The IOPA-IUU is a voluntary instrument that applies to all States and entities and to all fishers. Following the IPOA's introduction, the nature and scope of IUU fishing is addressed. This is followed by the IPOA's objective and principles and the implementation of measures to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing. These measures focus on all State responsibilities, flag State responsibilities, coastal State measures, port State measures, internationally agreed market-related measures, research and regional fisheries management organizations. Special requirements of developing countries are then considered, followed by reporting requirements and the role of FAO.

Analyses the concept of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the international instruments which provide the legal and policy framework to combat IUU fishing. Palma, Tsamenyi and Edeson, University of Wollongong, Australia.

These guidelines are addressed to decision-makers and policy-makers associated with the management of fisheries, but they should also be of interest to fishing industries and other parties. This Plan of Action is consistent with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, as well as with the 1993 Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and other applicable rules of international law. The guidelines are intended to provide general advice and a framework for development and implementation of national plans of action.

A Catch Documentation Scheme helps determine whether fish originate from catches that comply with applicable national, regional and international conservation and management measures. These Guidelines were elaborated in response to concerns expressed over the continued threat to marine habitats represented by illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, and the negative impact it has on food security, particularly in developing regions.

This document complements previous technical guidance documents on planning and executing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing estimation studies by providing a catalogue of 26 estimation methodologies from published studies. These methodologies encompass a wide range of locations, fishing gear and IUU fishing types. The catalogue is organized around two ways of identifying relevant methodologies: a) the IUU fishing estimation approach; and b) the primary available data source. The five types of IUU fishing estimation approaches (“a”) include: 1) estimating total catch minus reported catch; 2) partitioning total catch into IUU/non-IUU fishing; 3) summing individual IUU fishing events to a total amount; 4) estimating “true” catches for suspect vessels or fleets; and 5) determining relative amounts or trends in IUU fishing. The four types of primary data sources (“b”) include: 1) fishery models; 2) commercial sources; 3) operational data; and 4) expert judgements, comparisons to catch compilations and stakeholder surveys. These two types of approaches help to identify the relevant methodologies presented as concise, individual one- to two-page summaries. Each methodology is described in terms of the key elements needed and how they can be sourced, the specific steps involved in constructing the estimate, and guidance on the applicability of the method.

This booklet describes, in a non-technical manner, some important aspects of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. The purpose of this booklet is to help familiarize FAO Members and others with the tools for use in dealing with IUU fishing, to suggest which tools to use in particular circumstances and to provide guidance on how to use these tools effectively.

This publication considers issues related to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Mediterranean region, for discussion at the 28th session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean held in Tangiers, Morocco in October 2003. Topics examined include the role of regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), management of fishing capacity, especially as contained in International Plans of Action (IPOAs), the adoption of national plans of action (NPOAs), and the activities of the EU Fisheries Council on IUU fishing.