E - Iccat

ICCAT REPORT 2002-2003 (II)
5.1.3 Actions
The Working Group referred to the summary document of PWG actions (Appendix 4 to ANNEX 10) for its
deliberations regarding Cooperating non-Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing Entities and other non-
Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing Entities. To aid discussions, the Chair also provided a document to the
Parties that summarized the results of an informal, small group meeting 1 . Certain Parties expressed concern that
deliberations of this nature had to be done through an informal session. The Chair stressed that this was not the
preferred way of doing business; however, if the PWG was to complete its business, it had little alternative given
the nature and progress of the overall Commission meeting. Due to the obvious time constraints, the Chair
proposed that all special letters would be drafted by her in consultation with the Secretariat and the Commission
Chairman, after the Commission meeting (attached as Appendix 5 to ANNEX 10). There was no objection to
this proposal.
Based on all available information, the PWG considered that no action was necessary regarding Denmark (in
respect of the Faroe Islands), Liberia, Mozambique, or Singapore. The other actions by the Working Group are
as follows:
Belize
Questions were raised by the Delegate from Japan concerning one vessel that informed Chinese Taipei
authorities of fishing in the Atlantic during 2003. The Observer from Belize commented on the extremely late
nature of the allegation and the problem that such lateness made refutation extremely difficult. The Delegate
from Trinidad and Tobago agreed (see Appendix 6 to ANNEX 10), commenting that any allegations submitted
during this meeting would have to be considered at the 2004 meeting of the PWG. The Observer of Belize also
referred to several supporting documents 1 submitted during this meeting concerning Belize’s fisheries and fleet,
including a National Report and updates to its registry. The Delegate from Canada concurred, noting that most of
the Contracting Parties would not be able to provide such data from their own vessels if they received the
information so late. Further discussion of the Belize registry concerned possible Belize-flagged vessels on lists
of repatriated vessels under a Chinese Taipei program 1 (see also Appendix 3 to ANNEX 11). Comments made
by Belize are contained in Appendix 7 to ANNEX 10. Regarding an EC list of vessels that have carried out
illegal fishing 1 ,the Delegate from Belize noted that none of these vessels was currently in the Belize registry.
Further questions were raised by the Delegate of Japan concerning the lack of data submissions from Belize in
the past from vessels fishing in the Atlantic. The Observer from Belize noted that an “expiration date” was
needed for States trying to improve their registries, referring to arguments contained in its submission on past
records of applications for Cooperating Status contained in Appendix 7 to ANNEX 10.
The Observer from CARICOM pointed out that (1) by default, the sanctions will expire without presentation of
documented evidence of wrongdoing, and (2) a lack of consensus on this issue among the PWG would result in
the default action. In addition, several Parties noted that the new Resolution by ICCAT Concerning Trade
Measures (ANNEX 6 [Ref. 03-15]) allowed for an expedited sanction process in egregious situations.
The Delegate from Japan observed that of the three vessels on the IUU list nominally flagged to Belize, none had
landed in the Atlantic last year. Brazil, supported by the United States, noted that the Recommendation by
ICCAT to Establish a List of Vessels Presumed to have Carried Out Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated
Fishing Activities in the ICCAT Convention Area [Ref. 02-23] required solid evidence of illegal action. After
further discussion by the Parties, it was agreed that the sanctions imposed on Belize in the Recommendation by
ICCAT Concerning the Importation of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Atlantic Swordfish, and Atlantic Bigeye Tuna and
Their Products from Belize [Ref. 02-16] would be allowed to expire. In the letter to Belize explaining this
situation, it was agreed that ICCAT should seek additional information from Belize on its efforts to improve
monitoring, control, and surveillance of its fleet. The letter to Belize is attached as Appendix 5.1 to ANNEX 10.
Bolivia
The Delegates noted that there was no new information available this year that would lead to the lifting of the
sanctions for bigeye tuna under the UU Catches Resolution [Ref 98-18]. Bolivia did correspond with the
Commission in 2003 but its letter did not address issues raised by ICCAT after its 2002 meeting. Moreover,
several vessels remain on the ICCAT IUU vessel list. The Commission would therefore send a letter informing
Bolivia of the continuance of sanctions and expressing the concern regarding its flagged vessels on the ICCAT
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