This paper was prepared as a background document and wide introduction to the issues of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Mediterranean for the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean at its twenty-eighth session held in Tangiers, Morocco, from 14 to 17 October 2003. It establishes the link between the International Plan of Action (IPOA) to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing with the IPOA-Capacity, situating them both in the broader context of recent international instruments related to fisheries management. It summarizes actions that have been taken by comparable regional fisheries management organizations, as material for reflexion by GFCM in its work.
The paper was written by Judith Swan (FAO Consultant) and edited with the assistance of FAO FishCode Programme.
