CHAPTER VINON-COOPERATING THIRD COUNTRIES
Article 31Identification of non-cooperating third countries
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A fisheries administration must, jointly with the other fisheries administrations, agree—
a
whether a particular country should be identified as a non-cooperating third country in fighting IUU fishing and therefore notified by the Secretary of State in accordance with Article 32; and
b
the reason, or reasons for any identification and the supporting evidence that should be submitted with any notification under Article 32.
2
The identification set out in paragraph 1 shall be based on the review of all information obtained pursuant to Chapters II, III, IV, V, VIII, X and XI, or, as appropriate, any other relevant information, such as the catch data, trade information obtained from national statistics and other reliable sources, vessel registers and databases, catch documents or statistical document programmes and IUU vessel lists adopted by regional fisheries management organisations, as well as any other information obtained in the ports and on the fishing grounds.
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A third country may be identified as a non-cooperating third country if it fails to discharge the duties incumbent upon it under international law as flag, port, coastal or market F2state, to take action to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing.
4
For the purposes of paragraph 3, F3a fisheries administration must primarily rely on the examination of measures taken by the third country concerned in respect of:
a
recurrent IUU fishing suitably documented as carried out or supported by fishing vessels flying its flag or by its nationals, or by fishing vessels operating in its maritime waters or using its ports; or
b
access of fisheries products stemming from IUU fishing to its market.
5
For the purposes of paragraph 3, F4a fisheries administration must take into account:
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whether the country concerned effectively cooperates with the United Kingdom, by providing a response to requests made by a fisheries administration to investigate, provide feedback or follow-up to IUU fishing and associated activities;
b
whether the third country concerned has taken effective enforcement measures in respect of the operators responsible for IUU fishing, and in particular whether sanctions of sufficient severity to deprive the offenders of the benefits accruing from IUU fishing have been applied;
c
the history, nature, circumstances, extent and gravity of the manifestations of IUU fishing considered;
d
for developing countries, the existing capacity of their competent authorities.
6
For the purposes of paragraph 3, F6a fisheries administration must also consider the following elements:
a
the ratification of, or accession of the third countries concerned to, international fisheries instruments, and in particular the Unclos, the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and the FAO Compliance Agreement;
b
the status of the third country concerned as a contracting party to regional fisheries management organisations, or its agreement to apply the conservation and management measures adopted by them;
c
any act or omission by the third country concerned that may have diminished the effectiveness of applicable laws, regulations or international conservation and management measures.
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Where appropriate, specific constraints of developing countries, in particular in respect to monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities, shall be duly taken into consideration in the implementation of this Article.