International Day for the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing

The Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels (Global Record) is a global initiative that primarily involves the compilation of certified information on vessels involved in fishing operations. The main objective is to provide a useful and powerful tool to deter and eliminate illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing activities , within the framework of legal instruments available including the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) , making it more difficult for vessels to operate outside the law. An essential element of the programme is the assignment of a Unique Vessel Identifier (UVI) , which remains unchanged throughout the vessel’s lifetime, regardless of change of name, ownership or flag. A programme by the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department , the Global Record was supported by FAO member States through the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) as one of the main global tools to fight IUU fishing . Read more about the Global...

The international community has for some time expressed concerns about the risks that transshipment could represent in relation to supporting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing operations and other criminal activities. FAO undertook a first global study , which included a questionnaire that was well responded by FAO Members, which concluded that although transshipment might be regulated to some extent, monitoring and control of transshipment activities was generally lacking, creating loopholes. Subsequently, upon the recommendation of COFI, FAO followed with an in-depth global study on transshipment confirming that a lack of regulation, monitoring and control increases the risk of IUU caught fish entering the seafood supply chain , undermining sustainable and socially responsible fisheries. The study also identified the main types of transshipment activities.  A summary of the findings was presented to the thirty-fourth Session of COFI in 2021 , which called upon...

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a global problem that threatens ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries. It also threatens our economic security and the natural resources that are critical to global food security, and it puts law-abiding fishermen and seafood producers in the United States and abroad at a disadvantage. The Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement (SAFE) Act provides a whole-of-government approach to counter IUU fishing and related threats to maritime security. Section 3551 of the Act requires the establishment of an Interagency Working Group to strengthen maritime security and combat IUU fishing. Combating IUU fishing is a top priority for the United States, and communication, collaboration and strategic coordination will be key in bringing about tangible results. The efforts of the U.S. Interagency Working Group on IUU Fishing now sit at the heart of our government’s coordination on tackling IUU fishing practices and setting the cond...

Combating IUU fishing  requires inter-agency coordination, particularly through the implementation of relevant international agreements. In this context, the FAO-IMO-ILO ad hoc Joint Working Group on IUU fishing and related matters was established as a result of the call made by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, which met in April 1999, highlighting the issue of flag and port State responsibilities and the need for FAO and IMO to cooperate on solving problems relating to IUU fishing.  Following the decision by the Governing Body of the ILO at its 335th session, the ILO also formally joined in 2019. Specifically, the JWG discusses and makes recommendations to address: IUU fishing; Maritime safety and security; Decent work in the fishing sector; Protection of the marine environment; Capacity development; and other relevant topics.

The Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) entered into force in 2016. Parties meet every two years to discuss and take decisions on its implementation, and identify ways to increase its effectiveness in combating IUU fishing. The Fifth Meeting of the Parties is scheduled to take place from 21 to 25 April, in Manta, Ecuador.