A Conference of Plenipotentiaries for the Adoption of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement, held on 7 July 2006 at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, Italy, adopted the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA). In accordance with Article 22 of the Agreement, it was opened for signature at FAO Headquarters on 7 July 2006 and shall remain open for signature until 6 July 2007 by all States and regional economic integration organization participating in the Inter-Governmental Consultation on the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement and any other State having jurisdiction over waters adjacent to the Area (defined in Article 3 of the Agreement). The Agreement is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by the signatories.

Under Article 23, the Agreement shall be open for accession, after its closure for signature, by any State or regional economic integration organization referred to in Article 22(1), and by any other State or regional economic integration organization interested in fishing activities in relation to the fishery resources.

In accordance with Article 24, the Agreement shall enter into force ninety (90) days from the date of receipt by the Depositary of the fourth instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, at least two of which have been deposited by coastal States bordering the Area.

Signatories and Parties to the Agreement:

The following are the signatories and the participants that deposited their instruments on the dates indicated:

Reservations

Reservations by Mauritius (original in English):

" (i) The State of Mauritius is defined in the Laws of Mauritius as including the island of Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalega, Tromelin, Cargados Carojos and the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia and any other island comprised in the State of Mauritius;

(ii) Mauritius reiterates its rights to exercise complete and full sovereignty over its territory, including the territory and maritime zones of the Chagos Archipelago and Tromelin as defined in the Constitution of Mauritius; and

(iii) Membership acquired to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement through territories found partly within the South West Indian Ocean region covered by the Agreement should not constitute a basis for denying the rights of the Republic of Mauritius regarding the exercise of its sovereignty
or territorial and maritime jurisdiction on the Chagos Archipelago, Tromelin Island and surrounding maritime areas."