name of IUU vessels,
76 this record also includes information of all fishing vessels,
including the compliant ones. At this moment, it is still early to examine whether
FAO’s UVI initiative would work regardless of vessel’s change of name, ownership
or flag. Unless other countries adopt the same standard, the problem may only be
moving to areas where enforcement is weak.
The EU listing may work because it creates a pool of IUU vessels lists from all of
its member States; thus, it has a multilateral character. In this regard, Indonesia has
also cooperated with its Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN] counterparts to adopt a regional listing. Since a list unilaterally issued by Indonesia may be
questioned for its credibility or fairness, a centralised listing like the FAO Global
Record or a coordinated listing among ASEAN member States would be more
viable. In 2015, ASEAN had issued Guidelines for Preventing the Entry of Fish
and Fishery Products from IUU Fishing Activities into the Supply Chain [ASEAN
Guidelines on IUU Fishing].
77 It is worth noting that the Guidelines explicitly refers
to the EU-IUU Regulation.
78 They suggest several trade-related tools to address IUU
fishing problems in the region, including Catch Certification Scheme, Catch Documentation Scheme that combines both catch certification and trade documentation,
and a Regional Fishing Vessels Record [RFVR]. An RFVR is developed in collaboration between ASEAN and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre
[SEAFDEC]—one of the most active regional bodies in ASEAN on fisheries issues.
An RFVR is an information-sharing system among ASEAN member States, which
provides a database of fishing vessels with at least 24 meters in length. Even though
it includes information on the owner’s name, it is not clear whether it also includes a
previous owner or even beneficial owner.
79
In addition to the ASEAN-SEAFDEC mechanism, Indonesia is a party to the
Regional Plan of Action to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices including Combating IUU Fishing in the Region [RPOA IUU]. This coalition of eleven countries,
eight of which are ASEAN member States, also has its own IUU vessel list, which is
updated annually during the RPOA IUU Coordination Committee Meeting.
80 This
listing currently names 18 vessels but provides minimum information about them,
even though it identifies the action taken against them.
76 A list and links to regional fisheries bodies’ IUU vessels lists can be accessed here http://www.
fao.org/global-record/information-system/rfb-iuu-vessels-lists/en/.
77 ASEAN Guidelines for Preventing the Entry of Fish and Fishery Products from IUU Fishing
Activities into the Supply Chain.
78 Id.
79 SEAFDEC (2016).
80 RPOA IUU (2019), IUU Vessel.
132
D. Liliansa
76 this record also includes information of all fishing vessels,
including the compliant ones. At this moment, it is still early to examine whether
FAO’s UVI initiative would work regardless of vessel’s change of name, ownership
or flag. Unless other countries adopt the same standard, the problem may only be
moving to areas where enforcement is weak.
The EU listing may work because it creates a pool of IUU vessels lists from all of
its member States; thus, it has a multilateral character. In this regard, Indonesia has
also cooperated with its Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN] counterparts to adopt a regional listing. Since a list unilaterally issued by Indonesia may be
questioned for its credibility or fairness, a centralised listing like the FAO Global
Record or a coordinated listing among ASEAN member States would be more
viable. In 2015, ASEAN had issued Guidelines for Preventing the Entry of Fish
and Fishery Products from IUU Fishing Activities into the Supply Chain [ASEAN
Guidelines on IUU Fishing].
77 It is worth noting that the Guidelines explicitly refers
to the EU-IUU Regulation.
78 They suggest several trade-related tools to address IUU
fishing problems in the region, including Catch Certification Scheme, Catch Documentation Scheme that combines both catch certification and trade documentation,
and a Regional Fishing Vessels Record [RFVR]. An RFVR is developed in collaboration between ASEAN and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre
[SEAFDEC]—one of the most active regional bodies in ASEAN on fisheries issues.
An RFVR is an information-sharing system among ASEAN member States, which
provides a database of fishing vessels with at least 24 meters in length. Even though
it includes information on the owner’s name, it is not clear whether it also includes a
previous owner or even beneficial owner.
79
In addition to the ASEAN-SEAFDEC mechanism, Indonesia is a party to the
Regional Plan of Action to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices including Combating IUU Fishing in the Region [RPOA IUU]. This coalition of eleven countries,
eight of which are ASEAN member States, also has its own IUU vessel list, which is
updated annually during the RPOA IUU Coordination Committee Meeting.
80 This
listing currently names 18 vessels but provides minimum information about them,
even though it identifies the action taken against them.
76 A list and links to regional fisheries bodies’ IUU vessels lists can be accessed here http://www.
fao.org/global-record/information-system/rfb-iuu-vessels-lists/en/.
77 ASEAN Guidelines for Preventing the Entry of Fish and Fishery Products from IUU Fishing
Activities into the Supply Chain.
78 Id.
79 SEAFDEC (2016).
80 RPOA IUU (2019), IUU Vessel.
132
D. Liliansa