An Introduction To Monitoring Control And Surveillance Systems For Capture Fisheries

The paper has been designed as a handbook for Fisheries Administrators (a term used to denote those fisheries authorities responsible for decisions regarding the fisheries of their country) for their consideration when establishing, or enhancing, monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) systems in support of fisheries management initiatives. The paper is divided into three main parts: definition and context of an MCS system; design considerations for MCS; and, MCS operational procedures. Annexes provide detailed examples of operational issues to be addressed in MCS system design and implementation.

The paper has been designed as a handbook for fisheries administrators for use when establishing or enhancing, monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) systems in support of fisheries management initiatives. It updates the 1994 FAO Technical Paper No. 338, "An introduction to monitoring, control and surveillance systems for capture fisheries", through a review of recent international fisheries agreements and new MCS approaches involving participatory management, preventive and deterrent MCS strategies, and the importance of safety-at-sea for fishers.

The paper has been designed as a handbook for Fisheries Administrators (a term used to denote those fisheries authorities responsible for decisions regarding the fisheries of their country) for their consideration when establishing, or enhancing, monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) systems in support of fisheries management initiatives. The paper is divided into three main parts: definition and context of an MCS system; design considerations for MCS; and, MCS operational procedures. Annexes provide detailed examples of operational issues to be addressed in MCS system design and implementation.

These guidelines have been produced to support implementation of the International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOA-Seabirds). They are addressed to decision-makers and policy-makers associated with conserving seabirds and with minimizing their interaction with fishing gears, but the Guidelines should also be of interest to fishing industries and other parties.

This document is the third volume of a series of publications entitled Checklists and Technical Guidelines to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. This checklist provides a list of minimum requirements to ensure that the national MCS systems, operations, procedures and tools aimed at combating IUU fishing are of the desired standard to achieve the objectives of the fisheries management framework in place. This checklist is meant to serve as a reference for entities to review and assess such systems, operations, procedures and tools, in order to identify opportunities to improve these and establish best practices that will allow them to fulfil international duties and obligations to combat IUU fishing.

This book provides a comprehensive examination of the different aspects of IUU fishing and the various measures embodied in international fisheries and related instruments, and those adopted by regional fisheries management organisations and individual States to combat IUU fishing.

This publication was prepared to promote and to provide support in the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, especially Article 7 : Fisheries Management. As such, it also, supplements the FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries NO. 4: Fisheries management. It is intended primarily for the practising fishery manager and decision-maker, with particular emphasis on developing countries, although it is hoped that the volume will also be of interest to managers in developed countries.