RFMO Profiles

As part of the Port State Performance research conducted by the Pew Environment Group, IUU vessels listed by eight RFMOs were tracked globally. For those that could be identified and traced, visits to ports of both CPs and NCPs of the listing RFMO were recorded. Port State performance was then evaluated by investigating the implementation of port State measures in force at the time of each tracked port visits.

1. Nature of RFMOs

RFMOs are the mainstays of international fisheries governance and responsible for the conservation, management and sustainable use of the living marine resources falling within their convention areas. They are intergovernmental organizations established to facilitate cooperation among countries, with the common aim of managing high seas fish stocks. RFMOs are focused either on fish stocks in a particular region on the high seas or covering highly migratory species, predominantly tuna and tun-like species.

2. IUU Vessel Lists and Listing Procedures

Eight RFMOs have adopted procedures for listing vessels that have engaged in IUU fishing activities, with the aim of exposing offenders and applying restrictions. Some of these IUU vessel lists include only fishing vessels; others also list fishery support vessels. The IUU-vessel lists vary in quality, particularly with respect to information required for the identification of vessels. Generally, information on potential IUU vessels is gathered throughout the year by Contracting Parties (CPs) and then compiled by the RFMO secretariats. This leads to a draft IUU-vessel list on which comments are sought. Usually flag States are informed of the potential inclusion of one of their flagged vessels in the IUU-vessel list. After confirming that the vessels have engaged in IUU fishing and are to be listed, a provisional list is created. This provisional list is, in most cases, endorsed by the compliance committee of the RFMO and provided to the commission of the RFMO for adoption at the annual meeting generally by consensus.

3. Obligations (Port State Measures Against IUU-Listed Vessels)

A number of RFMOs have adopted port State measures to close ports or restrict port services available to IUU-listed vessels so as to make IUU fishing less attractive within their convention area and ultimately protect fish stocks under their jurisdiction. RFMOs establish various obligations for their CPs, but port State measures may include denial of port entry, denial of landing and transshipment of fish products, denial of port services and port inspections of suspected IUU fishing and support vessels.

4. RFMO Assessments

Port State measures can provide a powerful and cost-effective means of reducing IUU fishing. Although some RFMOs have established robust port State measures to combat such activities, there is room for improvement in other RFMOs. Based on our research, in the RFMO profiles we highlight good practices and identify areas for improvement for each of the eight RFMOs that we examined.