Catch documentation schemes (CDS) are just one in an array of tools designed to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The schemes provide a means for countries to cooperate in providing information about the legality of fish as it moves through the supply chain, from catch to market. Many countries are familiar with the specific information requirements on CDS forms; some, however, are less aware of the need for robust national systems to validate and verify that information. This document seeks to align and improve existing national monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) tools, as well as product tracking systems, in order to support more effective national CDS implementation and strengthen CDS throughout the international supply chain. The document contains chapters on the legal and policy background to CDS, an introduction to the features and requirements of existing schemes, as well as guidance on how to handle CDS information requirements and identify national key data elements. Finally, it provides a series of exercises for assessing relevant national capabilities and coordination processes, including the management and exchange of information.

This paper discusses the potential value of catch documentation schemes (CDS) in deep-sea fisheries, and the implementation aspects that have to be taken into account to ensure the effectiveness of this trade-based tool to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The paper argues that the schemes are indeed useful for addressing IUU fishing practices known to occur in deep-sea fisheries, and that their adoption would improve compliance with fisheries management requirements. Key infringements that could be directly detected and addressed include - but are not limited to - violations of closed areas harbouring protected vulnerable marine ecosystems in the deep ocean, and quota overfishing. The paper also establishes the notion that partial coverage of given species through a CDS at the level of regional fisheries management organizations is incongruous. Given that most deep-sea fisheries species have broad distributions that straddle many regional organizations, the most suitable implementation model appears to be a centrally operated electronic CDS platform - called a super-CDS - shared by a plurality of institutional and state players.

The Thirty-fifth Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) was held in Rome, Italy, from 5 to 9 September 2022. This is a report of the Session reflecting the discussions which took place and containing all recommendations and decisions taken by the Committee. A synopsis of the outcome of the Session is presented in the abstract and all supplementary information is included in the appendixes.

The objective of this manual is to provide a working document for Contracting Parties (or “Member”) and Cooperating Non-contracting Parties (CPCs) to use in the implementation of the IOTC Resolutions. The content is divided into two chapters. The first chapter provides a broad overview of the international regime within which the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission has evolved, then examines the role of specific key international legal instruments (conventions and agreements) related to Indian Ocean tuna fisheries. It describes the roles of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and Regional Fisheries Advisory Bodies (RFABs), and explains what the IOTC is, how it is supposed to work, who drives it and what results are expected of it. The second chapter summarises the principles and measures provided by international instruments that guide fisheries management. It then describes the fisheries management tools used by IOTC from the perspectives of coastal States, flag States, port States and market States. This manual should be viewed as a living document that can be revised and improved by all parties as experience is expanded in the implementation of the IOTC Conservation and Management Measures.

The 2022 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture coincides with the launch of the Decade of Action to deliver the Global Goals, the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. It presents how these and other equally important United Nations events, such as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022), are being integrated and supported through Blue Transformation, a priority area of FAO’s new Strategic Framework 2022–2031 designed to accelerate achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in food and agriculture. The concept of Blue Transformation emerged from the Thirty-fourth Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries in February 2021, and in particular the Declaration for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, which was negotiated and endorsed by all FAO Members. The Declaration calls for support for “an evolving and positive vision for fisheries and aquaculture in the twenty first century, where the sector is fully recognized for its contribution to fighting poverty, hunger and malnutrition.” In this context, Part 1 of this edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture reviews the world status of fisheries and aquaculture, while Parts 2 and 3 are devoted to Blue Transformation and its pillars on intensifying and expanding aquaculture, improving fisheries management and innovating fisheries and aquaculture value chains. Blue Transformation emphasizes the need for forward-looking and bold actions to be launched or accelerated in coming years to achieve the objectives of the Declaration and in support of the 2030 Agenda. Part 4 covers current and high-impact emerging issues – COVID-19, climate change and gender equality – that require thorough consideration for transformative steps and preparedness to secure sustainable, efficient and equitable fisheries and aquaculture, and finally draws some outlook on future trends based on projections. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to provide objective, reliable and up-to-date information to a wide audience – policymakers, managers, scientists, stakeholders and indeed everyone interested in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

A Catch Documentation Scheme helps determine whether fish originate from catches that comply with applicable national, regional and international conservation and management measures. These Guidelines were elaborated in response to concerns expressed over the continued threat to marine habitats represented by illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, and the negative impact it has on food security, particularly in developing regions.

This document considers product certification and ecolabelling schemes used for fish and fishery products. It discusses the characteristics and theoretical foundations of these programmes, the links to international trade law; and other institutional aspects.

This publication considers issues related to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Mediterranean region, for discussion at the 28th session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean held in Tangiers, Morocco in October 2003. Topics examined include the role of regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), management of fishing capacity, especially as contained in International Plans of Action (IPOAs), the adoption of national plans of action (NPOAs), and the activities of the EU Fisheries Council on IUU fishing.

The objective of this manual is to provide a working document for cooperating non-contracting parties to use in the implementation of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission Resolutions.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) can play an important role in encouraging consistent and sound practices for estimating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities around the world. This first volume in a series of guidance documents on this topic outlines guiding principles and approaches applicable to a broad range of IUU fishing estimation scenarios. It begins by defining which components of IUU fishing to estimate depending on the specific objectives of the exercise. It then helps to set boundaries for the estimation exercise based on the fishery, species, area and timeframe of interest. Top-down and bottom-up methodological approaches are introduced, with examples, as ways of partitioning an overall IUU fishing amount into component activities, or compiling estimates of IUU fishing at a granular scale to form an overall composite figure, respectively. Ideas for presenting results to maximize the uptake by stakeholders and decision-makers are also presented.