This document reports on the Global Fisheries Enforcement Training Workshop (GFETW), which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 18 to 22 July 2005. Hosted by the Government of Malaysia in cooperation with the Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Network, the European Union and the FAO FishCode Programme, the Workshop provided participants with training on a wide range of MCS topics and gave them the opportunity to share information and experiences, latest developments and new ways to improve fisheries enforcement. Workshop preparation, implementation and reporting activities were made possible through FishCode project GCP/INT/849/USA (“Support for the Implementation of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing”), with support from the Government of the United States of America, and the FishCode Trust, MTF/GLO/125/MUL, through contributions provided by the governments of Norway, Sweden and the United States of America. Support was also provided from the European Commission through Grant Agreement No. SI2.409866, which was received separately under FishCode project GCP/GLO/146/MUL, and the Government of Japan, through FishCode project GCP/INT/823/JPN (“Responsible Fisheries for Small Island Developing States”).

The assistance of the staff of the Malaysian Department of Fisheries and of the staff of the Intergovernmental Organization for Marketing Information and Technical Advisory Services for Fishery Products in the Asia Pacific Region (INFOFISH) in facilitating logistical arrangements and contributing to a successful outcome is gratefully acknowledged.

The FishCode Review series publishes results of studies, missions, consultations, workshops, meetings and other project activities undertaken through the Programme, in furtherance of the objective of facilitating implementation of the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and related international fisheries instruments and plans of action. Individual issues in the series are distributed to appropriate governments, regional bodies, meeting participants and Programme partners. For further information on Programme background, publications and activities, please consult the Web site (http://www.fao.org/fi/fishcode.htm).

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has been identified as a major constraint to sustainable and responsible fisheries. IUU fishing occurs all over the world and involves a wide range of activities within domestic and international waters. It has harmful consequences on fisheries sustainability, conservation of marine resources and biodiversity and on the economies of developing countries and their efforts to develop sustainable fisheries. Although difficult to quantify, IUU is becoming more rampant with fishers involved using more and more sophisticated methods to conduct illegal fishing and avoid detention.

The Global Fisheries Enforcement Training Workshop (GFETW) brought together operational-level monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) professionals for the global community who are dedicated to resolving IUU fishing issues. Hosted by the Government of Malaysia in cooperation with the MCS Network, the FAO FishCode Programme and the European Union, the Workshop provided participants with training on a wide range of MCS topics and gave them the opportunity to share information and experiences, latest developments and new ways to improve fisheries enforcement.

Among other subjects, the Workshop reviewed enforcement techniques and MCS operations through individual presentations, case studies and panel discussions. Participants discussed a wide range of tools available to assist countries in dealing more efficiently with IUU fishing, as well as methods of applying these tools through legal systems.

Copies of individual PowerPoint presentations given by GFETW speakers and resource persons are provided on the CD-ROM attached to the inside back cover of the report. Also attached to the inside back cover is a copy of the FAO multi-media DVD (trilingual) on IUU fishing presented during the opening session of the workshop.