Overview: illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is fishing which does not comply with national, regional or global fisheries conservation and management obligations.
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Steps Australia has taken to address illegal fishing
Australia is party to a range of conventions that establish global, regional and subregional management organisations that manage highly migratory, straddling, pelagic and demersal fish stocks.
Compliance: illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a major threat to the sustainable management and conservation of world fisheries. IUU fishing seriously undermines legal fishing operations and significantly reduces the economic benefits that would otherwise come from legal fishing.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is fishing which does not comply with obligations at the following levels:
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
The Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (the Convention) established the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). The WCPFC is an inter-governmental organisation with the objective to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation - High Seas Fisheries Resources
The South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) is an inter-governmental organisation committed to the long-term conservation and sustainable use of non-highly migratory fishery resources in the South Pacific Ocean.
SPRFMOs objective is, through the application of the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach to fisheries management, to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources and, in doing so, to safeguard the marine ecosystems in which these resources occur.
Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement
The Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) is a legally binding treaty that was put in place to ensure the long-term sustainability of non-tuna fishery resources in the Southern Indian Ocean.
SIOFA promotes the sustainable development of fisheries in the Southern Indian Ocean whilst taking into consideration the needs of developing States who border the Agreement Area, particularly focusing on the least developed amongst them and small-island developing States.
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is an intergovernmental organisation mandated to sustainably manage highly migratory (tuna and tuna-like) fisheries resources in the Indian Ocean. The objective of the IOTC is to promote cooperation amongst contracting members to ensure through appropriate management, the sustainable use of fishery resources.
The Indian Ocean is the second largest tuna fishery in the world. The resources significantly contribute to food security and economic growth throughout the region.
Pacific Ocean Fora
Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) was established in 1979 under an international treaty, the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency Convention.