National plan of action to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, Bangladesh

Bangladesh’ National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (NPOA−IUU) has been developed in accordance with the FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU), adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2001. Protection of the coastal and marine ecosystem is a priority for Bangladesh. This NPOA-IUU has been developed to ensure long-term benefits from fisheries for the people of Bangladesh, and to place the livelihoods of the fisherfolk and those dependent on the fisheries value chain at the core of decision making and management processes. This NPOA−IUU explains the IUU problem in Bangladesh and identifies steps to address these issues. These include: General measures targeted at all States such as ratifying international instruments, providing effective national legislation, comprehensive monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS); Flag State responsibilities like ensuring registration and record of fishing vessels and that no vessels fish without authorization; Coastal State responsibilities such as cooperation and exchange of information with other States and RFMOs, controls on transshipment/processing of fish, regulation of fishing access and avoiding licensing vessels with an IUU fishing history; Port State measures including requiring vessels to seek prior permission for access, publicizing designated ports for landing and ensuring capacity to conduct inspections. Further, the NPOA-IUU identifies additional market related measures such as trade restrictions on vessels engaged in IUU fishing, catch documentation schemes to reduce fraud and market transparency for traceability. This NPOA-IUU highlights the importance of compliance with and enforcement of IUU fishing-related policies and measures adopted by the relevant RFMOs.