RFMOs are mandated to establish records of vessels authorized to operate in their areas of application, as well as records of vessels engaged in IUU fishing. Fleet registers are an effective tool for the management of fishing fleet capacity, and they also support coordinated efforts to prevent vessels known to have engaged in IUU fishing activities from operating undetected, simply moving from one marine region to another. In light of this, the GFCM established a record of fishing vessels more than 15 m in length overall (LOA) authorized to fish in the GFCM area of application. Vessels more than 15 m LOA that are not entered into the record are deemed not to be authorized to fish, retain on board, trans-ship or land species managed by the Commission. 

The GFCM also established a Regional Fleet Register containing information on all vessels, ships, boats or other craft that are equipped and used for commercial fishing in the GFCM area of application. A separate list has been established to collect information on vessels involved in IUU fishing activities, with the aim of ensuring that these vessels do not operate in the GFCM area of application. The GFCM IUU list is shared with other RFMOs and the GFCM receives the IUU lists of other RFMOs, so the lists can be checked for corresponding entries.