Vanuatu National Plan of Action To Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing 2015.

Vanuatu’s National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (NPOA-IUU), has been developed in accordance with the related International Plan (IPOA-IUU) adopted in 2001 by the FAO of the United Nations (FAO). The International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU) is a voluntary instrument developed by FAO, and adopted by COFI in 2001. The IPOA-IUU is one of four IPOAs that insert themselves within the framework of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF, 1995). The IPOA-IUU enunciates the principles and measures to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing, at the level of states, regional economic integration organizations and regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs). This document is divided in four parts; background information and definitions, a brief overview of the fisheries sector, fisheries conservation and management regulations, policies and practices with the ‘tool box’ of mechanisms provided in the IPOA-IUU, and a summary of supporting actions to enhance the overall objective of eradicating IUU fishing.
The purpose of Vanuatu’s National Plan of Action is to implement the NPOA-IUU by providing comprehensive, effective and transparent measures in accordance with national and international law. The NPOA-IUU serves as a comprehensive ‘toolbox’ of measures to address IUU fishing in a range of contexts. The NPOA-IUU contains measures targeted specifically at Vanuatu as a flag state, coastal state and port state. It also contains market-related measures, measures to support the special requirements of developing countries in Vanuatu’s achievement of the objective of the NPOA-IUU, and measures to be taken by Vanuatu through regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs).
The NPOA-IUU incorporates the following principles and strategies: Participation and coordination: To be fully effective, the NPOA-IUU should be implemented by Vanuatu either directly, in cooperation with other states, or indirectly through relevant RFMOs, or through the FAO or other appropriate international organizations. The full participation of stakeholders in combating IUU fishing, including industry, fishing communities, and non-governmental organizations, should be encouraged. Measures to prevent IUU fishing should be based on the earliest possible phased implementation of the NPOAs-IUU, and regional and global action in accordance with the IPOA-IUU. Measures to prevent IUU fishing should address factors affecting all capture fisheries. In taking such an approach, states should embrace measures building on the primary responsibility of the flag state and using all available jurisdictions in accordance with international law, including port state measures, coastal state measures, market-related measures and measures to ensure that nationals do not support or engage in IUU fishing. The action plan aims to address the economic, social and environmental impacts of IUU fishing. Measures to prevent IUU fishing should be consistent with the conservation and long-term sustainable use of fish stocks and the protection of the environment. The NPOA-IUU will be implemented in a transparent manner in accordance with Article 6.13 of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The NPOA-IUU will be applied without discrimination in form or in fact against any state or its fishing vessels.