Report | October 27, 2020

GFCM Compliance: Conservation and MCS Measures in FRAs

Since 2003, the GFCM has designated 6 Fisheries Restricted Areas (FRAs) in its area of competence. However, the Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) of these critically important areas for the conservation of fisheries resources has been challenging and uneven.

The lack of transparency and information concerning vessels authorised to fish inside these areas has undermined the effectiveness of FRAs. Making the lists of vessels authorized to fish in FRAs public and adding these on the Authorised Vessel List (AVL), which CPCs already provide to the GFCM Secretariat for most FRAs, would improve accountability of fishers and CPCs and assist enforcement efforts.

Inconsistencies in the requirements and rules between FRAs create an uneven playing field and affect MCS of these areas. Table 1 below summarizes some of these inconsistencies across current FRAs and illustrates some of the MCS challenges.

This factsheet is also available in French and Spanish.