Implementation of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing: relationship to, and potential effects on, fisheries management in the Mediterranean.

STUDIES AND REVIEWS
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean
No.76, 2005

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION TO PREVENT, DETER AND ELIMINATE ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED FISHING: RELATIONSHIP TO, AND POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON, FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

by
Judith Swan
FAO Consultant

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome, 2005

Table of Contents

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ISBN 92-5-105365-0
ISSN 1020-9549

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Swan, J.
Implementation of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing: relationship to, and potential effects on, fisheries management in the Mediterranean.

Studies and Reviews. General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. No. 76. Rome, FAO. 2005. 48p.

Abstract

The evolving management role of regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), as agreed in recent international fisheries instruments, is set out, together with agreed provisions relating to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Issues common to IUU fishing and management of fishing capacity are also reviewed, especially as contained in the International Plans of Action (IPOAs) relating to these areas.

The status and implementation of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA - IUU) in the Mediterranean is described with reference to: the contexts in which IUU fishing has been addressed by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM); the adoption of national plans of action (NPOAs) on IUU fishing by GFCM members; and the adoption by the European Union (EU) Fisheries Council of conclusions on IUU fishing.

Many RFMOs have been active in implementing the IPOA - IUU, and their decisions, actions and measures are noted.

Options for implementing the IPOA - IUU in the Mediterranean are reviewed, taking into account some features of existing fisheries management relating to IUU fishing. These include the diverse national legal frameworks, activities in the subregions covered by the CopeMed and AdriaMed projects and monitoring, control and surveillance capabilities. A possible process and considerations for implementation of the IPOA - IUU by GFCM are identified, and in conclusion the potential effects on fisheries management are noted.

Contents

PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. THE INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS: EVOLVING ROLE OF RFMOS AND PROVISIONS RELATING TO IUU FISHING

2.1 Background
2.2 The 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement
2.3 The FAO Compliance Agreement
2.4 The FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
2.5 International Plans of Action: Capacity and IUU Fishing

2.5.1 IPOA - Capacity
2.5.2 IPOA - IUU

3. MEDITERRANEAN STATUS/IMPLEMENTATION OF THE IPOA - IUU

3.1 Consideration of IUU fishing by GFCM
3.2 Adoption of National Plans of Action by GFCM Members
3.3 Adoption by EU Fisheries Council of conclusions and measures on IUU fishing
3.4 The 2002 EC Community Action Plan for conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources in the Mediterranean Sea under the Common Fisheries Policy

4. RFMO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE IPOA - IUU

5. MEDITERRANEAN FISHERIES: POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE IPOA - IUU AND POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

5.1 Features of existing fisheries management in the Mediterranean relating to IUU fishing

5.1.1 GFCM
5.1.2 National legal framework, GFCM Members: CopeMed and AdriaMed

5.2 MCS in the GFCM region
5.3 Possible process and considerations for implementation

6. CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

APPENDIXES

Appendix 1. GFCM Members - International fisheries instruments
Appendix 2. Definition of IUU fishing
Appendix 3. Summary description of actions and measures in key parts of IPOA - IUU
Appendix 4. Summary description of paragraphs in IPOA - IUU on regional fisheries management organizations
Appendix 5. Resolutions and other decisions of some regional fisheries management organizations relating to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities

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