Addressing IUU Fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing represents an estimated 30 per cent of the world's total catch. Sadly, there are many short-sighted reasons why fishers are lured into committing these illegal acts. One of the more obvious reasons is the increasing market value of some fish and seafood products. Another is the vast area of the oceans, especially on the high seas, that have insufficient controls to prevent these activities.

Fishing nations have a responsibility to control the actions of their fleets. Regional fisheries management organizations are responsible for preventing IUU fishing by their members and non-members found fishing in their regulatory areas of the high seas.

In 2006, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization instituted a system to address IUU fishing in its regulatory area. This includes dealing with members caught fishing in this area without the authority to do so by its flag State, as well as non-members engaging in any fishing activities in the area.

The system works to ensure compliance to NAFO's conservation and enforcement measures through six main activities:

• Collecting and sharing information about non-member vessels, including identity, flag, location and fishery.
• At-sea boardings, which can include further action against illegal fishing by vessels if required under international law (UN Fish Stocks Agreement).
• Denying port access or requiring an extensive port inspection.
• Maintaining an on-line IUU list with vessel name and flag State, and if available, other information.
• Substantial follow-up action by NAFO members.
• Pressing for action by flag States against IUU vessels flying their flag.

There are a number of follow-up actions that can be taken by NAFO members against non-member vessels caught illegally fishing. For example, they can prohibit their vessels from assisting vessels on the IUU list. They can also prohibit IUU vessels from entering their ports to change crew or to refuel. NAFO members can also ban fish landings from IUU vessels. They can forbid imports of these fish if they are traceable. Moreover, NAFO members can encourage importers, transporters and others to refrain from transshipping fish caught by such vessels.

IUU fishing by non-members of NAFO was a significant threat to conservation throughout the 1980s to the mid-1990s. Through the implementation of the NAFO plan, illegal activity has since been reduced to very infrequent fishing for oceanic redfish by a few vessels. Efforts will continue to try to end all future IUU fishing.