Brussels Briefing No. 38:

Fighting IUU FISHING IN THE

CARIBBEAN

Milton Haughton Executive Director

Presentation Overview

IUU Fishing in the Caribbean

Common Fisheries Policy

Castries Declaration on IUU

Regional Strategy on MCS

Shared responsibility

Next Steps

Local News Headlines

“Venezuelans could not outrun JDF

coastguards” December 31, 2012. SEVEN

Venezuelan nationals who were busted for fishing illegally in Jamaican waters …The foreigners, Antonio Lemos (captain),... (Observer, Jamaica)

“Honduran fisherman remanded in

custody” January 22, 2011. ONE of the injured

Honduran fishermen involved in a recent shooting

incident with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast

Guard was yesterday remanded in custody…(Observer.)

”Greatest single threat' to Bahamas seafood resources”

January 26, 2011. A RECENT report by a leading University of Miami marine scientist has confirmed that poaching by commercial fishermen from the Dominican Republic is the greatest single threat to Bahamian seafood resources… (The Tribune)

Local News Headlines

‘Lobster poachers rob Ja of US$132m’ June 02, 2011. POACHERS have robbed Jamaica of more

than US$130 m in lobster meat..Agriculture Minister…

“Guatemalan Fisherman Illegally Fishing In Blue Hole” Aug,28, 2013. A Guatemalan fisherman pleaded guilty to Illegal Fishing… (Channel5news Belize)

“French Fishing in Dominica’s Waters a Major Problem says Environment Minister”

26 May 2014. Minister for the Environment,..& Fisheries, Dr. Kenneth Darroux, has revealed that Dominica is facing a major challenge with illegal fishing activity from the French Islands (News.dm)

“ARMED AND DANGEROUS POACHERS FROM DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DEPLETING TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS FISH STOCK”. By Vivian Tyson, Senior SUN Editor • Thu, Jun 26, 2014. Armed and dangerous Poachers from the Dominican Republic are wreaking havoc on the Turks and Caicos Islands fishing industry,.(Turks and Caicos Sun)

Target – High value Species: Lobster, conch, shrimp, tunas, shark-fins, snappers,

groupers etc

Regional Study (ACP Fish 2 ) Limited studies or

published info on the nature, extent and magnitude of IUU Fishing

Economic, social & environmental costs remain largely un-quantified

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

IUU fishing considered athreat to the sustainablemanagement of fisheries

resources

Combatting IUU fishing isconsidered a top

Government priority

The economic lossincurred by IUU fishing

has been estimated

Formal complianceestimates for at least one

national fishery havebeen established

Not sure

No

Yes

IUU fishing by nationals within national waters

IUU fishing by foreign industrial, semi- industrial & small-scale vessels in national waters

- Regional vessels

- Distant Water Fishing Nations

Regional Study (ACP Fish 2)

Key weaknesses include:

Outdated legal / regulatory frameworks

Inadequate sanctions / low penalties

MCS not always recognised as an inherent part

of fisheries governance

Low level of MCS planning in national fisheries

management structures

Limited number of approved FMPs and

inadequate data on catch, effort, IUUs incidents,

1. Revised Treaty of Charaguamas

2. CARICOM Strategic Plan (2015-2019)

3. CARICOM Common Fisheries Policy

Prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing

Strengthen, harmonise & modernises legislation

Cooperation in MCS & information sharing

Ecosystems approach

Protect and conserve fish stocks & ecosystems

Marketing and Trade

4. Castries Declaration on IUU Fishing 2010

Regional Policy Framework

Castries Declaration on IUU Fishing

● Main policy document

● Closer cooperation, commitment & consistency in fighting IUU Fishing

● Preamble + Body of the Declaration:-

- 7 sections

- sections 4-7 speaking to 28 specific actions

● Adopted by Ministerial Council in June 2010

Integrated approach (social, economic, environmental) &

considering varying state responsibilities under international law

Phased implementation via national & regional plans of action

Adopt management actions for long term sustainable use of

resources

Revise legislation and regulations, with strong sanctions

Identify & eliminate economic incentives of IUU,

Adopt market measures in accordance with international standards

Database of vessels in good standing

Participatory approach

Implement plans of action with transparency

Seek to improve capacity at national and regional levels (CRFM)

RESOLVE & RENEW EFFORTS:

Monitor & regulate transshipment

Regional network of information exchange meshing with

International MCS Network

Strengthen coastal and port state measures

Further international actions against ‘Flag of Convenience’ vessels

& require ‘genuine link’ between states and vessels

Strengthen CRFM to more effective coordinate regional action

Vessel marking requirements consistent with international &

regional standards

CRFM working group on IUU to deal with data collection

Exchange info on IUU between States and with CRFM

Agree to:

IUU fishing in the Bahamas, Aug 2014

Source : Ocean CREST Alliance

Regional MCS Strategy

REGIONAL

IMPACS

RSS

CRFM

National Systems

Police

Coast Guards

Fisheries Dept - enforcement Unit (Belize)

Fishers / Civil Society Organisations

Shared Responsibility: KEY Implementing partners

Suriname:–

- Investment in Patrol vessels

- Integrated approach

- VMS

Bahamas:

- US$200 million investment in MCS

Jamaica

- Fines / sanctions

- Drones – monitor & surveillance

- Upgrading legislation

Recent National Measures

Regional:

Update legislation focusing on MCS content:

Multi-lateral agreements among states for fisheries

conservation, protection & MCS activities

Harmonised management measures for high value

species - conch & lobster

Improving public awareness & involvement in MCS

Cost-benefit analysis of MCS strategic options

Establishment of Working Group on IUU fishing

Improve cooperation with other Caribbean States

- Central American States (MOU: CRFM/OSPESCA 2012)

- French - département d'outre-mer in Caribbean

Next Steps

National Level

Development of NPOA-IUUs and direct

assistance for customised NPOA-IUU

implementation

Reinstitute/formalise a coastal/fisher watch

program in support of combating IUU fishing

Legislative reforms

Next Steps

Protecting Caribbean Fisheries