The IOTC reference data code lists are utilised to categorise and qualify the fisheries and biological datasets managed by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), including those collected through the Regional Observer Scheme (ROS). The IOTC Reference Data Catalogue provides a comprehensive summary of all IOTC reference data code lists maintained by the IOTC Secretariat to support the standardisation, validation, and integration of fisheries statistical data. These code lists are used across all data collection and reporting frameworks under the IOTC mandate and include controlled vocabularies for vessel types, gear types, species, areas, flag States, and other attributes relevant to tuna and tuna-like species fisheries.
The code lists are organised by functional domain and displayed in a paginated, searchable table format, with a brief description and an option to export each list as a CSV file for offline use. Each IOTC form used for reporting data to the IOTC includes URL links to the relevant code lists accompanying each dataset.
Click on one of the links below for direct access to the reference data for a specific domain:
Explore all methods for accessing IOTC reference data to learn how to browse, download, or retrieve code lists and geospatial datasets programmatically.
A collection of code lists modelling:
The geospatial data available from the IOTC Reference Data Catalogue do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), or the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Click here to access all reference codes for this domain.
A collection of code lists modelling:
Click here to access all reference codes for this domain.
A collection of code lists modelling:
Click here to access all reference codes for this domain.
A collection of code lists modelling:
This domain will be further developed following the IOTC Working on Socio-Economics.
Click here to access all reference codes for this domain.
A collection of code lists modelling:
Click here to access all reference codes for this domain.
All legacy code lists managed by either IOTC or other external entities (FAO, IUCN, UN, etc.) such as:
Click here to access all reference codes for this domain.
The IOTC code lists are accessible through multiple channels to support different user needs and workflows:
The IOTC Reference Data Catalogue – the primary web interface, providing interactive tables for each code list, with options to browse, search, and download CSV files. This is the easiest way to explore reference data and access both tabular and geospatial datasets
The IOTC GitHub repository – a version-controlled repository of IOTC reference data, available as an R data package. Ideal for programmatic access, reproducible analyses, and integration into automated workflows
The FDIWG GitHub Repository – a mirror of the IOTC code lists in tabular formats aligned with other CWP reference standards. Useful for interoperability with other regional tuna commission datasets
A Zenodo Repository – a long-term, citable archive of IOTC code lists, providing CSV, Parquet, and RDA formats. Supports citation through a persistent DOI and programmatic retrieval via tools like the zen4R R package
Each option ensures users can obtain the most up-to-date code lists in a format suitable for exploration, analysis, integration, or archival purposes. Example scripts for R are provided throughout the catalogue to facilitate downloading and loading of the datasets.