24. The need was noted for flag States to transmit certain information to RFMOs and coastal States on vessel authorizations to fish, as required under Article 7 of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) and Articles 18.3(a) and 19.2 of the United Nations Fish Stock Agreement (UNFSA).
25. The Consultation considered that the CWP could be approached with regard to the standards for such information. These standards would provide for communication of information on the period of validity of the authorization and withdrawal of the authorization.
26. The Consultation also noted that few schemes exist at an international level for the definition of violations and sharing of information on violations. The Consultation considered that parties, in close coordination with the CWP, may wish to establish definitions for major violations of management measures, and also propose standard descriptors and codes for international exchange of information on violations.
27. The Consultation was informed that the International MCS Network[3] has been taking steps to establish a mechanism for sharing MCS related information. This recently formed network is a voluntary arrangement of national organizations charged with fisheries enforcement that informally shares experiences and information in order to combat IUU fishing.
| [3] www.imcsnet.org |
