Public version of the FAO Global Record of Fishing Vessels Information System is launched

By Stop Illegal Fishing:30th Jul, 2018: VISIBLE

The Global Record of Fishing Vessels Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels (Global Record) is a global initiative to compile an online comprehensive and updated repository of vessels involved in fishing operations.

Speaking at the combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) side session at the 33rd Committee on Fisheries (COFI 33), Alicia Mosteiro, FAO’s Global Record of Vessels team said, “This is a global information, system designed to fight IUU through increased transparency and traceability. It provides a single access point for all relevant information about a vessel: its identity, registration, ownership, as well as authorisations, history of names and flags, operators and history of compliance. This information is important for the proper use of port State measures, for the verification of information prior to arrival in port and conducting risk assessment.”

The Global Record is using IMO numbers as the unique vessel identifiers in phase one of the Global Record. These are assigned to a vessel to ensure traceability through reliable, verified and permanent identification of the vessel that stays with the vessel for its entire life, regardless of changes in flag, ownership, name or other.

Information on vessels is supplied to the Global Record by States; this includes not only fishing vessels but also reefers and supply vessels that are involved in transhipment and support services. The value of the Global Record will increase greatly as more States submit and update information.

The African Regional Group, showed their support to the Global Record during COFI 33 under Agenda Item 8.1 on combatting IUU fishing. Speaking on behalf of the group Minister Hashi of Somalia made the joint statement, saying, “In respect to the Global Record, we note the need to establish innovative approaches to incorporate national and regional vessel lists into the repository and we look forward to working with the FAO and other partners to accelerate the provision of information on fishing vessels active in African waters.”

Sandy Davies, Stop Illegal Fishing, commented, “The Global Record provides a great opportunity to improve the sharing and verification of vessel information. This will provide real benefits as an operational tool for fisheries inspectors and enforcement officers as they make decision about allowing port entry and access to national waters for fishing. The addition of compliance and surveillance information will make this an essential tool in the fight to stop illegal fishing.”

 

The Global Record Information System can be accessed at: http://www.fao.org/global-record/information-system/en/

More information on the global Record can be found at the FAO Portal: http://www.fao.org/global-record/en/

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