Improving International Fisheries Management February 2015 Report to Congress Improving International Fisheries Management Report to Congress Pursuant to Section 403(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 February 2015 U.S. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20230 Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 4 List of Acronyms .......................................................................................................................................... 6 I. Introduction and Background .............................................................................................................. 8 A. Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing .......................................................................... 9 B. Bycatch of Protected Living Marine Resources (PLMRs) ................................................................ 10 C. Shark Conservation and Protection ................................................................................................... 11 D. Other U.S. Statutes that Address IUU Fishing, PLMR Bycatch, and Shark Conservation.............. 11 E. Presidential Task Forces on IUU Fishing and Wildlife Trafficking ................................................. 13 II. Identification and Certification Provisions ....................................................................................... 16 A. IUU Fishing....................................................................................................................................... 16 B. Bycatch of PLMRs ............................................................................................................................ 19 C. Shark Conservation and Protection ................................................................................................... 21 III. Identifications under Section 609...................................................................................................... 23 A. Nations Identified.............................................................................................................................. 23 1. Colombia ........................................................................................................................................ 23 2. Ecuador .......................................................................................................................................... 24 3. Mexico ........................................................................................................................................... 26 4. Nicaragua ....................................................................................................................................... 27 5. Nigeria ........................................................................................................................................... 27 6. Portugal .......................................................................................................................................... 29 B. Countries “of Interest” Not Identified ............................................................................................... 30 1. Belize ............................................................................................................................................. 30 2. Costa Rica ...................................................................................................................................... 31 3. Ghana ............................................................................................................................................. 31 4. Guatemala ...................................................................................................................................... 32 5. Spain .............................................................................................................................................. 32 IV. Certifications under Sections 609 and 610 ........................................................................................ 34 A. Colombia ........................................................................................................................................... 34 B. Ecuador ............................................................................................................................................. 36 C. Ghana ................................................................................................................................................ 39 D. Italy ................................................................................................................................................... 42 E. Korea (Republic of) ........................................................................................................................... 44 F. Mexico .............................................................................................................................................. 48 G. Panama .............................................................................................................................................. 51 H. Spain.................................................................................................................................................. 52 1 I. Tanzania ............................................................................................................................................ 54 J. Venezuela.......................................................................................................................................... 56 V. State of Knowledge on the Status of International Living Marine Resources ................................. 58 VI. International Actions to Address IUU Fishing .................................................................................. 59 A. Port State Measures........................................................................................................................... 60 1. 2009 Agreement............................................................................................................................. 60 2. RFMO Actions ............................................................................................................................... 60 B. Market- and Trade-Related Measures ............................................................................................... 61 1. Global Forums ............................................................................................................................... 62 2. RFMO Actions ............................................................................................................................... 63 C. Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance .............................................................................................. 64 1. Information Sharing and Coordination .......................................................................................... 64 2. International MCS Network and INTERPOL ................................................................................ 66 3. IUU Vessel Lists ............................................................................................................................ 67 4. Global Record of Fishing Vessels .................................................................................................. 68 5. Remote Sensing Technology, Observers, and Inspections ............................................................ 69 D. Flag State Responsibilities ................................................................................................................ 70 E. Destructive Fishing Practices and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems .................................................. 72 VII. Strengthening Fisheries Management Organizations to End IUU Fishing Activities..................... 73 A. Establishing New RFMOs ................................................................................................................. 73 B. Strengthening Existing RFMOs ........................................................................................................ 74 1. Renegotiation or Amendment of Underlying Agreements ............................................................ 74 2. Performance Reviews .................................................................................................................... 74 3. Bolstering Responsibilities of Members and Non-Members ......................................................... 76 4. Steps to Enhance Participation by Non-Members ......................................................................... 76 5. Steps to Improve Cooperation and Coordination ........................................................................... 77 VIII. International Efforts to Reduce Impacts of Fishing on PLMRs ........................................................ 78 A. Global Forums................................................................................................................................... 78 B. RFMOs.............................................................................................................................................. 78 C. Specific Taxa....................................................................................................................................