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| International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries | ||||||
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Link
to text of agreement
Status of agreement
| Basic information |
| Date of adoption |
19 February 1999 |
| Place of adoption | Rome, Italy |
| Entry into force | n/a |
| Authentic text(s) | English |
| Summary of instrument |
The International Plan of Action for reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOA-Seabirds) was developed as a result of growing international concern surrounding seabird bycatch in live-bait, longline fisheries and reflecting also the general trend towards more environmentally sensitive fishing practices and management. The IPOA was developed in a a series of meetings in 1997 and 1998 and adopted, along with the IPOAs on capacity and sharks, at the 23rd Session of COFI in February 1999 (and endorsed by the FAO Council in November 2000). Like the other IPOAs and the Code of Conduct, the IPOA-Seabirds is a voluntary instrument. It applies to all States in the waters of which longline fisheries are conducted (by their own or foreign vessels) and to States that conduct longline fisheries (whether on the high seas or in the EEZs of other States). The objective of the IPOA-Seabirds, which is expressly based on Articles 7.6.9 (on incidental capture) and 8.5 (on fishing gear selectivity) of the Code of Conduct, is to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries where this occurs. To this end, the Plan urges States, the vessels of which conduct longline fishing operations, to undertake an assessment to ascertain whether seabird mortality occurs, and at what level, and then (if necessary) to develop and apply National Plans of Action. Two “Technical Notes” annexed to the Plan provide guidance for the elaboration of National Plans and bycatch mitigation measures which such plans might include, covering matters such as: prescribing appropriate mitigation methods; the development of plans for research into technologies and practices which reduce the incidental capture of seabirds; raising awareness amongst fishers; providing information about technical or financial assistance for reducing the incidental catch of seabirds; and prescribing programmes for the reliable collection of data.
| Further information and references |
- Internet sources
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International Plans of Action |
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IPOA-Seabirds |
- Bibliographic references
N. Brothers, J. Cooper, S. Løkkeborg, The incidental catch of seabirds by longline fisheries: worldwide review and technicalguidelines for mitigation, FAO Fisheries Circular. No. 937. Rome, FAO. 1999 [View text]
M. Haward, A. Bergin, H. R. Hall, ‘International Legal and Political Bases to the Management of the Incidental Catch of Seabirds’ in G. Robertson and R. Gales (eds), Albatross Biology and Conservation (Chipping Norton: Surrey Beatty, 1998)
- Related instruments