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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Working Group on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, including a session of the Compliance Committee (CoC) on the clarification process was held on 24–25 April 2018 in Beirut, Lebanon. The meeting reviewed progress in the implementation of GFCM recommendations and the submission of data by CPCs. Requests for technical assistance were also reviewed. Although the general trend showed continuous improvements, there were still a number of issues in terms of compliance to be addressed at country level. Progress in the implementation of Target 3 of the mid-term strategy was also discussed, including the development of a common methodology for the assessment of IUU fishing in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. An update on the ongoing preparation of the OECD study relating to IUU fishing practices, with a focus on the Mediterranean region, was presented within the framework of cooperation between OECD and the GFCM. The upcoming celebration of the first international day for the fight against IUU fishing by the FAO on 5 June 2018 was also discussed.