The United States joined more than 50 countries Thursday in a
recommendation to regional fishery management organizations
(RFMOs) to better track vessels engaged in illegal, unreported
and unregulated (IUU) fishing for tunas, swordfish, sharks and
other highly migratory species. Annual global economic losses
due to IUU fishing are estimated to be as high as $23 billion.
This action is a first step toward procedures for sharing
information about vessels engaged in IUU fishing. Global
cooperation to prevent IUU fishing coupled with sound science
and effective management are essential to the sustainability of
these wide-ranging species that are highly valued in commercial
and recreational fisheries. The recommendation means that the
nations that make up the five regional fishery management
organizations managing highly migratory species in the Pacific,
Atlantic, and Indian oceans and adjacent seas will share
information about IUU vessels. RFMO rules require their member
nations to prevent IUU fishing in their re