This document defines illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and summarizes several international agreements and programs aimed at addressing IUU fishing. It discusses the 2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures, which aims to prevent IUU-caught fish from entering markets. It also outlines the FAO's Voluntary Guidelines for Flag State Performance and plans for a Global Record of fishing vessels to strengthen monitoring and combat IUU fishing. While these coordinated efforts have made progress, challenges remain in fully strengthening legal frameworks and developing state capacities to effectively monitor fishing activities globally.

2. THE DEFINITION OF IUU FISHING
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a broad
term originally defined in 2001, within the context of the
IPOA-IUU, and includes:
• Fishing and fishing-related activities conducted in contravention of national, regional and
international laws. (illegal)
• Non-reporting, misreporting or under-reporting of information on fishing operations and
their catches. (unreported)
• Fishing by “Stateless” vessels. (unregulated)
• Fishing in convention areas of RFMOs by non-party vessels. (unregulated)
• Fishing activities which are not regulated by States and cannot be easily monitored and
accounted for. (unregulated)
• Fishing in areas or for fish stocks for which there are no conservation or management
measures. (unregulated)

3. INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
ADDRESSING IUU FISHING
1. FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International
Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels
on the High Seas, 1993 (Compliance Agreement)
2. FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to
Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and
Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, 2009 (Port State Measures Agreement)
Aims to prevent fish caught by foreign fishing vessels engaged in IUU fishing activities
from being landed and entering international markets, thus removing the incentive to
engage in IUU fishing.
Aims to prevent the "re-flagging" of vessels under the flags of States that are unable or
unwilling to enforce international fisheries conservation and management measures.

4. A purposely designed toolbox, concluded within the framework of
the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, to combat
IUU fishing, for use by all States, in general, flag States, coastal
States and port States.
Aim to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing through the effective
implementation of flag State responsibilities. This instrument is a
valuable tool for strengthening compliance by flag States with their
international duties and obligations regarding the flagging and
control of fishing vessels.
4. Voluntary Guidelines for Flag State
Performance (2014)
3. International Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate
Illegal, Unreported and
Unregulated Fishing (2001)

5. THE 2009 FAO AGREEMENT
ON PORT STATE MEASURES
• 2009 FAO Conference approved the
Agreement as an Article XIV instrument under
the FAO Constitution.
• The purpose of the Agreement is to prevent IUU-
caught products from entering international markets,
thus removing incentive to engage in IUU fishing.
• The Agreement is based on 2 voluntary international
instruments:
 2005 Model Scheme on Port State Measures to Combat
IUU Fishing: an intermediate step towards the conclusion of the
binding Port State Measures Agreement
 2001 IPOA-IUU

6. Status of the PSMA
• The Agreement opened for signature in November 2009
and remained opened for one year (until November 2010).
• 23 FAO Members signed in that period:
Angola, Australia, Benin, Brazil, Canada, Chile, EU, France, Gabon, Ghana, Iceland, Indonesia,
Kenya, Mozambique, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Russian Federation, Samoa, Sierra Leone,
Turkey, USA, Uruguay.
• 19 FAO Members have ratified, accepted, approved or
acceded to the Agreement (Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, EU, Gabon,
Iceland, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Palau,
Republic of Korea, Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis and
Uruguay)
• The Agreement will enter into force 30 days after
deposit with FAO DG of the 25th instrument of ratification,
acceptance, approval or accession.

7. Structure of the Agreement
The Agreement applies to vessels not flying the flag of
the port State, seeking entry into or being in ports.
Part 1
• Interpretation and application of the Agreement
• Fundamental international law, instruments and practices
Parts 2-4
• Step-by-step requirements and procedures for vessels and port States, from the
point of prior to entry into port of vessels
• Inspections and follow-up actions
Parts 5 and 6
• Considerations regarding the role of flag States and the requirements of
developing States
Parts 7-10
• Dispute settlement, non-parties, monitoring, review and assessment of final
provisions, including entry into force

8. • The entry into force of the PSMA would not only strengthen international efforts to
curb IUU fishing but will, as a result, also contribute to strengthened fisheries
management and governance at all levels.
Entry into force and implementation of the PSMA
• Through the implementation of defined procedures to verify that foreign vessels
have not engaged in IUU fishing, and other provisions relating to the denial of access
to ports, port inspections, prohibition of landing, detention and sanction, fish caught
from IUU fishing activities can be blocked from reaching national and international
markets.
• Used in conjunction with other tools such as the Global Record of Fishing Vessels,
catch documentation schemes and other MCS tools, port State measures have the
potential to be the most cost-effective and efficient means of combating IUU
fishing.
• Through the appropriate use of the funding mechanisms to be established under Article
21 of the PSMA, developing States will be better placed to combat IUU fishing.

9. FAO VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES FOR
FLAG STATE PERFORMANCE
• The fulfilment of responsibilities by flag States, as set out in
international law and various international instruments related to
fisheries, complements the implementation of effective port State
measures.
• The objective of the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Flag State
Performance (negotiated 2011-2013) is to prevent, deter and
eliminate IUU fishing through the effective implementation of flag
State responsibilities.
• The Guidelines are a valuable tool for strengthening compliance by
flag States with their international duties and obligations regarding the
flagging and control of fishing vessels.

10. • The Guidelines are wide-ranging and address:
 their purpose and principles
 the scope of application (geographical, vessels)
 performance assessment criteria (measures, actions)
 cooperation between flag States and coastal States
 a procedure for carrying out an assessment (self assessment, external
assessment)
 encouraging compliance and deterring non-compliance by flag States
(corrective, cooperative, measures)
 cooperation with and assistance to developing States with a view to
capacity development
 the role of FAO (receive reports, monitoring, assistance)
• It is hoped that through these Guidelines, fisheries and
maritime administrations will be encouraged to work more
closely together, that national regimes and capacities will
be strengthened, and that RFMOs will play a meaningful
role in using the Guidelines to strengthen flag State
performance and ultimately to combat IUU fishing.

11. THE GLOBAL RECORD OF FISHING
VESSELS, REFRIGERATED TRANSPORT
VESSELS AND SUPPLY VESSELS
The Global Record is one of the latest tools being developed by
FAO to combat IUU fishing by making readily available information
on vessels engaged in fishing and fishing-related activities,
including, inter alia, on their operations, physical characteristics,
ownership, flag history, track record and previous convictions.
The Global Record is expected to strengthen MCS schemes
and serve as an important facilitating tool in the implementation
of international instruments such as the PSMA and VGFSP.

12. • Strategy document on the design, development and
implementation of the Global Record (GR)
Achievements and on-going work
• Establishment of GR Informal Open-Ended Technical
and Advisory Working Group (GRWG) – focus on overall strategy
and financing
• 5-year programme proposal: system development,
capacity development and awareness-raising
• Prototype presented at COFI 2014
• Establishment of GR Core Groups (GRCGs) – focus on
Data Requirements, Data Exchange and Third Party Data

13. • Global initiative starting with a pilot project limited to key partners:
o Regional representation
o Developed and developing States
o Targeted support
Moving forward – Pilot Project
• Modification of prototype according to agreed data
requirements and extension to include data collection
• Public access for user feedback
• Increased commitment and participation of partners is vital for the
success of the project
• Donors so far: Australia, European Union, Iceland, Republic of
Korea, Spain, United Kingdom and United States

14. PERSISTENT CHALLENGES TO COMBAT
IUU FISHING
There are several political, legal, institutional, educational
and operational challenges to be addressed in the fight
against IUU fishing, including:
• Strengthening of legal and governance frameworks at
national, regional and global levels
• Enhancing the capacity of developing States to manage,
monitor and control fishing activities
• Developing globally accepted standards for market access,
trade and traceability mechanisms

15. Thank you for your attention