28 September 2024 : PIB Summary For UPSC

1. INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION SEMINAR

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2059304&reg=3&lang=1 )

Context

The second IORA seminar on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing took place at Goa’s Naval War College, focusing on its economic, environmental, and security impacts. Delegates from 17 IORA countries discussed strategies to counter IUU fishing in the Indian Ocean.

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

• IORA is a regional organisation comprising 23 member states along the Indian Ocean rim.
• Established in 1997, it aims to promote sustainable development and regional cooperation.
• It focuses on areas like maritime security, trade facilitation, disaster risk management, and blue economy.
• Member countries include India, Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, and several others from the Indian Ocean region.
• Observers include countries like China, the U.S., and the U.K.
• The IORA Secretariat is based in Mauritius.
• IORA fosters collaboration on economic growth, environmental protection, and maintaining maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.
• It also addresses challenges like illegal fishing, piracy, and climate change impacting coastal communities.