Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission

Report of the FAO/APFIC Workshop on Implementing the 2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, 23–27 April 2012. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report No. 1008. Rome, FAO. 2012. 64 pp.

This document contains the report of the FAO/APFIC Workshop on Implementing the 2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing (the Agreement), which was held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 23 to 27 April 2012. The workshop focused on the implementation of the Agreement from a legal and policy, institutional and capacity development, and operations stand points. Following the introduction, participants were apprised of IUU fishing characteristics in Southeast Asia including its scope, impact on resources, and economic consequences. The next section addressed the recent work of the regional plan of action to promote responsible fishing practices including measures to combat IUU fishing in Southeast Asia (RPOA). Port State measures in the global context were considered together with the use of port State measures to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing. The key provisions of the Agreement and implications for regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) were highlighted along with RFMO practices in supporting the implementation of port State measures. Fisheries fleets and ports in Southeast Asia were the subject of the next section followed by a review of Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Resolution 10/11 on port State measures. The national questionnaire on port State measures that had been provided to the participants in advance of the workshop was analysed. The role of fisheries managers and inspectors in implementing port State measures was considered and ways of moving forward with the implementation process addressed. Stakeholders’ perspective on port State measures and good governance issues were reviewed. Participatory activities and role play led to the formulation of action planning and workshop recommendations at the national and regional levels. Opportunities for regional cooperation to implement port State measures were addressed in detail. The anonymous evaluation of the workshop was positive. Funding and support for the workshop were provided by the FAO Regular Programme, Government of the Republic of Korea (Trust Fund GCP/INT/136/ROK), IOTC and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.

This document contains the report of, and papers presented at, the Expert Consultation on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing which was held in Sydney, Australia from 15 to 19 May 2000. The Consultation was organized by the Government of Australia in cooperation with FAO. Selected experts were invited to prepare papers as background documents to assist the work of the Consultation. These experts were also invited to prepare text for the preliminary draft of the international plan of action to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The preliminary draft international plan of action elaborated by the experts is appended to the report of the Consultation. This preliminary draft formed the basis for initial discussions at the Technical Consultation on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing which was held at FAO headquarters, Rome from 2 to 6 October 2000.

The National Seminar on the Reduction and Management of Commercial Fishing Capacity in Thailand took place from 11 to 14 May 2004 in Cha-Am, Thailand, and was attended by 78 participants and observers, including senior officials from the Department of Fisheries and other relevant Government departments. Representatives of associations of the commercial fishing industry, leaders of smallscale coastal fishers, national and international resource persons and representatives of bilateral and multilateral agencies also attended. The principal objective of the National Seminar was to contribute to the development of a national strategy for the reduction and management of commercial fishing capacity in Thailand. This is in keeping with international commitments, particularly those relating to the 1992 Convention on Biodiversity, the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the 1999 International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity, the 2001 ASEAN Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security and the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development. The first day plenary session was devoted to formal presentations that emphasized the link between overcapacity in fisheries and the serious decline in variety of stocks and in biomass. It also provided some focus on the experience of other countries in reducing fishing capacity. On the second day Seminar participants broke into separate working groups to address the problems of overcapacity in (i) the demersal fisheries and (ii) the anchovy fisheries. Through these groups an approach to tackling the problem of overcapacity was developed. Working group findings were reported back to plenary on the third day of the Seminar, which was also devoted to preparations for a Policy Dialogue Meeting. This Meeting, which constituted the final session of the seminar, brought additional senior Government officials into the discussion. Participants recognized that it was essential to undertake certain preliminary actions be undertaken before it would be possible to actually reduce Thailand

National Plans to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing: Models for coastal and small island developing states. For use in FAO Workshops to enhance national capacity to elaborate NPOAs-IUU.

This document presents model case studies for use in FAO regional and sub-regional workshops to enhance national capacity to elaborate National Plans of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (NPOAs-IUU). The workshops are being held as a response to widespread agreement that the 2001 FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU) should be put into effect by 2004. This date was stipulated in the IPOA-IUU, and reinforced by the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the United Nations General Assembly and the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI). Two model case studies are provided to show how States may develop and implement an NPOAIUU. One case study relates to coastal States, and the other to small island developing States (SIDS). While

The Model Scheme on Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing is addressed to all States, fishing entities and regional fisheries management organizations. Its purpose is to facilitate the implementation of effective action by port States to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Following the Preamble, the Scheme addresses general considerations, issues relating to the inspection of vessels while they are in port, actions to be taken when an inspector finds there is reasonable evidence for believing that a foreign fishing vessel has engaged in, or supported, IUU fishing activities, and information that the port State should provide to the flag State. The final section of the Scheme focuses on other matters including the provision that it should be implemented in a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory manner. The twenty-sixth session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries, held in 2005, in endorsing the report and recommendations of the 2004 FAO Technical Consultation to Review Port States Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, agreed that follow-up work to the Consultation should be undertaken, especially with respect to operationalizing the Model Scheme.

Model plan for a Pacific Island country. National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.Rome, FAO. 2005. 43p.

The Model Plan for the elaboration of an NPOA-IUU is designed to assist Pacific Island States give effect to the IPOA-IUU. The model incorporates the essential aspects and features of the IPOA-IUU, demonstrating how a NPOA-IUU might be drafted. In seeking to address IUU fishing the model provides an introduction (with an important focus on the fisheries situation in the model country) followed by measures that might be adopted under the headings of all State responsibilities, flag State responsibilities, coastal State measures, port State measures, internationally agreed market-related measures, research, regional fisheries management organizations and the special requirements of developing countries. Importantly, the model in the Appendix provides a checklist of supporting actions that Pacific Island States should take in developing and implementing their NPOAs-IUU.

This is the report of the APFIC Regional consultative workshop held to meet the recommendation of the 29th Session of the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC) to assist member countries improve the management of their fishing capacity in the region, including combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The overall aim of the workshop was to raise awareness of and promote actions towards achieving one of the most fundamental tenets of fishing

The Asian region accounts for about 50 percent of global wild capture fisheries production and about 90 percent of aquaculture production. The sustainable management of these fisheries resources, therefore, is an activity of global importance as well as being critical to countries of the region. However, the history of exploitation of wild fish stocks of the region has been one of sequential overexploitation, open access fisheries and low profitability. Despite this history, there has been a growing recognition in recent years of the need to manage fish stocks for long-term sustainability. This regional synthesis summarizes information, based on responses to questionnaires sent to 15 countries of the region and previously available information, on the current status of the management of fishing capacity and how countries of the region are addressing illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing by both national and foreign fleets. National Plans of Action (NPOAs) on fishing capacity in the region are now more common than in 2002 and some progress has been reported in attempting to assess fishing capacity in major fisheries, particularly small-scale fisheries. In addition, the number of specific capacity reduction programmes undertaken in the region has increased since 2002, again with the emphasis on small-scale fisheries.

However, the effectiveness, on a regional scale, of these initiatives is not yet apparent since fishing capacity in both industrial scale and small-scale fisheries has continued to rise in the region and is now, on average, 12.5 percent above 2002 levels. Production has also decreased in the majority of fisheries for which data were provided. A lack of policy and operational tools in the region was highlighted by many countries, with only 50 percent of the major fisheries having management plans. Methods for measuring fishing capacity, such as vessel licensing systems or census data, and catch and effort data systems are often being poorly developed and monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) capabilities generally inadequate. IUU remains a major issue to be addressed although the recent Asia-Pacific Fisheries Commission (APFIC)

This document contains the report of the FAO/APFIC Regional Workshop on Port State Measures toCombat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing for the South Asian Subregion, which was held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 10 to 13 February 2009. The objective of the Workshop was to develop national capacity and promote bilateral, subregional and/or regional coordination so that countries would be better placed to strengthen and harmonize port State measures and, as a result, implement further the 2001 FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, the 2005 FAO Model Scheme on Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and the Chairperson’s Draft Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, if and when it enters into force.

AO. Report of the FAO Regional Workshop on the Elaboration of National Plans of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing − South Asian Subregion. Bangkok, Thailand, 19–23 June 2006. FAO Fisheries Report. No. 809. Rome, FAO. 2006. 68p.

This document contains the report of, and the papers presented at, the FAO Regional Workshop on the Elaboration of National Plans of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing − South Asian Subregion, which was held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 19 to 23 June 2006. The purpose of the Workshop was to assist countries in the subregion to develop capacity to elaborate national plans of action to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (NPOAs–IUU). The Workshop addressed issues relating to the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the 2001 FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA–IUU) and the FAO Fisheries Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries No. 9 that have been developed to support the implementation of the IPOA–IUU; decision-making about IUU fishing and skills enhancement through the identification of key issues relating to the elaboration of NPOAs–IUU, the primary vehicle by which the IPOA–IUU will be implemented by countries. Working groups were formed to encourage maximum participation in the Workshop. A review of the major IUU fishing problems in the region and their possible solutions were discussed.

FAO. Report of the FAO Regional Workshop on the Elaboration of National Plans of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing – Southeast Asia Subregion. Penang, Malaysia, 10–14 October 2004. FAO Fisheries Report. No. 757. Rome, FAO. 2005. 88p.

This document contains the report of, and some of the papers presented at, the FAO Regional Workshop on the Elaboration of National Plans of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing – Southeast Asia Subregion which was held in Penang, Malaysia, from 10 to 14 October 2004. The purpose of the Workshop was to assist countries in Southeast Asia, People's Republic of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to develop capacity so that they would be better placed to elaborate National Plans of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (NPOAs–IUU). The Workshop addressed the 2001 International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA–IUU) in detail and the Technical Guidelines that have been developed to support the implementation of the IPOA–IUU; concepts of planning and the elaboration of action plans; a case study for the development of a NPOA–IUU; and decision-making about IUU fishing and skills enhancement through the identification of key issues relating to NPOAs–IUU, the primary vehicle by which the IPOA–IUU will be implemented by countries. Working groups were formed to encourage maximum participation in the Workshop. A review of the major IUU fishing problems in the region and their possible solutions were discussed.

This document contains the report of the FAO/APFIC/SEAFDEC Regional Workshop on Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated [IUU] Fishing, which was held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 31 March to 4 April 2008. The objective of the Workshop was to develop national capacity and promote bilateral, subregional and/or regional coordination so that countries would be better placed to strengthen and harmonize port State measures and, as a result, implement further the 2001 FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, the 2005 FAO Model Scheme on Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and contribute to the development of a legallybinding instrument on port State measures. The Workshop addressed: the background and framework for port State measures; the FAO Model Scheme including national plans of action to combat IUU fishing and IUU fishing activities in Southeast Asia; the FAO Model Scheme and regional approaches and the 2007 draft Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing; key elements of national laws, and the role of the Asia Pacific Fisheries Commission and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center; national coordination and implementation of port State measures; industry perspectives on port State measures, and responses to the questionnaire on port State measures. Working groups were formed to enhance the participatory nature of the Workshop and as a means of engendering broader and deeper discussion on concepts and issues relating to port State measures. In the first exercise, participants addressed multidisciplinary aspects of port State measures, and in the second exercise, thematic issues were considered. A fictitious case study exercise was also undertaken. It was intended to demonstrate how a port State might deal with a realistic IUU fishing problem. The final session of the Workshop sought to identify key issues to be addressed on a regional basis as followup to the Workshop.

This Final Report on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia draws primarily upon secondary sources, supplemented with field interviews. The report provides:
• analysis of demographics for the fishing sector in east coast States;
• a summary of the nature and extent of IUU fishing in the east coast region;
• an overview of the drivers and impacts of IUU fishing;
• a description of monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) arrangements for east coast Peninsular Malaysian fisheries; and
• a summary of relevant laws and regulations for the fisheries industry in Malaysia.

The study of demographics indicates that east coast Peninsular Malaysian States are less wealthy than the more industrialised States in the west, and that northern east coast States are poorer than the southern States. Fishing families in the east coast region appear to be amongst the less wealthy segment of society, with the lowest levels of education and few opportunities for employment diversity.

There are many forms of IUU fishing evident in the east coast region of Peninsular Malaysia,including:
violation of fishing licence conditions such as encroachment and use of unauthorised fishing gear;
• unlicensed fishing;
• unregulated and unreported harvest of lobster;
• IUU harvest and smuggling of cockle spat;
• IUU turtle egg harvest and unreported turtle by-catch;
• illegal harvest of arowana;
• IUU harvest of grouper fry;
• illegal fishing by foreign vessels;
• possible violent crime against fishing boats;
• illegal fishing within marine protected areas; and
• shark fin fishing.
The drivers, pressures and impacts of IUU fishing are summarised in the form of a ‘Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response’ (DPSIR) model. The use of the DPSIR tool demonstrates well the complexity of the problem, including subtle influences such as cultural tolerance for rule bending; a highly developed respect for hierarchy, even in the context of evident corruption; the role of ethnicity in market behaviour, and much more. However, some aspects of IUU fishing in the area are far from subtle, such as the smuggling of subsidised diesel fuel and fish, and possibly the trafficking
of persons as forced labour on fishing boats.

The financial loss to local communities from IUU fishing in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia is difficult to calculate, but can reasonably be demonstrated to be considerable. The financial loss from smuggled subsidised fuel alone is estimated conservatively to cost more than RM6 million per year. The smuggling of fish caught in Kelantan waters to Thailand is likely to represent a direct loss of at least RM72m per year (possibly much more) plus additional losses through wasted subsidised fuel, artificially inflated fish prices in local markets, lost fishing boat provisioning business, and unproductive capital expenditure on idle fish cold-store facilities. Other losses through ecosystem harm caused by IUU over-fishing and the use of inappropriate gear in delicate environments would involve extensive observational data and complex models to quantify; nevertheless, such losses can be accepted as occurring at a certain level.

This APEC fisheries working group report provides an analysis of the nature and extent of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Sulawesi Sea, including their economic, social and environmental impacts and the factors contributing to IUU fishing in the area. The report also examines the efforts being made by the states bordering the Sulawesi Sea at the national, bilateral and regional levels to combat IUU fishing.

Assessment of Impacts of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the Asia-Pacific.
Frank Meere and Mary Lack, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Fisheries Working Group, November 2008

The Pacific Ocean is a source of more than 60% of global marine capture production (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2008a) and fishing makes a significant economic and social contribution to many economies in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the status of a number of economically important fish stocks in the Pacific Ocean is of concern. Overfishing has caused significant declines of some stocks in waters under national jurisdiction and of some migratory and straddling stocks. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is one of a range of interrelated factors that is putting these stocks at risk. It is estimated that 3.4