Recommended Best Practices for Regional Fisheries Management Organizations - A Model RFMO

Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) play a critical role in the global system of fisheries governance. As the primary way to achieve co-operation between and among fishing nations, RFMOs are essential for the conservation and effective management of international fisheries and high seas areas.

Developed by an independent panel of experts, the ‘model RFMO’ brings together the provisions of the UN Fish Stocks Agreement  and the best practices in fisheries management today. This initiative was funded by Canada and other former High Seas Task Force members to outline the steps that RFMOs can take to improve the way they manage global fisheries and oceans.

According to the panel’s report, a ‘model RFMO’ is guided by an overriding objective: long-term conservation and sustainable use of fish stocks under its jurisdiction. This objective forms the basis for each recommended best practice within the nine categories, including the following:

• General practices to ensure members benefit from RFMO fisheries without undermining sustainability;
• Conservation and management practices that control fishing capacity and effort, exercise caution for new fisheries, and consider impacts of fishing on habitats;
• Allocation practices that are separate from the total allowable catch process;
• Compliance and enforcement practices that stop illegal fishing by non-members, outline responsibilities of flag and port states, and ensure compliance;
• Decision-making practices that limits grounds for objection;
• Dispute settlement practices that apply binding procedures set out in the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea;
• Transparency in decision making and committee work;
• Special requirements of developing countries are implemented, including assistance to these countries to improve enforcement, surveillance and control; and,
• Institutional practices are sufficient to achieve objectives, including qualified staff and adequate financial resources.

RFMOs are ultimately judged according to the health and sustainability of the fish stocks that they manage. The model RFMO provides guidance to help the members of regional fisheries management organizations achieve and maintain this goal. The ‘model’ for improved governance by RFMOs was proposed by the High Seas Task Force in March 2006. Hosted by Chatham House in London, this initiative was managed by a Director from the Round Table on Sustainable Development at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.