Mid-term evaluation of the regional tuna tagging project (Indian Ocean) Seychelles, Mauritius, Comoros,Madagascar, Reunion

DG EuropeAid Cooperation - Project Dates:
December 2008 - March 2009

Description of Project:
The purpose of the Indian Ocean tuna tagging project is to reinforce the scientific knowledge about the status of tropical tuna stocks and the rate of exploitation in the Indian Ocean by providing information that could be used in improving estimates of fishing mortality for the main tuna stocks. This information is a fundamental prerequisite for strengthening the ability of the region to manage sustainably its tuna fisheries.

Services Provided:
This mid term evaluation will provide the decision-makers of the IOC, as RAO, the IOTC and the relevant external co-operation services of the European Commission EC, as well as the other organisations of the IRCC – COMESA, EAC, and IGAD - and the wider public with sufficient information to:

a) make an overall independent assessment about the past performance of the project, paying particularly attention to the impact of the project actions against its objectives.

b) identify key lessons and propose practical recommendations for follow-up action for the remainder of the project taking into consideration that tagging operations are over and the project is now during the recovery and analysis phase

c) Propose follow up action which should be taken after an analysis of the tags recovered

d) Under the 10th EDF RSP/RIP,(2008-2013)programming, the countries of the of Eastern and Southern Africa Region, and the Indian Ocean countries together with the European Commission have identified strengthening of regional integration and trade as one of the focal sectors for support. In this context, conservation and preservation of the fish species especially tuna is paramount to preserve the environment and long term livelihood of fishermen and promote sustainable development of the region. The evaluators should indicate the next steps which should be taken for a new project in the tuna sector

e) Prepare a pre-feasibility of the new project in the Tuna sector.