Checklists and technical guidelines to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing – Volume 1: a consolidated checklist of State responsibilities and a summary of key instruments governing fishing operations
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing remains one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems, and undermines national and regional efforts to achieve sustainable fisheries. A framework of binding and voluntary international instruments has been developed over recent decades, which collectively outline the responsibilities of coastal, flag and port States to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing. This document consolidates these responsibilities within a single reference document. The responsibilities are presented as a checklist, in questionnaire format. This publication includes new questions from three FAO international instruments; the Voluntary Guidelines for Transshipment (2023), the Technical Guidelines to understanding and implementing catch documentation schemes (2022) and the Voluntary Guidelines for Catch Documentation Schemes (2017). It also contains guidelines for better regulation and the monitoring, control and surveillance of selected processes in fishing operations. It also deals with transshipments and port State measures under the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (2016). The document aims to serve both as a reference document for professionals and an assessment tool for practitioners.