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Laying the foundations

The foundations of the Global Record programme were laid in 2005 when the Rome Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing was adopted by the FAO Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries in Rome. It included a key recommendation: to develop a comprehensive global record of fishing vessels within FAO. The following year the FAO Fisheries Department conducted a Feasibility Study in view of the development and maintenance, by FAO itself, of a global record.

First support

The Twenty-seventh Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI), in 2007, supported the convening of an Expert Consultation to further develop the concept of a global record. By 2008, the Expert Consultation put forward its suggestions on the way forward.

In 2009, many Members assembled in the Twenty-eighth COFI Session supported the development of a global record and a programme of work which included the designing and implementation of the Global Record Pilot Project.

Concrete steps

A Technical Consultation, held the following year, produced recommendations including which categories of information the Global Record Information System ought to include, the decision for FAO to host and manage the programme, and the provision of assistance to developing countries to support them in contributing to the programme.

The Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth and Thirty-first COFI meetings, held in Rome in 2011, 2012 and 2014 respectively, supported a series of initiatives that saw FAO continue developing the Global Record Information System. In the meantime, FAO prepared the Global Record prototype and Strategy Document which were commended by the member States during the Thirty-first COFI meeting in 2014.

Latest phase

The latest phase in the programme has seen the setting up of the Global Record Informal Open-Ended Technical and Advisory Working Group and three specialized core working groups (2015) and further development of the Pilot Project. 

Launch of new version of the Global Record Information System. 

Launch of the public version of the Global Record Information System. 

Launch of the First Working Version of the Global Record website and Information System. 

Launch of the Global Record Pilot Project with the participation of 11 countries. 

Launch of the Global Record Informal Open-Ended Technical and Advisory Working Group. Set up of Specialized Core Working Groups to define and draw up the Global Record Information System requirements from the technical point of view. The European Commission, the United States of America and Iceland became regular co-sponsors of the programme.

COFI 31 commended the FAO on the Global Record prototype and Strategy Document. Spain declared financial sponsorship to the programme. 

COFI 30 suggested that the UVI, as a first step, be applied to vessels above 100 GRT.

COFI 29 noted the 2010 Technical Consultation recommendations and discussed the way forward.

Technical Consultation which drew a set of recommendations.

COFI 28 supported a programme of work that included the development of a global record pilot project.

The Expert Consultation presented its suggestions on what should the Global Record programme include and exclude. 

COFI 27 supported the setting up of an Expert Consultation to develop the concept of the global record.

Global record feasibility study held by the FAO Fisheries Department.

Adoption of the Rome Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing by FAO Ministerial Meeting.