Canada Key Contributor in Development of Best Practices for Regional Fisheries Management Organizations

Canada's contribution to the development of a set of best practices for regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) demonstrates its commitment to improving international fisheries and oceans governance.

The report: Recommended Best Practices for Regional Fisheries Management Organizations was developed by an independent panel of internationally recognized legal, economic, and fisheries management experts. The Royal Institute on International Affairs (Chatham House) in London, United Kingdom, released this basic set of guidelines for RFMOs on August 10, 2007. Canada recognizes the panel’s important contribution to promoting RFMO reform and was one of the key financial contributors to the work.

This ‘model RFMO’ report was one of nine initiatives recommended by the High Seas Task Force in March 2006 to deal with illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. It also responds to the recommendation in the 2006 UN General Assembly’s sustainable fisheries resolution for the development and application of best practice guidelines for RFMOs.

The goal of the panel was to bring together the best examples of good management by RFMOs worldwide and the provisions outlined in the UN Fish Stocks Agreement. It also focused on incorporating practical steps aimed at improving RFMO performance. Work is already underway on some of these steps - such as increasing levels of co-ordination and co-operation between and among RFMOs.

Fishing nations have agreed that RFMOs need to review their performance and report the results of these reviews regularly. Country members of RFMOs can now use this ‘model RFMO’ as a guide to integrate best practices into the day-to-day operations of RFMOs. Canada and other fishing nations will promote this work and its recommendations at various upcoming RFMO meetings.

Additional Information: Recommended Best Practices for Regional Fisheries Management Organizations –A Model RFMO