National Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.

The present 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 adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2001.
It should be noted that protection of the coastal and marine ecosystem is a priority for St. Kitts and Nevis. The fisheries sector plays a key role in the sustainable management of the marine resources and conservation of threatened aquatic species, for supplying essential food, nutrition, employment, income and export earnings to the population of the country and to tourists. All fishing activities that degrade the marine environment and threaten the health of fish stocks in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of St. Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean region are also a threat to the health and livelihoods of the people in St. Kitts and Nevis, and to the supply of fish, lobster and conch to other markets.
Coastal marine resources, particularly reef ecosystems, are already under stress from legitimate smallscale fisheries activities so the additional impact on these resources –that are also important for tourism, coastal protection and aquatic biodiversity- by illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishers will be disastrous. In order to ensure long-term benefits from fisheries for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, 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 has been developed in a participatory manner through two stakeholder consultations held in April and May 2015, followed by a validation workshop in July 2015.
The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has only limited resources for fisheries management, and therefore heavily relies on ownership and active participation by fishers, their representative organizations as well as other government agencies and NGOs, in the implementation of this NPOA-IUU. Being a Caribbean small-island developing state (SIDS) with many neighbouring islands, St. Kitts and Nevis relies to a large extent on regional and bilateral cooperation to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing. St. Kitts and Nevis is committed to further developing its fisheries management capacity and to working with neighbouring States and overseas territories, both in the region and internationally, to ensure the conservation and long-term sustainable use of fish stocks and the protection of the marine environment.
For the purpose of the present Plan Illegal fishing refers to activities: i) conducted by national or foreign vessels in waters under the jurisdiction of a State, without the permission of that State, or in contravention of its laws and regulations; ii) conducted by vessels flying the flag of States that are parties to a relevant regional fisheries management organization but operate in contravention of the conservation and management measures adopted by that organization and by which the States are bound, or relevant provisions of the applicable international law; or iii) in violation of national laws or international obligations, including those undertaken by cooperating States to a relevant regional fisheries management organization. Unreported fishing refers to fishing activities: i) which have not been reported, or have been misreported to the relevant national authority, in contravention of national laws and regulations; or ii) undertaken in the area of competence of a relevant regional fisheries management organization which have not been reported or have been misreported, in contravention of the reporting procedures of that organization. Unregulated fishing refers to fishing activities: i) in the area of application of a relevant regional fisheries management organization that are conducted by vessels without nationality, or by those flying the flag of a State not party to that organization, or by a fishing entity, in a manner that is not consistent with or contravenes the conservation and management measures of that organization; or ii) in areas or for fish stocks in relation to which there are no applicable conservation or management measures and where such fishing activities are conducted in a manner inconsistent with State responsibilities for the conservation of living marine resources under international law.
The text consists of 8 Chapters as follows: Introduction (1): 1) Purpose; 2) FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing; 3) Definition of IUU Fishing; 4) Why is IUU Fishing a problem for St. Kitts and Nevis; 5) Fisheries profile (Small-scale fisheries; Industrial fisheries; Fisheries policies and management; Fisheries legal framework and institutions; Fisheries information and research);6) Treaties and agreements; 7) Membership of regional fishery bodies; Impact of UU Fishing; Scope of the NPOA-IUU; All State Responsibilities (2): 1) International instruments; 2) National legislation (Legislation; State control nationals; Vessels without nationality; Sanctions; Non cooperating States; Economic incentives; Monitoring, control and surveillance; Cooperation between States; Publicity). Flag State Responsibilities (3): 1) Fishing vessel registration; 2) Record of fishing vessels; 3) Authorization to fish; 4) Measures to control transport and re-supply vessels; 5) Implementing obligations of flag State under FAO agreement; Coastal State Responsibilities (4); Port State Measures (5): 1) Advance notice of access; 2) Denial of access; 3) Designated ports; 4) Evidence indicating IUU Fishing; 5) Cooperation with port States and through RFMOs. Internationally Agreed Market Related Measures (6); Trade-related measures (1); Catch documentation schemes (2); Transparency of markets (3); Information dissemination (4); Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (7): 1) Party compliance; 2) Non-party compliance; 3) Innovation; 4) Inclusion of non-contracting parties. Special Requirements of Developing Countries (8).