| Project's full title |
Increasing the Legal and Operational Capacity to Combat IUU Fishing - GCP/INT/321/EC |
| Introduction |
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing undermines national
and regional efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks and, as a
consequence, inhibits progress towards achieving the goals of long-term
sustainability. It deprives the poorest and most food-insecure people,
who depend on fisheries as a critical source of income and livelihood,
puts further pressure on the sustainability of marine ecosystems and
constitutes both an impediment and a deterrent to private sector
development. |
| Country |
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Peru
|
| Start date |
13/03/2018 |
| End date |
12/12/2021 |
| Status |
Closed |
| Donor |
European Union |
| Recipient / Target Areas |
Costa Rica,
Ecuador,
Peru
|
| Budget |
USD 1 803 617
|
| Project Code |
GCP/INT/321/EC
|
| Objective / Goal |
The action responded to requests to support developing States in the implementation of the PSMA and complementary coordinated MCS operations, measures and tools, including aspects related to policy, legal, institutional capacity and operations. Specifically, this was to be achieved through ( i ) strengthened national policy and legislative frameworks to combat IUU fishing, (ii) strengthened national means to carry out efficient MCS operations to combat IUU fishing through PSMs and complementary MCS tools and measures, (iii) increased transparency and traceability of vessels and fish products and (iv) replication of project derived best practices, including PSMA related knowledge management and communication. All of the planned outputs of the action were achieved. The three countries were equipped with strategies, policies and laws, as well as improved organizational and operational MCS capacities, to implement the provisions of the PSMA and complementary international instruments. The Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels was launched, with 66 countries contributing through the provision of data. In addition, the Global Portal for Capacity Development to combat IUU fishing was launched and three key knowledge products published.
|
| Partners |
Ministry of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Ecuador, Costa Rican Institution for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Agency for International Cooperation, Peru
|
| Beneficiaries |
Coastal communities, fisheries stakeholders and national institutions and/or entities already carrying out port state measures and monitoring, control and surveillance operations to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the target countries
|
| Activities |
- A national strategy and action plan was developed, through a
participatory process, and delivered to each of the three target
countries. - Two checklists and technical guidelines to combat IUU fishing
produced. These were designed to be used as resource materials
when conducting needs assessments under the present action and
the PSMA Global ProgrammeProgramme. - “Understanding and implementing catch documentation schemes – A guide for national authorities” produced.
- Technical support at national level for the review and
adoption/strengthening of policy and legislative measures consistent
with the provisions of the PSMA for the three target countries, and
capacity development on international maritime law for the three
target countries and a further two others.
- MCS systems and procedures strengthened in the three target
countries, including through technical assistance in establishing
standard operating procedures for the implementation of the PSMA
in the three target countries and in drafting a national inspection
plan (Costa Rica and Ecuador).
- Understanding of catch documentation and traceability schemes,
as well as effective use of vessel monitoring systems, improved
through two virtual workshops held for Costa Rica and Ecuador.
- Public version of the Global Record Information System launched
in July 2018, since when 66 FAO Members have uploaded the
records of a total of 11 853 vessels into the system.
- Global Portal for Capacity Development to combat IUU fishing
launched in May 2021.
|
| Impact |
The expected impact of the project was that the sustainability of marine fisheries would be improved by preventing, deterring and eliminating IUU fishing. The implementation of the measures put in place by Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru through the action are expected to contribute over time in a reduction in the incidence of IUU fishing and henceforth reduced pressure on the sustainability of marine fisheries and the environment.
|
| Contact |
Eszter Hidas (Lead Technical Officer) - [email protected]
|
| More on this topic |
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|
