FishSource

Indian Ocean swordfish - longline (FIP)

Last Updated: 2024-02-14

Progress Rating: C

Evaluation Start Date: 2018-11-02

Type: Basic

Status: Active

FIP Lead: SYM- PAC International Inc (SPII), Fong Hsiang Enterprise Co Pte Ltd (FHECPL), Chun Cheng Fishery Enterprise Pte Ltd (CCFEPL)

Stock Profile Link
Swordfish - Indian Ocean

Comments:

The FIP's last stage 4 result is between 12-24 months old with stage 3 progress reported within the past 6 months. The FIP becomes C rated.

1. FIP Development	Oct 18	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 11 October 2018 — Enviromental Rapid Assessment published
2. FIP Launch	Nov 20	Confirmation of project participants 1 November 2020 — Updated FIP agreement for 2020 2 November 2018 — Participants list available
2. FIP Launch	Jan 22	Workplan made public 1 January 2022 — Updated 2022-2023 workplan 1 May 2021 — Workplan updated for 2021 1 November 2020 — Workplan updated in 2020 and made available
3. FIP Implementation	Sep 23	FIP activities undertaken 11 September 2023 — The FIP attended the 19th Working Party on Ecosystems and Bycatch; at the meeting topics discussed included: developing an ecological risk assessment model for cetaceans, global hotspots for shark interactions in pelagic longline fisheries, a meta-review of methods for mitigating sea turtle bycatch in longline fisheries, and an identification guide for species caught in pelagic tropical areas. 6 September 2023 — An updated stock assessment for swordfish was presented at the 21st Working Party on Billfish meeting. The assessment suggests that the Indian Ocean stock is likely not experiencing overfishing. 9 June 2023 — FIP is supporting the implementation of IOTC Resolution 23/01 on management measures for AFADs (anchored FADs). 23 January 2023 — FIP has submitted recent progress report with updates 17 January 2023 — The FIP held their annual meeting at the beginning of 2023; participants discussed progress being made with safe handling training, a plastics reduction plan and data collection. 17 January 2023 — FIP has developed a plan to reduce and reuse plastic out at sea onboard vessels 1 November 2021 — A review was completed to detemine the level of indirect impact of the fishery on identified ETP species. 1 December 2020 — IOTC has undertaken a new stock assessment for the Indian Ocean Swordfish with data available up to 2018; executive summary is available. 1 November 2020 — Proposal sent to IOTC to implement e-logbook in 2018 21 August 2020 — Malaysia updated the size-frequency for the fishery with the IOTC 21 June 2019 — Compliance issues report; Malaysia updated the size-frequency for the fishery with the IOTC 25 April 2019 — Summary of the IOTC Regional Observer Programme in 2018 1 November 2018 — Monthly registry for catches in FIP was implemented starting with recording marlins and sailfish in Nov/Dec 2018
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Jun 22	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 June 2022 — FIP has developed a spreadsheet for FIP vessels to use to record incidental interactions with ETP species. 4 October 2018 — FIP is supporting the implementation of IOTC Resolution 18/05 on management measures for the conservation of the billfishes.
5. Improvements on the Water	—	Verifiable improvement on the water
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public