E - Iccat

PWG REPORT
are not yet as effective as the IMO numbers. But, they are a step in the right direction. As the RFMOs adopt
more comprehensive requirements to register vessels, these UVIs will become more effective and more truly
unique.
ISSF has called upon the tuna fishing industry to obtain IMO numbers for large-scale vessels. We maintain a
database with IMO numbers at http://iss-foundation.org/imo-database/, with over 1,600 vessels so far. ISSF
hopes that ICCAT and the other RFMOs will be able to use this information to strengthen the global
consolidated list of vessels.
Statement by Observer from PEW to PWG
Appendix 5 to ANNEX 11
We call your attention to our policy statement, “Better Management for all ICCAT Species: Time to Fill In the
Puzzle Pieces”, which was circulated electronically to all Contracting Parties (CPs), and is available on our
website at www.pewenvironment.org/ip (in English, French, and Spanish) along with copies of our other
materials. The following supplements that policy statement as relates to the work of the PWG.
This year, several measures will be presented to the PWG that have the potential to greatly improve monitoring
and compliance in fisheries managed by ICCAT. Pew urges the PWG to carefully consider these proposals and
adopt strong measures that will be effective and enforceable. Recent reports of illegal fishing in Libyan waters
in 2011, unregistered boats in the Mediterranean in 2012, unreported trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna over the last
decade, and the need to more effectively monitor and promote compliance with other conservation and
management measures (CMMs), point to the immediate need for better tracking of vessels, catch and
international trade of ICCAT species.
ICCAT must crack down on persistent illegal fishing activity (which includes any fishing not in full compliance
with ICCAT CMMs), by addressing the following issues:
Port State Measures: ICCAT should adopt at this meeting a revised port inspection scheme on the basis of the
proposal put forward at the 2012 meeting of the Working Group on Integrated Monitoring Measures (IMM) in
Tokyo, Japan. This proposal represents an acceptable minimum standard on port inspections but needs to include
the prohibition of landing, transhipping or access to port services for vessels in violation of ICCAT
recommendations. Otherwise there will be nothing to prevent illegal vessels from continuing their activities and
pocketing the benefits of their illegal practices. ICCAT must protect the interests of its legitimate operators.
IMO numbers: No effective compliance with ICCAT measures can be ensured without the capacity to positively
identifying a fishing vessel. ICCAT should improve the identification of fishing vessels by requiring that they
obtain and use IMO numbers. As a first step, ICCAT should make this requirement for large-scale fishing
vessels and mandate that the IMO number is provided in all relevant ICCAT records and communications. There
is increasing international support for using the IMO number as the unique vessel identifier for fishing vessels,
and hence it is the right time for ICCAT to give due consideration to this matter and define, at this meeting, a
process to establish the IMO number as the standard ICCAT vessel identifier.
IUU Vessel List: A number of recent studies strongly point to persistent illegal fishing and overcapacity in the
Mediterranean, despite stricter regulations and increased enforcement efforts. A new independently-reviewed
trade analysis presented to the SCRS in September 2012 estimates that quotas were exceeded by 62% between
2005 and 2011 and by 77% between 2008 and 2011. The actual catch is most likely higher, since official trade
records do not reflect black market trade.
Use of illegal driftnets: ICCAT also needs to address the long ongoing use of illegal driftnets to catch bluefin
tuna and swordfish, a practice that has been banned by ICCAT for nearly a decade. Several countries have made
significant progress. Despite this prohibition, from 2005 to 2011, Italian authorities, EU inspectors, and nongovernmental
organizations documented more than 650 infringements of the driftnet ban. In May 2012, 40 tons
of illegally caught bluefin tuna was seized by the Italian Coast Guard. To help combat this illegal activity, all
vessels identified as participating in illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing, including the use of
illegal driftnets, should be placed on ICCAT’s IUU vessel list and appropriate sanctions should be applied to
CPCs whose vessels continue to violate ICCAT regulations.
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