Implementation of IPOA/IUU - International MCS Network

46discussed in Section 7 of these guidelines, also requires action on the part of portState officials.Paragraph 63 of the IPOA-IUU seeks to promote the sorts of schemesalready adopted by NAFO, NEAFC, ICCAT and CCAMLR for addressing nonmemberfishing through the use of port State measures. In one important respect,however, the IPOA-IUU suggests an improvement in these sorts of schemes. Therelevant decisions of these RFMOs each depend on the actual sighting of a nonmembervessel in order to trigger the presumption that the vessel has beenundermining the RFMO’s measures. The capacity of States to make suchsightings is very limited, unfortunately, especially where the RFMO hasresponsibilities relating to fisheries over vast ocean areas (as in the case ofICCAT, CCAMLR and a number of other RFMOs).With this problem in mind, the IPOA-IUU suggests that thepresumption in question should be triggered when a non-member vessel isidentified as being engaged in fishing activities. This broader term would allowthe presumption to be triggered when, for example, the analysis of trade datasuggests that a vessel is engaged in IUU fishing in waters under theresponsibility of a given RFMO.6.3 Other Possibilities for CoordinationIn order to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing within a givenregion, the possibility of additional agreements on port State measures should beconsidered. Ideally, such agreements would involve members of any RFMO aswell as non-members whose ports are known to be used for landing ortransshipping fish regulated by the RFMO.It is also recommended to formalize co-operation among RFMOs. Suchcooperation would be essential in areas where IUU fishing is the concern of twoor more regional bodies. For example, the conservation and management of fishresources in the Atlantic Ocean is the responsibility of several RFMOs. Acomprehensive port State system would mean that IUU fishing within the area ofresponsibility of one RFMO should trigger action by port States that aremembers of other RFMOs.A regional system of port State measures could also entail commonprocedures for inspection, qualification requirements for inspection officers andagreed consequences for vessels found to be in non-compliance. Possiblecommon elements could also include, in addition to denial of port access and/or