Implementation of IPOA/IUU - International MCS Network

50products. On the basis of that data and other pertinent information, ICCAT mayidentify both members and non-members whose large-scale longline vesselshave been diminishing the effectiveness of ICCAT conservation andmanagement measures and request those identified to take remedial action.Failure to take such action can, once again, lead to prohibitions on imports.Pursuant to this measure, ICCAT decided in 2000 to prohibit the importation ofbigeye tuna from one ICCAT member and from four non-members.Finally, ICCAT has maintained a Bluefin Tuna Statistical Documentprogram for nearly a decade. 96 This program, which was applied first for frozenbluefin tuna and later to fresh bluefin tuna as well, represented ICCAT’s initialattempt to deal with problems of IUU fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlanticregion. The primary objective of the program is to increase the accuracy ofbluefin tuna catch statistics by verifying the flag State of the harvesting vessel,the area and time of catch. In doing so, the program also helps ICCAT estimatethe amount of unreported bluefin tuna catches.Under the Bluefin Tuna Statistical Document program, all ICCATmembers must require that every bluefin tuna it imports be accompanied by astatistical document validated by the flag State of the harvesting vessel. 97 Thedocument must contain at least the following information: the name of the country issuing the document the name of the exporter and the importer the area of harvest of the fish in the shipment (i.e. for the AtlanticOcean, the areas would be the east, west or Mediterranean Sea) the gear utilized to catch the fish the type of product and total weight the point of export. 98In 1999, the Commission for the Conservation of Southern BluefinTuna (CCSBT) adopted a statistical document program for southern bluefin tunamodelled closely on the ICCAT program. The objective of the CCSBT program,which became effective on 1 June 2000, is the same as well – to combat IUUfishing by monitoring the international trade in southern bluefin tuna. Under the96See ICCAT Recommendations 92-1 and 92-3 and numerous subsequentrecommendations and resolutions through which ICCAT later refined the program.97 As a practical matter, Japan has the primary role in making the program effective, as itimports the vast majority of bluefin tuna that is traded internationally. In 2001, ICCAT’sStanding Committee on Statistics and Research reported that “various measures taken byICCAT to curb IUU fishing activities ... appear to be having some positive effects as seenin the decline in bluefin tuna imports to the Japanese market from IUU fishing vessels.”98 In 2000, ICCAT decided to create similar statistical document programs for bigeye tunaand swordfish. See ICCAT Recommendation 00-22.