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PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

This document contains the report of the Expert Consultation of Regional Fisheries Management Bodies on Harmonization of Catch Certification held in La Jolla, United States of America, from 9 to 11 January 2002, as approved by the meeting, and the consequent recommendations.

Distribution:

FAO Members
Participants at the meeting
FAO Fishery Officers in FAO Regional and Subregional Offices
FAO Fisheries Department

FAO.

Report of the Expert Consultation of Regional Fisheries Management Bodies on Harmonization of Catch Certification. La Jolla, United States of America, 9-11 January 2002. FAO Fisheries Report. No. 697. Rome, FAO. 2002. 22p.

ABSTRACT

The use of catch certification and trade documentation for the control of imports of fish products in order to quantify and subsequently to control the imports of fish products has rapidly developed in the last few years. Originally introduced by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) for the management of bluefin tuna, the catch documentation system has spread to other species and to other Regional Fishery Bodies for tuna and tuna-like species and to the Commission for the Conservation of the Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) for the management of toothfish (Dissostichus spp.). The rapid introduction of the schemes led to fears that there would be a proliferation of different forms to be completed and this would cause confusion amongst fishermen and customs officials. The issue was raised at the Committee on Fisheries in February 2001 and an Expert Consultation of Regional Fisheries Management Bodies on the Harmonization of Catch Certification was held from 9 to 11 January 2002 in La Jolla, California. The present publication contains the proceedings of the Expert Consultation and the consequent recommendations. Also included in the Report is the result of subsequent work undertaken by FAO in response to the recommendations of the Expert Consultation. Inter alia, these were to develop standard forms based on the forms already in use, and to encourage their use by current and future schemes. The recommended standard form is given in Appendix D and the format for the instructions to complete the forms given in Appendix E. Further updated information on catch certification and trade documentation is given in FAO Fisheries Circular No. 986: Recent developments in catch certification and trade documentation in Regional Fisheries Management Bodies.

Report of the Expert Consultation of Regional Fisheries Management Bodies on Harmonization of Catch Certification - La Jolla, United States of America, 9-11 January 2002

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