The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) held its 21st Annual Meeting in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from 22 to 26 May 2017. The meeting addressed important challenges facing the conservation and sustainable management of stocks covered by the organisation’s mandate.

On 16 and 31 May respectively the Ambassadors to the European Union of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria and the Principality of Monaco signed on behalf of their respective countries the MedFish4Ever Declaration.

The Commission welcomes the European Court of Auditors' Special Report on the effectiveness of the EU fisheries control system.

Over recent years, Bluefin tuna have gone from heavy over-exploitation to progressive recovery, thanks to a massive international effort led by the EU. To ensure continued sustainable management of the Bluefin tuna stock, the European Commission is committed to implement and even go beyond the international control measures for catches during the 2017 main fishing season.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Comoros have been identified as non-cooperating third countries under the EU's regulation to fight and deter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, while Liberia has been pre-identified.

Save the date: 12-13 October 2017 - Tallin, Estonia