Regional measures
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Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs)
RFMOs are the intergovernmental organizations or arrangements through which States collaborate to conserve and manage straddling and highly migratory fish stocks. RFMO/As can act as the link between international policy and regional implementation of best practice for reducing the incidental catch of non-target species.
The FAO Best practices to reduce incidental catch of seabirds in capture fisheries (BPTG-Seabirds) has been designed to assist RFMOs in developing regional action plans to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds. To date, 11 measures for reducing incidental by-catch of seabirds have been adopted by Fishery Commissions (Table 2).
Table 2. List of RFMOs and corresponding seabird conservation measures, and supporting documents (March 2024).
| RFMOs | Conservation and Management Measure | Year adopted | Binding or Voluntary | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources1 | Res 22/XXV International actions to reduce the incidental mortality of seabirds arising from fishing | 2006 | Binding | EN, ES, FR, RU |
| CM 25-02 (2023) Minimisation of the incidental mortality of seabirds in the course of longline fishing or longline fishing research in the Convention Area | 2023 | Binding | EN, ES, FR, RU | |
| Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna | Resolution to align CCSBT’s ecologically related species measures with those of other tuna RFMOs | 2023 | Binding | EN |
| Joint Technical Commission of the Maritime Front | CTMFM No 4/22 Regional Plan of Action to reduce the interaction of seabirds with fisheries in the waters of common interest managed by CTMFM | 2022 | Voluntary | ES |
| General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean | Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/13 on the mitigation of fisheries impacts for the conservation of seabirds in the Mediterranean Sea | 2021 | Voluntary | EN, FR |
| Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission | RESOLUTION C-11-02 to mitigate the impact on seabirds of fishing for species covered by the IATTC | 2011 | Binding | EN, ES |
| International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas | Rec 11-09 supplemental recommendation by ICCAT on reducing incidental by-catch of seabirds in ICCAT longline fisheries | 2011 | Binding | EN, ES, FR |
| Indian Ocean Tuna Commission | Resolution 12/06 on reducing the incidental bycatch of seabirds on longline fisheries | 2012 | Binding | EN, FR |
| South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation | CM 25/12 on reducing incidental by-catch of seabirds in the SEAFO Convention Area | 2012 | Binding | EN |
| Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement | CMM 13(2022) on mitigation of seabirds bycatch in demersal and pelagic longlines and other demersal fishing gears fisheries (Mitigation of Seabirds Bycatch) | 2022 | Binding | EN |
| South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation | CMM 09-2017 for minimising bycatch of seabirds in the SPRFMO Convention Area | 2017 | Binding | EN |
| Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission | CMM 2018-03 to mitigate the impact of fishing for highly migratory fish stocks on seabirds | 2018 | Binding | EN |
| Suppl_CMM 2018-03 Safe Handling and Release Guidelines for Seabirds | 2018 | Voluntary | EN |
Note: RFMO Secretariats are encouraged to submit new and updated measures, and any supporting documents to the IPOA-Seabirds contact provided.
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
The BPTG advises that RFMOs should review, at least every four years, the effectiveness of seabird measures adopted and undertake a review of the risks to seabirds whenever existing fisheries expand and/or new fisheries develop.
For detailed best practice technical guidelines for States and RFMOs, see BPTG-Seabirds and additional best practice advice compiled by the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels (ACAP), see other relevant international guidelines.