Implementation of IPOA/IUU - International MCS Network

48products harvested through IUU fishing while not creating unnecessary barriersto trade in other fish and fish products.Although the IPOA-IUU does not define “market-related measure,” thatterm is generally understood to encompass several types of controls on theimportation and exportation of goods. In the context of creating a “toolbox” tocombat IUU fishing, examples of such measures mentioned in the IPOA-IUUinclude multilateral catch certification and trade documentation requirements, aswell as import and export restrictions and prohibitions. 917.1 Actions by RFMOsAs noted above, the IPOA-IUU calls for market-related measures thatare “internationally agreed.” In this respect, RFMOs have served, and will likelycontinue to serve, as the primary international bodies for development andadoption of market-related measures to combat IUU fishing.There are several vital functions that RFMOs can perform with respectto market-related measures. One is to identify vessels that have engaged in IUUfishing for stocks under the purview of the RFMO. The IPOA-IUU provides thatthe identification of such vessels should be made through agreed procedures in afair, transparent and non-discriminatory manner. Where the identified vesselsrepeatedly fly the flag of a particular State, the RFMO can also identify that flagState and urge that State to bring the fishing activities of its vessels undercontrol.The identifications of vessels and flag States can trigger the marketrelatedmeasures envisioned in the IPOA-IUU. In particular, paragraph 66 of theIPOA-IUU provides that:States should take all steps necessary, consistent with internationallaw, to prevent fish caught by vessels identified by the relevant[RFMO] to have been engaged in IUU fishing being traded orimported into their territories.To fulfil this commitment, States must have some way to know whichvessel harvested a particular fish or, at a minimum, the flag State of that vessel.RFMOs can assist in this regard by developing and adopting catch certificationand trade documentation schemes. These schemes can help prevent, deter andeliminate IUU fishing by requiring that fish and fish products must beaccompanied by forms indicating, for example, when and where the fish were91 Restrictions or prohibitions on the landing or transshipment of fish in port by foreignvessels could also be viewed as “market-related measures.” However, the IPOA-IUU andthese guidelines consider such measures to fall within the category of port State measures.