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last updated:

18th Apr 13

Managed by Chatham House
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Financed by DEFRA
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Flag state issues

The flag state - the state where a vessel is registered and flagged - is the basic legal entity for all high seas fishing vessels. Under international law, the flag state has primary responsibility for controlling the fishing activities of its vessels.

Although there are a number of international fisheries instruments that include details of what is required from a flag state, in reality many fail to live up to their responsibilities. Many ships are registered in countries which bear no relation to their ownership or crew, but which are well known for their lax approach to regulation – the so-called 'flags of convenience'.


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::documents (25)
::events (2)
::news (106)
::presentations (2)
::profiles (3)
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Progress made with regards with regard to measures against IUU fishing, COFI, 29th session, 31 January-4 February 2011

03/09/2010

This paper addresses recent initiatives taken to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and related activities. These initiatives ar ...

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'Oceans and the Law of the Sea'; 'Sustainable Fisheries': Texts Adopted

04/12/2009

Following an extensive debate on oceans and the law of the sea, the General Assembly adopted two wide-ranging resolutions meant to guide States in pre ...

Author: United Nations General Assembly
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Lowering the Flag: Ending the Use of Flags of Convenience by Pirate Fishing Vessels

15/10/2009

This report reveals how illegal 'pirate' fishing operations are using 'Flags of Convenience' to hide their operations, stealing fr ...

Author: Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF)
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Information on Experience Gained on Combating IUU fishing in the NEAFC Area

05/03/2009

This is a note prepared by the NEAFC Secretariat for the 28th Session of FAO COFI in Rome 2-6 March 2009. It includes information on two NEAFC tools t ...

Author: NEAFC
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Statement of Commitment by SADC Ministers Responsible for Marine Fisheries on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

04/07/2008

This is the Statement of Commitment signed by ministers from SADC coastal states at the end of a ministerial conference in Windhoek, 2-4 July 2008, to ...

Author: SADC (Southern African Development Community)
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Stop Illegal Fishing in Southern Africa

02/07/2008

This report looks at the status and impacts of IUU fishing in the southern African region, covering a number of themes and issues including internatio ...

Author: Stop Illegal Fishing
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Pirate Fish on Your Plate

01/08/2007

This report exposes the link between consumers in the UK and illegal or ‘pirate’ fishing vessels operating off West Africa that are decimati ...

Author: Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF)
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Flag State Implementation: Report of the Second Joint FAO/IMO ad hoc Working Group on IUU Fishing and Related Matters

31/07/2007

This is the report of the joint working group on IUU fishing between FAO and IMO. It contains recommendations on which areas IMO and FAO should cooper ...

Author: International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
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Proposal for a Council Regulation Concerning Authorisations for Fishing Activities of Community Fishing Vessels Outside Community Waters and the Access of Third Country Vessels to Community Waters

18/06/2007

This is the final proposal concerning authorisations for fishing activities of Community fishing vessels outside Community waters. The proposal intend ...

Author: European Commission
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Indian Ocean Tuna Commission Resolutions May 2007

18/05/2007

This document is the resolution of the IOTC meeting in May 2007. The resolution aims to promote compliance by nationals of contracting parties and coo ...

Author: Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
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IMO Agenda Preview Document: The 15th Session of the Sub-Committee on Flag State Implementation, to be held 4th-8th June 2007

15/05/2007

This publication provides an overview of the agenda for the meeting of the Sub-Committee and summarises all the documents submitted for discussion at ...

Author: Lloyds Register
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European Trawlers are Destroying the Oceans

13/03/2007

This report examines the practices of the European Union fishing fleet, which is made up of almost 100,000 vessels, fishing in EU waters and internati ...

Author: Oceana
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Party to the Plunder: Illegal Fishing in Guinea and its Links to the EU

01/03/2006

Illegal fishing by foreign trawlers in Guinea’s coastal zone is widespread and increasing, despite the attention that has been focussed on illega ...

Author: EJF
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Evaluating Flag State Performance, Parts I and II

01/02/2006

This report was prepared for the High Seas Task Force. It is designed to inform and support Proposal 5 - to develop a preliminary set of guidelines on ...

Author: OceanLaw Information and Consultancy Services
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Las Palmas: Port of Convenience and Gateway to Europe

30/01/2006

This is a briefing paper about an investigation by EJF of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Spanish port that the organisation claims serves as ‘a ...

Author: EJF
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The Changing Nature of High Seas Fishing: How Flags of Convenience Provide Cover for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

01/10/2005

This report documents trends in the use of Flags of Convenience (FOCs) which allow for extensive IUU fishing operations on the high seas; describes sp ...

Author: Gianni, M and Simpson, W
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Analysis of Illegal Fishery for Cod in the Barents Sea

01/08/2005

This report notes that the joint management of resources in the Barents Sea by Russia and Norway has produced positive results. However the level of I ...

Author: WWF-Russia
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How Well are Flag States Performing?

09/03/2005

Proposals for guidelines for flag state performance for high seas fishing vessels; paper discussed at the High Seas Task Force meeting in March 2005. ...

Author: High Seas Task Force
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Chang Xing: Case Studies on IUU Vessels No. 2

01/03/2005

In June 2004 the Greenpeace ship s/v ‘Rainbow Warrior‘ sailed into the Tasman Sea to focus global attention on the destruction caused to dee ...

Author: Greenpeace
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Pirates & Profiteers: How Pirate Fishing Fleets are Robbing People and Oceans

01/01/2005

This report explores the global nature of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing: one of the most serious threats to the future of world fi ...

Author: Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF)
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OECD Workshop on IUU Fishing Activities: Key Observations and Findings by the Workshop Chairs

20/04/2004

The objective of the workshop was to gather information and data on the extent of IUU fishing and identify the economic and social drivers to IUU fish ...

Author: OECD
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Halting IUU Fishing: Enforcing International Fisheries Agreements

06/04/2004

This paper is a summary of a study conducted by Oceana into the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern fishing on the high seas with the aim of e ...

Author: OECD
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More Troubled Waters: Fishing, Pollution and FoCs

01/08/2002

This is s joint report by the International Confederation of Trade Unions, the Trade Union Advisory Committee, The International Transport Workers ...

Author: ICFTU, TUAC, ITF and Greenpeace
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The European Union Action Plan to Eradicate IUU Fishing: a Greenpeace Critique

01/10/2001

On 28 May 2002, the European Commission presented a proposal for a "Community action plan for the eradication of illegal, unreported and unregula ...

Author: Greenpeace
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Report of the Joint FAO/IMO Ad Hoc Working Group on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and Related Matters

11/10/2000

The Report summarizes the discussions on how flag States and port State control of fishing vessels can assist in counteracting IUU fishing, taking int ...

Author: FAO
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8th International Forum on IUU fishing

11/02/2013

This is the 8th in a series of international forums on Illegal, Unreported and unregulated (IUU) Fishing held at Chatham House on 11-12 February 2013.
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Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing: 1st Chatham House Update and Stakeholder Consultation Meeting

09/05/2006

The report of the 1st Chatham House update and stakeholder consultation meeting, held on 9 May 2006.
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13/01/2011

Illegal fishing ban is working, Damanaki tells conference

Author: Fish News EU

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24/03/2010

Illegal fishing in Guinea’s waters "Worst in the World"

Author: IPS News

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16/02/2010

Indian Ocean stocks hit by illegal fishing

Author: Lanka Business Online, Sri Lanka

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10/12/2009

UN may curtail 400-year-old 'freedom of the seas'

Author: Times Online, UK

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08/12/2009

Pacific Islanders call for tighter controls on fishing

Author: fishnewseu.com

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03/12/2009

Taiwan should at least pay attention to Greenpeace

Author: The China Post

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30/11/2009

Fish fight crucial to survival of islanders

Author: The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia

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16/11/2009

Report: It’s easy being a real Pirate off the coast of West Africa

Author: New Jersey Newsroom

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11/11/2009

WEST AFRICA: Helping pirates to plunder the oceans

Author: IPS News

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25/08/2009

Illegal fishing evades U.N. crackdown: study

Author: Reuters

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25/08/2009

Illegal fishing evades U.N. crackdown - study

Author: Reuters AlertNet

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05/08/2009

Fishy fishing practices threaten the environment

Author: IPS News Agency

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23/07/2009

Safeguarding Africa's fishing waters: Regional action needed to stop illegal trawlers off the coast

Author: Africa Renewal, UN

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20/07/2009

21 vessels newly 'blacklisted'

Author: FIS (Fish Information & Services, UK)

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22/04/2009

Commission ready to investigate European illegal fishing off Somalia

Author: EUobserver.com (Belgium)

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22/04/2009

European Union must act against illegal fishing in Somalia and the Indian ocean

Author: Oceana

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05/03/2009

Oceana denounces Spanish owned pirate fishing vessel and asks for tough measures against IUU fishing

Author: Oceana

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19/12/2008

New Zealand urges Spain to act on illegal fishing boat

Author: Earth Times

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05/12/2008

Hot issues on table at tuna meet: Bigeye and yellowfin tuna fishing to be reduced

Author: Islands Business

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05/11/2008

Pirates taking heavy toll of toothfish

Author: WWF

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28/10/2008

Greenpeace demands immediate scrapping of four Portuguese Pirate Vessels

Author: Greenpeace

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28/10/2008

Activists lock pirates of Portugal in port

Author: Greenpeace

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24/08/2008

Fishy is as fishy does

Author: Malta Today

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20/08/2008

Oceana exposes galician connections between cocaine, illegal fishing and shark catches

Author: Oceana

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10/08/2008

Mayors urged to catch big-time illegal fishers

Author: The Bohol Chronicle, Philippines

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08/08/2008

Globalization is destroying the world's oceans

Author: Free Internet Press, from an article in 'Spiegel Online'

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08/08/2008

EJF argues for action against Flags and Ports of Non-Compliance to stop pirate fishing (IUU)

Author: EJF (Environmental Justice Foundation)

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11/07/2008

Southern African states move to eradicate pirate fishing

Author: TRAFFIC

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09/07/2008

Same boat, new flag: fishing Mediterranean bluefin with impunity

Author: EU Business

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07/07/2008

Southern Africa: SADC countries to toughen up on fighting illegal fishing

Author: allAfrica.com

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07/07/2008

Southern Africa: SADC seeks solutions to illegal fishing

Author: allAfrica.com

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02/07/2008

Pirate fishing boats target Africa

Author: BBC News

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27/06/2008

Flags of convenience fly in face of fisheries protection

Author: WebWire

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26/06/2008

Flags of convenience fly in face of fisheries protection

Author: Net News Publisher

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24/06/2008

EU agree key illegal fishing strategy

Author: Fishupdate.com

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24/06/2008

EU to fine, blacklist illegal fishing operators

Author: Reuters Africa

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24/06/2008

WWF applauds passage of legislation to curb illegal fishing

Author: WWF

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20/06/2008

Preparation Agriculture/Fisheries Council of June 2008

Author: European Commission

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15/06/2008

French vessel charged with illegal fishing in Malta, as net of investigation closes in on fishy tuna trade

Author: Malta Today

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01/06/2008

Fisheries director queries fishy Azzopardi flags

Author: Malta Today

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30/05/2008

Community system against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

Author: European Parliament

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25/05/2008

Two Azzopardi fishing boats charged in Libya

Author: Malta Today

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21/05/2008

Azzopardi Fisheries caught up in net of EU investigations

Author: Malta Today

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19/05/2008

Doubly registered fishing boats investigated

Author: Malta Media

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16/05/2008

Pirate vessels looting Mediterranean tuna

Author: Wildlife Extra

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14/05/2008

NGOs lodge concern over bluefin tuna pirate fishing

Author: Fishupdate.com

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23/04/2008

Major success in the fight against illegal fishing

Author: WWF

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26/02/2008

NOAA plans to compile databases containing blacklisted vessels

Author: Kodiak Daily Mirror, Alaska

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05/02/2008

Oceana: The end of pirate fishing vessel Viarsa 1

Author: Fishupdate.com

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02/02/2008

Schooner under the flag of Belize was towed to Nakhodka

Author: Vladivostok Times

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01/02/2008

Illegal, unregulated fishing continues to plague Africa

Author: Engineering News, South Africa

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19/01/2008

Steaming in the Southern Ocean

Author: The Sydney Morning Herald

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17/01/2008

Pirate fishing boat spotted by RNZAF

Author: Scoop Independent News, New Zealand

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16/01/2008

Blacklisted fishing vessel detected by Air Force Orion

Author: TV3, New Zealand

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15/01/2008

Europe's appetite for seafood propels illegal trade

Author: The New York Times

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06/12/2007

Venezuelan vessels blacklisted for illegal fishing

Author: Radio New Zealand

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04/12/2007

Pirate boats targeting NZ‘s swordfish

Author: Scoop Independent News, New Zealand

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25/09/2007

European fishing pirates hit Pacific: Greenpeace

Author: Reuters UK

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01/08/2007

‘Illegal "pirate" fish is ending up in Britain‘

Author: The Telegraph, UK

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22/07/2007

Trawler loads Alaska fish to blacklisted boat

Author: Alaska Journal of Commerce

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26/06/2007

Fight against illegal catching gaining ground

Author: Fishupdate.com

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21/06/2007

Much ado about pollock

Author: The Economist

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31/05/2007

Fishing industry concerned with fishy mess

Author: The Fiji Times Online

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30/05/2007

Alarming increase in illegal fishing in Pacific

Author: Scoop Independent News, New Zealand

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11/05/2007

Commission welcomes new port controls

Author: Fishupdate.com

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30/04/2007

NEAFC net in place to catch illegal, unreported and unregulated, IUU, fishing - port control enters into force tomorrow 1 May

Author: North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)

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12/03/2007

131 governments set their nets for illegal fishers

Author: Environment News Service

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15/02/2007

Redouble the efforts against illegal fishing, says European Parliament

Author: European Parliament News

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09/02/2007

Foreigners depleting fish stocks, warns marine lobby

Author: The Standard, Kenya

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07/02/2007

Thousands of tonnes of illegal cod landed in Dutch harbours, Greenpeace claims

Author: Fishupdate.com

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07/02/2007

Indian Ocean tuna face illegal fishing threat

Author: Reuters, featured on Planet Ark

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06/01/2007

Sea Shepherd ship now running as a Pirate

Author: Melbourne Indymedia

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21/11/2006

Greenpeace calls on Fiji to act over bottom trawler

Author: Fishupdate.com

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17/11/2006

Commission hails move on illegal catching

Author: Fishupdate.com

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12/11/2006

Murmansk fish processors fight to survive

Author: BBC News

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09/11/2006

Commission welcomes major new instrument to fight illegal fishing in the Antarctic

Author: Europa

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07/11/2006

Retailers must act responsibly says Prince of Wales

Author: Fishupdate.com

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24/10/2006

Industry must work together to combat illegal fishing

Author: Fishupdate.com

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11/10/2006

Greenpeace wants Russian crackdown on international fishing piracy

Author: MosNews

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05/10/2006

Joe Borg welcomes greater protection for marine resources in South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO)

Author: Europa

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03/10/2006

Pirates of the North Atlantic in Kaliningrad

Author: Greenpeace

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25/08/2006

Chinese fishermen held in Darwin

Author: ABC News Online

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24/08/2006

Russia seizes 5 fishing boats off eastern coast

Author: The China Post, Taiwan

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01/08/2006

Oceana calls for an agreement between Spain and Norway to chase illegal fishing

Author: Oceana

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14/07/2006

Fishing boat caught off Darwin

Author: ABC News Online

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07/07/2006

Norwegians step up fight to stop illegal fishing

Author: Fishupdate.com

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05/07/2006

Ministers to condemn illegal fishing

Author: Nordic Council

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04/07/2006

‘Pirate trawler‘ seized by Norwegian police

Author: Fishupdate.com

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03/07/2006

‘Pirate trawler‘ faces stiff fine

Author: Aftenposten, Norway

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30/06/2006

Ship suspected of illegal fishing held by Norwegian Coast Guard

Author: Times Online

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29/06/2006

Norway acts on international fish pirate after Greenpeace alert

Author: Greenpeace

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21/06/2006

How the fish on your plate makes you an accessory to crime at sea

Author: Times Online

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24/05/2006

UN conference considers measures to limit illegal fishing

Author: UN News Centre

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23/05/2006

Environmentalists urge global ban on fishing trawlers

Author: OneWorld US

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18/05/2006

Uruguay imposes strict controls on foreign flagged fishing vessels

Author: Merco Press

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17/05/2006

International agreement on fishing on the high seas

Author: Islamic Republic News Agency (Iran)

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08/05/2006

Fight the pirates - an appeal for action against the global fish robbers

Author: Greenpeace International, featured on OneWorld UK

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21/04/2006

Iceland: nine ‘pirate’ fishing ships detected on the Reykjanes peninsula

Author: fishupdate.com

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30/03/2006

Greenpeace Goes Fishing

Author: Time.com

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27/03/2006

Greenpeace steps up fight on illegal fishing

Author: fishupdate.com

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01/03/2006

Fiji: Greenpeace hails court ruling on illegal fishing

Author: Pacific Magazine

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01/03/2006

Stop illegal fishing, authorities urged

Author: Fiji Times Online

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25/02/2006

Poached fish; keeping foreign fishing vessels out

Author: ABC Kimberley WA

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16/02/2006

Fishing mother ship under guard

Author: news.com.au

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13/02/2006

Navy catches alleged illegal fishing mother ship

Author: ABC News Online

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03/01/2006

Southern Ocean patrol ship exposes Patagonian toothfishing in Antarctic

Author: bymnews.com

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Evaluating Performance of Flag States of Fishing Vessels

09/05/2006


Author:

Andrew Serdy, University of Southampton, UK / OceanLaw

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The Changing Nature of High Seas Fishing: How Flags of Convenience Provide Cover for IUU Fishing

09/05/2006


Author:

Matthew Gianni

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Mamy Andriantsoa

I am The Director of Fisheries and Halieutic Resources in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in Madagascar ...

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Peter Eade

I can help to design and provide Monitoring Control and Surveillance solutions (including VMS) for Fisheries Authorities worlwide. ...

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Frank Meere

I have particular expertise in analysing and developing practical policy and administrative approaches to tackle IUU fishing and extensive fisheries m ...

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