...
Another IPOA involves shark fisheries. Until recently, sharks had been fished sustainably. At present, however, more effort is being put into shark fishing, and the areas in which shark fishing is done have expanded. There is cause for concern that some shark species are in danger of being overfished. Sharks have particularly long recovery times after they have been overfished. "Conservation and management of sharks is impaired by the lack of accurate data on catch, effort, discards, and trade data, as well as limited information on the biological parameters of many species and their identification." (Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, 2007) In this case, the UN has proposed no cooperative international plan. Rather, the organization suggests that each state be responsible for creating its own plan for managing shark fisheries.
The IPOA for Seabirds aims to reduce the number of birds caught accidentally in commercial longline fisheries. These birds are a form of bycatch. Among the species most frequently caught throughout the world are albatrosses, fulmars, petrels and gulls. The UN recognizes that the situation could result in negative impacts on seabird populations. As with the IPOA-Sharks, there are no distinct international plans requiring collaboration, though national action within states is highly recommended after further assessment of the situation (Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, 2007).
A final and essential IPOA supported by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department is the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU). Fishing that occurs under any of these categories severely hinders any efforts to conserve fish species and promote sustainable fishing. "This situation leads to the loss of both short and long-term social and economic opportunities and to negative effects on food security and environmental protection." (Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, 2007).
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is defined as fishing within the waters of a state without permission of and against the laws of that state, along with non-reported and misreported catches, and fish stocks with no conservation measures (INTERNATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION TO PREVENT, DETER AND ELIMINATE ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED FISHINGInternational Plan Of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, 2001). IUU fishing is a major threat to the world's oceans. For example, NEAFC estimates that nearly 20% of the 2001 trade in redfish was illegal, unreported, or unregulated, and the ICES Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group estimates that the actual value of Baltic cod catches are 35% to 45% higher than the reported values (ICES, 2005). Most strikingly, CCAMLR estimates that between 1997 and 2000 about 90 kilotonnes of toothfish was taken from the oceans in an illegal manner, more than twice the reported catch for the same period (ICES, 2005).
The UN has responded to IUU fishing with the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing ( IPOA-IUU). In this case, international cooperation is imperative. Unfortunately, no binding resolutions have been created to control IUU fishing. According to a Washington University document, the sanctions that the IPOA-IUU levies against violators are not enough to prevent them from participating in IUU fishing (Finding Nemo...and Eating Him: The Failure of the United Nations to Force Internalization of the Negative Social Costs that Result from Overfishing).
...
Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. (2007) Retrieved October 25, 2007, from Fisheries and Aquaculture Department Web site: http://www.fao.org/fi/website/FIRetrieveAction.do?dom=org&xml=FI_org.xml&xp_nav=1