is also a member of the United Nations Pool of Experts for the World Ocean Assessment and the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas.

The University of Wollongong is committed to sustainability and working towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which provide a shared blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for everyone. 

Professor Hanich’s work contributes towards Goal 2: Zero Hunger (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture) and Goal 14: Life Below Water (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development).