Reports of the IOC/FAO/IOTC Symposium and Workshop to Strengthen Port State Measures
This document contains the reports of the IOC/FAO/IOTC [Indian Ocean Commission/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/Indian Ocean Tuna Commission] Symposium and Workshop to Strengthen Port State Measures in the Indian Ocean held in Port Louis, Mauritius, from 18 to 22 June 2007. Participants included representatives from governments, industry, regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and civil society.
The Symposium was held from 18 to 20 June 2007 with the purpose of raising general awareness about the potential effectiveness of strengthened and coordinated port State measures and to develop national capacity and promote regional coordination so that countries would be better placed to improve the management of offshore fisheries and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Indian Ocean and, as a result, meet the requirements of relevant RFMOs. The Workshop was held immediately following the Symposium from 21 to 22 June 2007. It focused on participatory exercises and problem solving activities based on the knowledge acquired during the Symposium. Working Groups were formed and case studies used to enhance knowledge and skills relating to port State measures as a means of combating IUU fishing. Exercises included the practical application of port State measures, strengthening standards for port State measures and the “Bold Beauty” case study.
The convenors of the Symposium and Workshop expected that they would result in improved capacity for countries to strengthen and coordinate their port State measures with the objective of managing offshore fisheries better and deterring IUU fishing.