RPOA-IUU adopted for the Wider Caribbean Region
The Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) took an important step in combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing at its seventeenth session held in Miami, USA, from 15 to 18 July 2019.
Among other important matters on the agenda, the Commission endorsed a Regional Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing.
IUU fishing is one of the critical challenges facing the region. It is known for its dire implications on livelihoods and an adverse impact on national economies, food security, and the environment.
The WECAFC RPOA-IUU contains 28 measures and actions to combat IUU fishing through effective regional cooperation among its 34 Member States and other sub-regional organizations to ensure that countries collaborate to implement their port, flag, coastal and market State responsibilities.
It further underscores the importance of harmonizing policies, encouraging information sharing, identifying capacity development needs, and better facilitating the implementation of international instruments and tools to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing through effective regional and international collaboration.
It was formulated through a series of consultations through the Regional Working Group on IUU fishing (RWG-IUU), a joint working group composed of members of WECAFC, Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and Organization for Fisheries and Aquaculture of Central America (OSPESCA).
Further outcomes of the seventeenth Session of WECAFC can be found here.