E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2002-2003 (II)
4.2 REPORT OF THE 1 ST MEETING OF THE WORKING GROUP ON PROCESS AND CRITERIA FOR
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF IUU TRADE RESTRICTIVE MEASURES (Funchal, Madeira, 29-30 May
2003)
1. Opening of the Meeting
The meeting was opened by M. Miyahara, ICCAT Chairman. He welcomed all participants. (The list of
participants is attached as Appendix 2 to the Report of the 3 rd Meeting of the Working Group to Develop
Integrated Monitoring Measures, ANNEX 4.1.)
2. Election of the Chairman
Ms. Kimberly Blankenbeker, Chair of the Permanent Working Group for the Improvement of ICCAT Statistics
and Conservation Measures (PWG), was elected as meeting Chair.
3. Adoption of the Agenda
The Chair proposed that the Agenda, which had been previously circulated, be amended to include a new item to
review the Working Group’s Terms of Reference (Appendix 1 to ANNEX 4.2). The Chair explained that the
review was intended to remind participants of the mandate in preparation for subsequent discussions. The Chair
also suggested that the two items on “review of current ICCAT process” and “further developments for the
imposition/removal of trade restrictive measures” be dealt with together, since the documents that were tabled
(Appendix 2 to ANNEX 4.2) also dealt with these issues together. The Working Group accepted these
proposals.
4. Appointment of the Rapporteur
The Secretariat was appointed Rapporteur.
5. Review of the Terms of Reference
The meeting Chair reviewed the Working Group’s mandate, contained in the Resolution by ICCAT Regarding
Process and Criteria for ICCAT IUU Trade Restrictive Measures [Ref. 02-27]. Participants noted that the
Commission, at its 2002 annual meeting, had focused its efforts to fight Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated
(IUU) fishing on the development of the so-called “positive” and “negative” vessel lists and, therefore, it had to
postpone discussions of trade sanctions until 2003. The ICCAT Chairman stated his view that more clarity was
necessary about the process leading up to the imposition of trade restrictive measures in order for the
Compliance Committee and PWG to carry out their work more effectively.
6. Review of current ICCAT process for the imposition/removal of trade restrictive measures
The Chair explained that the current ICCAT process to combat illegal activities relies primarily upon five
ICCAT instruments:
(1) The 1994 Resolution by ICCAT Concerning an Action Plan to Ensure the Effectiveness of the
Conservation Program for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (BFT Action Plan [Ref. 94-3]),
(2) The 1995 Resolution by ICCAT Concerning an Action Plan to Ensure the Effectiveness of the
Conservation Program for Atlantic Swordfish (SWO Action Plan [Ref. 95-13]),
(3) The 1998 Resolution by ICCAT Concerning the Unreported and Unregulated Catches of Tunas by
Large-Scale Longline Vessels in the Convention Area (UU Catches Resolution [Ref. 98-18]),
(4) The 1996 Recommendation by ICCAT Regarding Compliance in the Bluefin Tuna and North Atlantic
Swordfish Fisheries [Ref. 96-14], and
(5) The 1997 Recommendation by ICCAT Regarding Compliance in the South Atlantic Swordfish Fishery
[Ref. 97-8].
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