11TH NORTH ATLANTIC FISHERIES MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE
Hurtigruten/The Norwegian Coastal Voyage “MS Polarlys”, 8 and 9 June 2006
Communiqué
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
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11TH NORTH ATLANTIC FISHERIES MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE
Hurtigruten/The Norwegian Coastal Voyage “MS Polarlys”, 8 and 9 June 2006
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 (AtlantoScandian) 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.
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11TH NORTH ATLANTIC FISHERIES MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE
Hurtigruten/The Norwegian Coastal Voyage “MS Polarlys”, 8 and 9 June 2006
Actions agreed by Ministers
Ministers agreed to take actions, including the following;
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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.
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