CCAMLR has a new strategy, the NCP Engagement Strategy, to improve cooperation with States to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

CCAMLR’s Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) for toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) is an important and effective measure to combat IUU fishing and CCAMLR seeks the cooperation of States that don’t yet implement the CDS but trade in toothfish. Any State that is not a Member of CCAMLR can cooperate with CCAMLR to monitor and control the harvest, landing and/or trade of toothfish by voluntarily implementing the CDS.

The Secretariat has been busy in 2015 and 2016 in implementing the Strategy. The Fishery Monitoring and Compliance Manager, Sarah Lenel, visited Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority late last year to discuss how best to implement the Strategy in South East Asia and to communicate with the States in the region.

Sarah attended the Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices Including Combating IUU Fishing in the Region coordination committee meeting in Brunei Darussalam to promote the Strategy and meet with representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam.

To follow up on this engagement, Sarah, with support from Australia's Jim Neely, attended the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) Governing Council meeting in Viet Nam to further discuss the Strategy and promote the voluntary implementation of the CDS.

Communication and information sharing between the Secretariat, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam is continuing with a CDS workshop proposed for 2017.

CCAMLR's Executive Secretary, Andrew Wright, has been working to implement the Strategy in South America meeting with representatives from Ecuador and Colombia last month. Both Colombia and Ecuador have committed to cooperating with CCAMLR, including through the voluntary implementation of the CDS. It is hoped representatives from Colombia and Ecuador will attend this year’s Commission meeting and participate in a CDS workshop next year.