COFI/2003/Inf.8

SUMMARY 1. This document contains the Report of the Expert Consultation to Review Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing which was held in Rome, Italy from 4 to 6 November 2002. The Expert Consultation was convened by the Director-General, pursuant to paragraph 90 of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU), adopted by the Twenty-fourth Session of COFI in February-March 2001. A joint FAO/IMO ad hoc Working Group on IUU Fishing and Related Matters was convened in October 2000, prior to the Expert Consultation. This Expert Consultation represents further collaboration with IMO to address IUU Fishing. 2. The Expert Consultation made an exhaustive review of port State measures with respect to fishing vessels. 3. The Expert Consultation recognized that regional Memoranda of Understanding on port State measures to combat IUU fishing could serve as important and effective tools for enhancing fisheries management and identified appropriate elements that might be included in such regional Memoranda of Understanding. 4. The Expert Consultation made the following recommendations with respect to follow-up action by FAO. The recommendations are to: · Convene a Technical Consultation addressing principles and guidelines for the establishment of regional Memoranda of Understanding on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing; · Elaborate and implement programmes of assistance to facilitate human resource development and institutional strengthening, including legal assistance, in developing countries so as to promote the full and effective implementation of port State measures to combat IUU fishing; · Consider the establishment of a database concerning relevant port State measures.