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| International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity | ||||||
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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 the Management of Fishing Capacity is a voluntary instrument elaborated within the framework of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. It was adopted at the 23rd session of FAO's Committee on Fisheries in February 1999, following a technical working group meeting in La Jolla, USA, in April 1998 and a Technical Consultation on the Management of Fishing Capacity, Shark Fisheries and Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (at which Elements of an International Instrument for the Management of Fishing Capacity were agreed) in October 1998. A further technical consultation on the Measurement of Fishing Capacity in Mexico City was subsequently held in November/December 1999.
The objective of the IPOA is for States and regional fisheries organizations to achieve worldwide an efficient, equitable and transparent management of fishing capacity. This is to be achieved preferably by 2003, but in any case not later than 2005. The IPOA applies both to fleets and vessels operating in waters under national jurisdiction and fleets and vessels operating on the high seas.
The IPOA specifies that when confronted with an overcapacity problem (where capacity is undermining achievement of long-term sustainability outcomes), States and RFOs should endeavour to limit at present level and progressively reduce the fishing capacity applied to affected fisheries. In other cases, the IPOA calls for States and RFOs to exercise caution to avoid growth in capacity undermining long-term sustainability. The IPOA calls for States and RFOs to monitor and assess fishing capacity and, in particular, also calls for States to establish compatible national records of fishing vessels and to support the establishment by FAO of an international record of vessels operating on the high seas (in accordance with the FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas). The management of fishing capacity on the basis of national and regional plans is to be achieved in three phases:
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"assessment and diagnosis"; |
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"adoption" of management measures; and |
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"periodic adjustment" of such assessment and diagnosed measures, as appropriate |
States and regional fisheries organizations should complete these steps and progressively implement by 2005 the complementary measures specified in the International Plan of Action.
| Further information and references |
- Internet sources
FAO International Plans of Action
Technical Consultation on the Measurement of Fishing Capacity
- Bibliographic references
D. Gréboval, ‘The International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity: Retrospect and Prospect’ in M. H. Nordquist and J. N. Moore (eds.), Current Fisheries Issues and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, (The Hague: Kluwer Law International, 2000)
- Related instruments
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