Implementation of IPOA/IUU - International MCS Network

558. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE IPOA-IUU THROUGH RFMOS8.1 Role of RFMOs in Addressing IUU FishingAs the preceding sections have demonstrated, RFMOs 109 have a centralrole to play in preventing, deterring and eliminating IUU fishing. Many of theworld’s most valuable stocks of fish, and a large number of those stocks mostsubject to significant IUU fishing, fall under the purview of RFMOs.Accordingly, RFMOs are uniquely positioned to promote and coordinate effortsto implement the IPOA-IUU.The RFMOs in existence today vary greatly in their mandates, legalauthorities, membership and geographical coverage. Some RFMOs have been inoperation for decades, while others are only now coming into existence. 110 Yetdespite these differences among the RFMOs, recent international instrumentshave called upon States to strengthen the capacities of RFMOs in general and toestablish new RFMOs to cover regions and/or fish stocks that are not yetcovered. 111 The IPOA-IUU has echoed these calls for strengthening the breadthand capacities of RFMOs in order to deal more effectively with problems of IUUfishing. 112 Many RFMOs face similar problems of IUU fishing. As stocks decline,a number of RFMOs have adopted increasingly stringent rules to manage thefisheries for which they are responsible. Some fishing vessels comply with thestricter rules, but others choose to ignore the rules or to register in States that arenot members of the RFMOs and are thus not directly bound by the rules. In thisrespect, it must be emphasized that vessels of both members and non-members of109 The term “regional fishery management organization” (RFMO) would appear to besomewhat narrower than the term “regional fishery body or arrangement”. Meetings of“FAO and Non-FAO Regional Fishery Bodies or Arrangements” in 1999 and 2001 haveincluded representatives from more than 30 international institutions that have someresponsibility for fisheries issues. A number of these institutions, however, have nomandate for fishery management as such and, hence, would not be covered by the term“RFMO”.110 The Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory FishStocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, which will establish the Commission forthe Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western andCentral Pacific Ocean, was opened for signature on 5 September 2000. The Conventionon the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South-East AtlanticOcean, which will establish the South-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, was openedfor signature on 20 April 2001.111 See, e.g. article 13 of the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and, more generally, variousprovisions of article 7 of the Code of Conduct.112 Paragraph 80 of the IPOA-IUU calls for institutional strengthening of RFMOs to dealmore effectively with IUU fishing. Paragraph 78 of the IPOA-IUU reaffirms the call toestablish RFMOs where they do not yet exist.