Malaysia's National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (Malaysia's NPOA-IUU).

This document outlines Malaysia’s National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (NPOA-IUU). It was developed in accordance with the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU) adopted in 2001 by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. Malaysia is very concerned about the activities of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) that occurs within her national jurisdictions and on the high seas. IUU fishing results in widespread environmental, social and economic consequences. It adversely affects both the target and non-target species and the wider ecosystem. It can adversely impair the management efforts to achieve sustainable fisheries and can consequently lead to the collapse of a fishery. By distorting competition, IUU jeopardizes the economic survival of those who fish legitimately. Economically, IUU operation is at a lower cost and gains an unjust economic advantage over legitimate fishers. Thus, the impacts of IUU undermine international, regional and national efforts to effectively conserve and manage fish stocks and the impacts of fishing.
Malaysia’s NPOA-IUU closely follows the provisions of the IPOA-IUU. It contains general measures targeted at all States, as well as measures targeted specifically at flag States, coastal States and port States. It also contains market-related measures, measures to support the special requirements of developing countries, and measures to be taken by States through regional fisheries management organizations. The objective of the IPOA is to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal and unreported unregulated fishing (IUU) by providing all States with comprehensive, effective and transparent measures by which to act, including through appropriate Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) established in accordance with international law. The IPOA-IUU calls on States to develop and implement NPOAs by June 2004 to further achieve the objectives of the IPOA and give full effect to its provisions as an integral part of their fisheries management programmes and budgets. The IPOA serves as a comprehensive “toolbox” that includes a full range of measures to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing.
The text consists of 11 Sections and four Annexes as follows: Introduction (Sec. 1); The Concept of IUU Fishing (Sec. 2); Profile of Malaysian Fisheries (Sec. 3); National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (Sec. 4); Flag State Responsibilities (Sec. 5); Coastal State Responsibilities (Sec. 6); Port State Measures (Sec. 7); Internationally-Agreed Market Related Measures (Sec. 8); Research (Sec. 9); Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (Sec. 10); Special Requirements of Developing Countries (Sec. 11). Annexes deal with: Malaysian Legislations Relating to IUU Fishing (Annex 1); Relevant Sections Cited in the Fisheries Act 1985 (Annex 2); Standard Operating Procedure to Handle Foreign Fishing Vessel that have Engaged in IUU Fishing when Entering Malaysian Ports (Annex 3); Standard Operating Procedure to Handle Local and Foreign Fishing Vessel that have Engaged in IUU Fishing in Malaysian Fisheries Waters (Annex 4).