Sustainable fishing: Curbing illegal fishing

We are working at many levels to fight illegal fishing.

• Highlighting the need to reform the flags of convenience (FoC) system, which currently sees as many as 1,300 fishing vessels of significant size taking advantage of cheap vessel registration services in countries that do not adequately enforce their obligations to manage the vessels they flag. For example, a 2005 report revealed the link between illegal fishing operations in the world’s oceans and countries that offer FoC to fishing vessels. The report makes several recommendations, which WWF is working to see implemented.
• Promoting the use of black lists for IUU vessels
• Promoting the need for increased cooperation and control measures by port states and flag states
  
• OECD High Seas Task Force: WWF was a member of the OECD High Seas Task Force which in 2006 published practical recommendations for preventing and eliminating IUU fishing on the high seas. We are now supporting an international high-level panel working to implement these recommendations.
  
• Working with legitimate and responsible fishing companies: For example, in 2003 a new international alliance of fishing companies to combat the illegal fishing of Patagonian toothfish in the Southern Ocean was launched. Working closely with WWF, the Coalition of Legal Toothfish (Patagonian) Operators (COLTO) includes fishing companies from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, France, South Africa, Chile, Uruguay, Falkland Islands/Isles Malvinas, and Namibia. The coalition is determined to rid the southern seas of the illegal vessels that threaten the sustainability of the economically prized and ecologically valuable toothfish.
• Tightening trade controls: For example in 2002, WWF and Australian fishing companies convinced the Australian government to take forward a proposal to list the Patagonian toothfish on Appendix II of the Convention on the Illegal Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES), which would require trade in the fish to be closely regulated by governments. Although the species was not listed, it is now firmly on the CITES agenda. WWF also works with seafood buyers to tighten trade controls for species threatened by IUU fishing.
  
  
• Developing plans of action: Australian fishing companies and WWF helped the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) develop its International Plan of Action on IUU Fishing, and subsequently helped develop the Australian National Plan of Action on IUU fishing.