Jurisdictional framework
Mandate: Scientific Advice; Management; Monitoring; Control and surveillance.
Area of Competence
Maritime Area: High Seas.
Management Regime
Management Regime - Management Strategies - SEAFO adheres to an ecosystem and precautionary approach to fisheries management when deciding on management and conservation measures. The Commission adopts resolutions and recommendations based on scientific advice from the Scientific Committee; and monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) advice from the Compliance Committee. The Commission meets annually to agree on new management and conservation measures, and to set a total allowable catch (TACs) for each commercially viable species for the subsequent year. It is the responsibility of each SEAFO Contracting Party to ensure that regulations are being adhered to by vessels of their flag State Contracting Party. Contracting Parties have the obligation to ensure that legal proceedings are being undertaken to mitigate infringements of SEAFOs conservation and enforcement regulations. - Status of Management - Assessment Summary - Scientists from SEAFO flag States contribute to the assessment of marine resources in the SEAFO Convention Area. Species profiles for the main SEAFO marine resources are updated annually, and include catch and effort information as well as additional information relevant to the stocks e.g. spatial and temporal distributions, length-frequency analysis, and ecosystem implications/effects on VME indicator species and environments. The data and information used by the SEAFO scientists includes, but is not limited to, scientific observer catch and effort data, port inspection catch estimates, 5-day catch data, and VMS effort data. - Monitoring System - SEAFO has developed a comprehensive strategy to monitor, survey and control the fisheries. All vessels are required to: be formally authorised to fish; report catches on a 5-day interval; report VMS positions on a 2-hourly interval; have an independent scientific observer onboard; comply with port inspection procedures; and not make transhipments in the SEAFO CA.
Management Methods
Fishing Area-related measures, Fishing activity-related measures, Species-related measures with focus on Closed areas (Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems), Reduction of ghost fishing and of IUU fishery, Species protection - Binding