The 11th Conference of North Atlantic Fisheries Ministers (NAFMC) was hosted by Ms. Helga Pedersen, Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs of Norway, aboard “MS Polarlys”, between Tromsø and Brønnøysund on 8 and 9 June 2006. The Conference was attended by the fisheries ministers of Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Norway and the Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs of the European Union. Canada and the Russian Federation were represented by senior fisheries officials.

Ms Pedersen underlined the value of this regular, informal ministerial forum in strengthening a common understanding of the main priorities for action in fisheries and oceans issues in the North Atlantic. The North Atlantic is home to some of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. Sustainable use of marine resources and trade in marine products is essential to the livelihoods and economies of nations and communities across the region.

In their joint efforts to maintain and enhance the important role of fisheries in the North Atlantic, ministers focussed their discussions at this year’s meeting on fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the North Atlantic and on the progress made to strengthen regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs).

Eliminating IUU fishing in the North Atlantic

Ministers stressed that IUU fishing is nothing short of theft from legal fishermen which undermines conservation and management of fish stocks and the economic benefits for the legitimate users of the resources. This is a practise which despite sustained efforts to end it, remains widespread both in areas under national jurisdiction and on the high seas.

They reiterated their full commitment to implement agreed conservation and management measures. They deeply regretted that some vessels continue to break the rules established by RFMOs. To this end appropriate sanctions should be applied against vessels infringing those measures in order to secure full compliance and thus deprive offenders of the benefits accruing from IUU fishing.

Ministers stressed the value of continuing cooperative efforts across the North Atlantic to combat IUU fishing. They agreed to improve the implementation of monitoring and control measures adopted by NEAFC and NAFO, and to draw attention to any fishing behaviour that undermines the conservation measures of these RFMOs.

They also committed to improve transparency on quotas, catches and landing data, noting the possible value of RFMOs establishing information databases and exchanging information, in accordance with national legislation.

Furthermore, they agreed to increase awareness of the detrimental effects of doing business with vessels engaged in IUU fishing by identifying marketing and sales routes of fish derived from IUU activities.

Ministers agreed that flag States should not authorise their vessels to fish unless the State is able to exercise effectively their obligations under international law to control the activities of these vessels both when fishing on the high seas and within areas under national fisheries jurisdiction.

They also agreed to focus future activities on strengthening Port State Control, through the development of a legally binding instrument as advised by the 2006 UNFSA Review Conference, and to consider the potential for a comprehensive regional scheme for Port State control, based on the outcome of the NEAFC process.

Strengthening Regional Fisheries Management

Ministers agreed that strong regional approaches to fisheries management are the most effective way to ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries.

During the Conference, Ministers supported the actions currently underway to strengthen and modernise the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO).

They stressed the need for coastal states in the North East Atlantic to work cooperatively on the future joint management of currently unallocated shared fish stocks of major economic significance (Norwegian Spring Spawning (Atlanto-Scandian) herring, redfish in the Irminger Sea and adjacent areas, and Rockall haddock.)

Ministers recognized the importance of an ecosystem approach to fisheries resources management. In order to achieve concrete results, ministers urged NEAFC and NAFO to complete their ongoing work to extend their respective mandates towards this approach.

The protection of vulnerable marine areas and limitations on the use of certain fisheries gear, including bottom trawls, have long been used as fisheries management tools in national waters by many countries around the North Atlantic. Ministers agreed that targeted, science-based measures designed to protect and enhance the natural production of fish stocks and conserve ecosystems should also be applied to international waters through the relevant RFMOs. They welcomed recent steps taken by NEAFC and NAFO in this regard. To the extent that this issue is discussed at a global level, FAO is the appropriate forum.

Ministers also stressed that impacts on the marine environment from pollution and climate change were of great concern and urged more attention to addressing these problems.

Ministers welcomed the positive conclusions of the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA) 2006 Review Conference addressing the need to further strengthen RFMOs.

Actions agreed by Ministers

Ministers agreed to take actions, including the following;

• denying IUU vessels access to ports and provisions as well as any other form of support;
• preventing the marketing of fish caught by IUU vessels;
• ensuring that sanctions in all jurisdictions are sufficient to deter nationals and beneficiaries from engaging in IUU fishing;
• improving traceability of products to prevent access of illegally caught fish to legal markets;
• increasing cooperation among RFMOs on lists of confirmed IUU vessels to establish a Pan-Atlantic list of these vessels so that all RFMOs can take appropriate action against them;
• conducting joint controls to counteract IUU activity;
• coordinating efforts to ensure compliance by non-contracting parties;
• continuing the work of strengthening and modernising RFMOs, including governance and compliance;
• incorporating the outcome of the 2006 UNFSA Review Conference into the work of NEAFC and NAFO;
• implementing an ecosystem approach through the RFMOs;
• increasing efforts to conclude agreements on the management of unallocated fish stocks in the North East Atlantic;
• taking targeted science-based steps through the RFMOs to protect vulnerable areas in international waters.

The 12th North Atlantic Fisheries Ministers’ Conference will be held in Greenland in 2007. One of the themes for the next meeting will be to review what progress has been made to combat IUU fishing and to discuss what additional measures should be taken.