The Secretariat sends periodic requests for data on the fisheries for tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean. These requests are not only addressed to Member of the Commission but to all countries involved in the different fisheries. Data submitted by the countries must conform to the minimum mandatory data requirements and they are subject to the rules of confidentiality adopted by the Commission:
The standards for the reporting of scientific data to the IOTC are defined in various IOTC Resolutions. A detailed description of the types of data to report and standards that apply in each case can be found in the guidelines for the reporting of data to the IOTC. The Guidelines for the reporting of fisheries statistics to the IOTC are based on the existing IOTC Data Requirements and are intended to help the reporting of data to the IOTC.
The IOTC statistical data reporting forms page provides access to detailed descriptions, templates and interactive validators for the data submission forms. Each reporting form page contains information on the new forms template subsections and required reference codes for the specific form, to simplify the process of entering and submitting the data. The interactive validators allow CPCs to validate the contents of the forms prior to submission through e-MARIS.
The IOTC Secretariat receives data from the IOTC Regional Observer Scheme, environmental data, and information on vessels that catch IOTC species in the IOTC area of competence and the activities of those vessels.