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.

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.

This checklist aims to provide users who are the primary actors in implementing the obligations of States under international law, including officials of States and particularly developing States, with a comprehensive checklist in order to assess the level of conformity of the national legal framework with the relevant international legally binding and non-binding instruments relevant to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing. Based on this checklist, the user should be able to assess whether each duty and responsibility is fully / partially / not found in the national legal framework, and to address any identified gaps.

Through this Strategy, we are reinforcing our efforts to combat IUU fishing so that marine ecosystems are conserved and the food security, livelihoods, and sustainable development of communities around the world are supported. Our approach is to focus now on the identified priority regions and flag states and administrations with an intent to shift to other geographic regions and flag states or administrations as we build the coalition that works in harmony to stamp out IUU fishing. Step by step, we will build science-based, intelligence-driven fisheries management with monitoring, enforcement, and real consequences, incorporating innovative technologies and increased collaborative international and private sector information sharing. We will make seafood supply chains transparent and tackle forced labor in the fisheries sector.