The UK government, with Canada, Iceland and the US, has launched a world-first global alliance to tackle illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing which poses a threat to ocean ecosystems, coastal communities and global fish stocks by undermining fisheries management and distorting trade.

The IUU Fishing Action Alliance will bring together countries leading the fight against IUU fishing, countries targeted by IUU fishing, and organisations helping tackle the issue. It will acknowledge and strengthen existing international commitments, back improved monitoring, control and surveillance, and improve the transparency of fishing data.

The pledge commits members to:

Implement international agreements

International agreements to prevent IUU fishing are already in place but membership is not complete and enforcement is varied. The alliance has committed to encourage new members to join the agreements and support existing parties to enforce measures to stop IUU fishing.

Promote active monitoring control and surveillance

Effective implementation requires effective monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS). The technology to do this exists but access to it remains difficult, particularly for developing states. Alliance members recognise the importance of these technologies to support MCS, in particular new partnerships between state and non-state actions to enable states to access them.

Encourage transparency and data sharing

To maximise the effectiveness of these new technologies, access and transparency of fishery data is needed. The alliance wants all parties to promote access and sharing of data with key partners, both state and non-state.

The IUU Fishing Action Alliance will lead international efforts to stop IUU fishing over the coming years, and will be expanded and deepened at key upcoming international events.

Further information can be found here and here.