The objectives of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) are to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of the fishery resources in the Area through cooperation among the Contracting Parties, and to promote the sustainable development of fisheries in the Area.

In achieving these objectives one of the most important functions of SIOFA is to develop and monitor measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as provided by Article 6.I(i) of the Agreement.