Data and Information Sharing in the RPOA IUU

Regional Plan of Action for Responsible Fisheries including Combatting IUU Fishing (RPOA-IUU) is a voluntary regional initiative which agreed on 4 May 2007, Bali-Indonesia, by 11 Ministers related to fisheries namely Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Viet Nam. Each participating Countries have role on the implementation, as the commitment on responsible fishing practices including combating IUU Fishing. This regional cooperation is implemented through the implementation of 10 core elements, which essentially depend on sharing data and information between RPOA-IUU participating countries and/or with international and regional institutions.

A key component of this collaboration is data sharing, which serves as the backbone of these efforts due to its extraordinary benefits. Data sharing is crucial in combating IUU fishing for several reasons. It enhances cooperation and coordination among countries. Enhanced surveillance and enforcement could be achieved through intensive information sharing and collaboration, which can lead to the successful apprehension of vessels involved in illicit activities. Increased transparency and accountability are promoted by harmonizing efforts to combat IUU fishing through data sharing, making it more difficult for illegal activities to go unnoticed. Furthermore, data sharing enables countries to exchange best practices, learn from each other, and develop robust data-sharing mechanisms. This continuous exchange of knowledge and information strengthens the overall capacity to combat IUU fishing effectively.

Data-sharing activities that have been carried out have occurred at the bilateral, sub-regional, and regional levels as follows:

1.      Regional Level: At the regional level the information sharing activities are: (a) Developing RPOA-IUU watch list, aiming to serve as a strategic mechanism to enable countries to share and receive information regarding IUU vessels movements and sightings, (b) Cooperating with INTERPOL and RFMOs, such as WCPFC and CCADS in exchanging information regarding IUU fishing incidents and suspected vessels which undergo the unlawful activities in high seas, (c) Several countries register and regularly update their vessels to the FAO Global Record  and (d) RPOA-IUU participating countries who are also ASEAN Member States share their fishing vessels information to  the Regional Fishing Vessel Record

2.      Sub-Regional Level: Sub-regional Intensive information exchange took place in the Arafura Timor Sea Sub-Regional such as Vessel sightings (air, sea & EM tools), licensed vessels seeking safe passage, Illegal border crossers in the TSPZ, Fisheries surveillance and enforcement and exchange information on the conditions for licensing of foreign vessels.

3.      Bilateral Level: Bilateral intensive information sharing especially between Indonesia and Australia such as  IUU fishing incidents occurring in respective jurisdictional waters, exchange Vessels Monitoring System (VMS) data during coordinated patrol, Vessel location sightings and unauthorized use and placement of FADs. Bilateral information sharing also happened between Indonesia and Malaysia, Indonesia and Philiphine and Indonesia and Vietnam regarding the movement of fishing vessels entering the waters of other countries

There are some challenges in data/information sharing mechanism. Some participating countries may face similar challenges in implementing an effective and intense data/information sharing. Element that hinder the progress in information sharing are coordination, data integration, training and capacity building and legal and regulatory framework. Firstly, Problem in coordination is lack of in-country coordination between government departments in data and information sharing. Second, data integration challenges in integrating data which come from diverse sources and formats. Therefore, there is a need for standardized data collection and sharing protocols. Third, Legal and Regulatory Framework is lack of comprehensive legal frameworks for data sharing across borders and need for updated regulations to accommodate new technologies.

The data-sharing mechanism can be effectively implemented through a series of coordinated activities designed to enhance the overall capacity to combat IUU fishing. To strengthen data sharing, future activities will focus on intensifying IUU fishing alerts, establishing a robust data-sharing mechanism, sharing best practices, and developing data-sharing measures for market regulation. These efforts will be complemented by recommendations for future collaboration, which include harmonizing efforts to combat IUU fishing, promoting inter-agency collaboration, and enhancing data sharing to increase transparency and accountability.

Training and capacity-building

Need for extensive training programs to use new technologies effectively

Legal and Regulatory Framework

•      Lack of comprehensive legal frameworks for data sharing across borders

•      Need for updated regulations to accommodate new technologies

Example of Effective Information Sharing

A clear example of effective information sharing is illustrated by a country detaining a fisheries transport vessel suspected of illicit transshipment. Intensive information sharing and collaboration led to the vessel's apprehension by other countries, underscoring the importance of cooperative efforts in combating IUU fishing. This example highlights the significance of the data/information sharing mechanism, which processes and organizes data meaningfully. Data sharing involves formal commitments, while information sharing is typically more short-term. The mechanism includes sharing vessel tracking data, remote sensing data, operational participants, jurisdictional authority, local datasets (e.g., VMS, license lists), fisheries rules and regulations, and historical non-compliance records. This approach strengthens commitment and coordination among RPOA-IUU countries.

IUU Fishing Alert

The importance of coordination and communication is also highlighted by a recent IUU fishing alert, where a country detained a fisheries transport vessel within its waters. The captain confessed to illicit transshipment of fish from two foreign ships and supplying fuel, crew, and logistics. Despite searches, the two vessels (VOI 1 and VOI 2) were not found. Alerts were issued to MCS sub-regional group members and the RPOA-IUU secretariat. Subsequent information exchange led to the successful apprehension of VOI 1 by another country, while VOI 2 was detained in another country's port, demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative efforts.

Recent Activity and Progress

To facilitate data exchange in the future, RPOA-IUU has initiated a data-sharing mechanism. The initial steps began on October 25, 2023. Recent activities and progress have further solidified the groundwork for this mechanism. A foundational meeting took place in Dili on October 25, 2023, where the next steps included appointing a chair and vice-chair for the working group. Recently, six of the eleven participating countries attended the 2nd Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the RPOA-IUU Data Sharing Mechanism. The discussion concluded that operational data sharing could be integrated into sub-regional working groups, encompassing vessel tracking data, capture data, port activity, and real-time enforcement.

On the 2nd Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the RPOA-IUU Data Sharing Mechanism, Countries agreed to establish the Data Sharing Mechanism Working Group. This involves formulating the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the group, appointing focal points and leadership roles, and scheduling regular meetings to advance the data-sharing agenda. Additionally, a detailed roadmap must be drafted and presented. This roadmap should outline the steps for developing and implementing the data-sharing mechanism, including key milestones such as drafting the roadmap, reviewing it with member countries, and presenting the final version for endorsement at the Coordination Committee Meeting (CCM).

Other Activities

In addition to these activities, the RPOA-IUU secretariat is developing a knowledge management platform (KMP), which is nearing completion. The second edition of the RPOA-IUU newsletter has also been released, enhancing publicity materials. The secretariat actively engages with partners to share information publicly, demonstrating its commitment to transparency and collaboration. This comprehensive approach ensures that data sharing mechanisms are not only established but are also continuously improved and effectively utilized to combat IUU fishing.