Who are we?
The Southern Indian Ocean Deepsea Fishers Association was formed in 2006 by the four companies that were active in the deep-sea high-seas fisheries of the Southern Indian Ocean at the time, and is registered under the Incorporated Societies Act of the Cook Islands. The objectives of the Association include the promotion of responsible exploitation of the deepwater fishery resources of the SIO to ensure sustained harvests to the benefit of mankind, through the maintenance of livelihoods, provision of food and undertaking of non-subslized profitable fisheries while ensuring the protection and sustainabiity of biodiversity, especially deepwater benthos in the area of the fishery and associated and dependent species.
SIODFA Members
The current members of SIODFA are:
• Austral Fisheries (Pty) Ltd, Perth, Australia
• Taiyo A&F Co. Ltd, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
• Orafco Ltd, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands and
• United Fame Investments (Cook Islands) Ltd, Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
In 2018 Taiyo A&F Co. Ltd, Chuo-ku, Tokyo assumed the ownership and management of the operations of the factory trawler Tomi Maru No. 58 from Kato Gyogo Ltd, Shigama City, Myagi, Japan. In the same year Taiyo A&F were accepted as full members of SIODFA. Taiyo A&F are joint-venture partners with Orafco Ltd and Austral Fisheries Ltd.
The Association members’ vessels have been fishing in this area since 2000; some members started their fishing operations in the area as early as 1996.
Austral Fisheries past association with Pescanova of Spain has been replaced by its current partnership with the Taiyo Fishing Company, of Japan. United Fame Investments is a subsidiary of Sealord Group, New Zealand and have an association with the Nissui Suisan Company of Japan.
SIODFA is an accredited observer to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) and is an active participant at its Meetings of the Parties, Compliance Committee and the two working groups (Protected Areas and Ecosystems – PAEWG and the Stock and Ecological Risk Assessment Working Group – SERAWG) of the Scientific Committee. In this capacity it presents a position statement to annual Meetings of the Parties (see 2021). The SIODFA delegation usually consists of representatives of Orafco Ltd (F.T. Nikko Maru No. 1) UFI/Sealord Group, both of the Cook Islands. Taiyo Fisheries and Austral Fisheries usually represented through their respective flag states. SIODFA, through its involvement in these fisheries since 1999 is in a strong position to provide experience and informed judgement on the dynamics of the deepwater fisheries of the Southern Indian Ocean and their management requirements.
SIODFA is an accredited observer to the Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome. and to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA). We have participated in all past general meetings, meetings of the Scientific Committee, meetings of the Compliance Committee and stock assessment working groups.
SIODFA is administered as follows:
President: Brian Flanagan, Cape Town, South Africa and
Executive Secretary: Dr Ross Shotton, Crete, Greece
SIODFA is incorporated under the 1994 Incorporated Societies Act, Department of Justice, Cook Islands.
The activities of SIODFA are entirely financed by its members.
Contact with SIODFA and its members or general enquiries can be made through the Executive Secretary at r_shotton@hotmail.com.
Information on Austral Fisheries Ltd is provided on their web site at
https://www.australfisheries.com.au/
Information on Sealord Group is provided on their web site at
https://www.sealord.com/
Information on Taiyo fishing Co. is available on their web site at
https://www.maruha-nichiro.com/who_we_are/pdf/corporate_profile_en_201909.pdf
