The quiet voices of French territories in tuna fisheries management

Global geopolitics heavily influences international fisheries management. It also influences the engagement of fishing nations within regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs). This is especially true for participating territories. In this paper, we assess the participation and representation of French Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and Outermost Regions (ORs) within two major tuna RFMOs: the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), through an equity lens. The article provides an overview of the legal status of these territories under EU law and their roles in the conservation and management of tuna fisheries, by employing Bennett's equity framework to assess their involvement across various dimensions of ocean equity. By highlighting the strategic importance of these regions for France and the EU, the article underscores the necessity for a more equitable approach in integrating OCTs and ORs in tuna RFMOs, ensuring that their specific needs and contributions are acknowledged and valued in regional fisheries governance. • Territories are often overlooked in fisheries management. • These regions are of strategic importance for their metropolitan States. • Territories face equity challenges in tuna management organisations. • More work is required to ensure their equitable integration in resource extraction.