The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean of the FAO (GFCM) and the Black Sea Commission (BSC) have organized together the first joint regional workshop to fight IUU fishing in the Black Sea. This historic event took place in Istanbul where experts from all six riparian States, together with representatives of the European Commission, FAO, GFCM Secretariat, BSC Secretariat, universities and research institutes, gathered around the same table. The joint workshop, which was held at the HQs of the BSC, aimed at improving existing knowledge on the nature and extent of IUU fishing in the Black Sea. In three days participants reviewed information on national fleets operating in the Black Sea and exchanged views on the experience of the six riparian States in the fight against IUU fishing. After extensive discussions on the measures available at international and regional level to fight IUU fishing, with particular reference to Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) related measures, a roadmap tailored for the Black Sea was adopted. This document, which encompasses political/institutional aspects, legal aspects, scientific aspects, technical aspects, socio-economic/education aspects and MCS related aspects, will be submitted to upcoming meetings of both the GFCM and the BSC for consideration and possible action. As far as the GFCM is concerned, the second meeting of the GFCM Working Group on the Black Sea (to be held in April at Varna, Bulgaria) is expected to further develop the roadmap. The joint workshop was envisaged under the remit of those activities in the 1st GFCM Framework Programme aimed at fighting IUU fishing and was funded by the European Commission.