A Global Network
The IMCS Network was established in 2001 following a commitment made by five countries through the Declaration of the International Conference on the International Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of Fishing Activities “Responsible Fishing Declaration”. The Declaration called for the establishment of an informal Network to connect those working at the forefront of fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement.
The need to support and connect those working in fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement is as important today as it was over 20 years’ ago.
In 2012, the Network adopted its Governing Framework that reaffirmed the commitment to support and connect the global fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement community. The Governing Framework reinforces the voluntary and informal nature of the Network and provides the principles that guide its work.
The Vision
The Vision of the IMCS Network is to create a globally connected and capable fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement community. A community that works collectively to achieve and maintain optimal levels of compliance that effectively support marine conservation and fisheries management objectives. We work towards this Vision through our Mission to strengthen and enhance fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement by promoting and facilitating effective communication, collaboration, coordination, and capacity development across our community.
The IMCS Network has three key Objectives that guide our work:
Improved fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement approaches that combat IUU fishing and optimise levels of compliance.
Effective collaboration and cooperation established and maintained between members and across the global fisheries MCS and compliance community.
Empowered, informed and capable fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement practitioners.
We are about our people - those that work at the forefront of fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement and those that support and contribute to this work at the national, regional and international level.
"He aha te mea e kaha ai tatou, what makes us strong? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata, it is people, it is people, it is people."
Gary Orr, IMCS Network Chair
The Network is uniquely positioned to identify and understand the needs of our members and to develop, implement and facilitate initiatives that directly respond to the challenges faced by them. In this we create tangible and sustainable impacts for our members by increasing their capacity to identify and address IUU fishing and fisheries non-compliance. The IMCS Network believes that working collectively and collaboratively is the best way to strengthen fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement and that these elements are essential to ensure the long-term protection of the world’s oceans and the sustainable management of fisheries.
