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OTTAWA – Addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and improving international fisheries governance are important themes at international meetings in Europe this week.
From March 7 to 11, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) held its 26th annual session in Rome, and the FAO Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries will take place in Rome on March 12. The first Ministerial Meeting of the High Seas Task Force on IUU Fishing also occurred this week on March 9 in Paris and on March 11 in Rome.
"Canada and many other coastal States have seen first-hand the devastating effects that illegal fishing activities can have on fishing communities," said Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. "It is important that these concerns be brought to the international table so that governments around the world can move forward an agenda to end the depletion of global fish stocks."
IUU fishing is one of the main factors behind the depletion of global fish stocks. Estimated to be 30 per cent or more of the world’s total catch, IUU fishing also has an adverse affect on marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and biodiversity as a whole.
During the COFI meeting, Canadian officials tabled Canada’s National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (NPOA-IUU), which outlines ongoing programs and initiatives, as well as existing policies and legislation, which tackle the issue of IUU fishing. It also recommends solutions to Canada’s concerns about illegal fishing with respect to overcapacity, lack of effective flag State control over their fishing vessels, and non-compliance to high seas conservation and enforcement measures with few or no consequences.
"Over the past two decades, the Government of Canada has implemented a number of policies and programs to address the threats posed by IUU fishing," said Minister Regan. "This national action plan clearly demonstrates the extent of our commitment to ensure the sustainability of the world’s fisheries."
At the High Seas Task Force (HSTF) sessions, members agreed to pursue six priority action areas over the coming year: sharing intelligence and better coordination of monitoring, control, and surveillance; developing a global register of high seas fishing vessels; preparing guidelines on the performance of flag States regarding their high seas fishing vessels; strengthening in-port measures and control over nationals; analysing trade-related measures; and addressing regional fisheries management organization (RFMO)-based initiatives and governance issues.
"While a number of international initiatives and agreements are in place to combat IUU fishing, their effectiveness has been held back by the lack of political support," said Minister Regan. "The High Seas Task Force was formed to find creative solutions to this problem. As the North American member, I look forward to my continued participation in the work of the Task Force as we advance these priority areas to attain our goal."
The HSTF and FAO meetings on fisheries are the first in a series of events being used by Canada to advocate stronger measures on overfishing and high seas governance. The Governance of High Seas Fisheries and the United Nations Fish Agreement conference taking place from May 1-5, 2005 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador will be the next key meeting. It is envisioned that this intergovernmental conference will launch a process that will lead to strengthened governance and updated high seas fishing management in regional fisheries management organizations.
The Government of Canada made considerable investments in 2004 to support a comprehensive strategy against overfishing, which includes a commitment to work closely with international partners to build and strengthen alliances and to identify ways to improve international fisheries governance. Annual funding of $15 million to continue enhanced monitoring and surveillance in the northwest Atlantic Ocean to discourage international overfishing was also recently announced in the February 2005 federal budget.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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Christiane Parcigneau
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 998-1530
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Brian Underhill
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 992-3474 |
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NR-HQ-05-08E |
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