IUU fishing is now commonly understood to refer to fishing activities that are carried out in a manner that is inconsistent with, or in contravention of, the conservation and management measures in force for a particular fishery. Most definitions also encompass unregulated fishing, where no formal management arrangements exist, even though such fishing is often not in contravention of applicable national or international law.

For the purposes of its work, the Task Force has chosen to define IUU fishing as:

• Fishing in violation of international laws and obligations;

• Fishing of high seas fish stocks where there are no formal management arrangements in place but which remains in contravention of the broader responsibilities of States under the law of the sea to conserve and manage the marine living resources of the high seas;

• Fishing conducted by vessels without nationality, or by those flying the flag of a State not party to a relevant regional fishery management organization (RFMO), or by a fishing entity, in a manner inconsistent with, or which contravenes, the conservation and management measures adopted by the RFMO or broader international obligations;

• Fishing conducted by nationals of or vessels flying the flag of States that are parties to a relevant RFMO in contravention of the conservation and management measures adopted by that organization or relevant provisions of the applicable international law;

• Fishing, including fishing within the area of an RFMO, which has not been reported, or has been misreported, to the relevant national/international authorities, in contravention of international laws and regulations;

Inevitably, what happens on the high seas affects the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of coastal states. So, while the Task Force’s principal focus is on the high seas, it will also concern itself with IUU fishing in EEZs to the extent that this represents a continuous illegal activity.↑