IATTC Full Form: Overview, History, Members and More

IATTC Full Form: The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) is the regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) responsible for the conservation and management of tuna and tuna-like species, associated species and their ecosystems, throughout the Eastern Pacific Ocean, from Canada, in the north, to Chile, in the South.

History

The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) was established by the Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, signed on May 31, 1949, between the United States and Costa Rica. The Convention was signed by U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Costa Rican Ambassador to the United States Mario Echandi Jiménez. Several additional countries later joined the IATTC, each represented by up to four Commissioners.

In 2003, the IATTC members signed the Antigua Convention, which enhanced the Commission’s authority. Between 2004 and 2009, most members, including Canada, ratified the Antigua Convention. The United States ratified it in February 2016.

The IATTC headquarters are located in La Jolla, San Diego, California, United States.

For more information on the IATTC and its role in managing tuna and other marine resources in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, visit our website or follow our updates on sustainable fisheries and international cooperation.

Members

BELIZE	CANADA	CHINA
COLUMBIA	COSTA RICA	ECUADOR
EUROPEAN UNION	FRANCE	GUATEMALA
JAPAN	KIRIBATI	KOREA
MEXICO	NICARAGUA	PANAMA
PERU	EL SALVADOR	CHINESE TAIPEI
UNITED STATES	VENEZUELA	VANUATU

IATTC Structure

Level 1

1. Secretariat
2. Commission : Chair: Mr Andrés Arens Hidalgo (ECU)

Level 2

1. Committee for the Review of Implementation of Measure adopted by the Commission
Chair: Mr Luis Molledo (EU)
2. Scientific Advisory Committee
Chair: IATTC – Director: IATTC
3. Committee on Administration & Finance
Chair: Ms Rachael Wadsworth (USA)

Level 3

1. Permanent Working Group on Fleet Capacity
Chair: Mr Julio Guevara (NIC)
2. Working Group on Ecosystem & Bycatch
Co-Chairs: Ms Yonat Swimmer (USA) and Mr Manuel Correai (VEN)
3. Ad Hoc Permanent Working Group on FADs
Chair: Mr Josu Santiago (EU)
4. Ad Hoc Working Group on Electronic Monitoring
Co-Chairs: Celia Barroso (USA) and Guillermo Morán (ECU)
5. Ad Hoc Working Group for reviewing the legal and operative coherence of IATTC Resolutions
Chair: Mr Bernal Chavarria (CRI)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does the IATTC do?

The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) is governed by the Antigua Convention and is responsible for the management of tuna and tuna-like species in Pacific Ocean waters east of 150°. IATTC is the oldest of the five tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs).