The International Dolphin Conservation Program was first established in 1992, under a voluntary agreement signed in La Jolla, USA - the Agreement on the Reduction of Dolphin Mortality in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The objective of the agreement was to reduce the incidental mortality of dolphins in the Eastern Pacific Ocean tuna (principally yellowfin) purse seine fisheries (which since the fishery began in the late 1950s was thought to have been responsible for millions of dolphin deaths). A related objective of the agreement was to find a multilateral solution to the problem which would result in the lifting of trade restrictions on yellowfin tuna by the United States, which had been applied by that country since the 1980s and which required third States wishing to export tuna to use standards "comparable" or equivalent to the standards required of US vessels (which effectively required the tuna to be "dolphin safe"). Although the IDCP was successful in reducing dolphin mortality, it was less successful in its second objective and in 1995 a further agreement was made - the Panama Declaration - in which the countries concerned undertook to develop a formal agreement to implement the IDCP on the understanding this would lead to the removal of US trade restrictions. The agreement mentioned was adopted in May 1998, and came into force in February 1999, placing the IDCP on a more formal footing: Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program. As before, however, although under the Agreement the IDCP maintained the previous successes in reducing dolphin mortality, the US trade restrictions continue, mostly, to apply.

Participation in the 1998 Agreement is open to States with a coastline bordering the Agreement Area, or which are members of IATTC, or whose vessels fish for tuna in the Agreement Area, or which are otherwise invited to accede to the Agreement on the basis of a decision by the parties. The Agreement also provides for the participation of regional economic integration organizations such as the European Community, which may accede if they meet any of the criteria.

The institutional structure of the IDCP, which is largely based on that established by the La Jolla Agreement in 1992 but formalized in the 1998 Agreement, consists of the Meeting of the Parties, a Scientific Advisory Board and National Scientific Advisory Councils and an International Review Panel. All of these bodies are supported by IATTC, which is expressly designed to have an integral role in coordinating the implementation of the Agreement, including the provision of Secretariat functions.

Meeting of the Parties

The Meetings of the Parties, which are held at least once a year, is the main decision-making body. Decisions are taken by consensus and provision is made for the participation in the Meetings of observers, including NGOs with recognized experience in matters pertaining to the Agreement.

Scientific Advisory Board and National Scientific Advisory Councils

The Scientific Advisory Board is composed of technical experts, appointed subject to the approval of the parties, and has the objective of assisting IATTC in matters regarding research into modifying current purse seine technology to make it less likely to cause dolphin mortality and seeking alternative means of capturing large yellowfin tuna. To this end, inter alia, it reviews IATTC research programs; and provides advice to IATTC concerning the design, facilitation and guidance of relevant research. Scientific work is also carried out at the national level through the National Scientific Advisory Councils which are, inter alia: to advise and recommend to their governments measures and actions that should be undertaken to conserve and manage stocks of living marine resources in the Agreement Area; to make proposals regarding research needs; and to conduct scientific reviews and assessments regarding progress towards reducing dolphin mortality.

International Review Panel (IRP)

The International Review Panel, inter alia, is: to compile annual lists of the vessels that qualify for DMLs; to analyze reports submitted to it regarding all tuna-fishing trips made by vessels covered by the Agreement; to identify possible infractions; to recommend to the Meeting of the Parties pertinent measures for achieving the objectives of the Agreement, in particular those related to the use of gear, equipment and fishing techniques, as well as the adoption of appropriate incentives for captains and crews to meet the objectives of the Agreement; to recommend to the Parties ways to progressively reduce incidental dolphin mortality; and to perform other functions as assigned by the Meeting of the Parties. The Panel is composed of representatives of all the parties as well as a limited number of non-governmental members, being representatives from environmental organizations and from the tuna industry, elected by the parties. In addition, any IATTC member or signatory to the Agreement can be represented by an observer.

The IDCP has three objectives: (1) to progressively reduce incidental dolphin mortalities in the tuna purse seine fishery to levels approaching zero, through the setting of annual limits; (2) to seek ecologically sound means of capturing large yellowfin tunas not in association with dolphins, with the goal of eliminating dolphin mortality; and (3) to ensure the long-term sustainability of the tuna (and related) stocks in the Agreement Area.

Updated text coming soon.