The Expert Consultation on Data Formats and Procedures for Monitoring, Control and Surveillance, held in Bergen (Norway) in October 2004, made a number of recommendations for more effective harmonization and exchange of fishing vessel information, with a view to facilitating implementation of the International Plan of Action to Deter, Prevent and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. The experts emphasized that an efficient path to standardized data formats would be the use of existing and developing data sets from the Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics (CWP). Topics covered at this meeting included: fishing vessel monitoring system reporting procedures; licences and fishing authorizations; exchange of catch certificates and trade documents; electronic fishing logbooks; progress made by the CWP; the use of Customs Tariff Codes; and linkages with traceability and ecolabelling.
