Nationality of catch

Abstract

In 1954, the UN Statistical Commission decided that the fish catches should be assigned to the country of the flag flown by the fishing vessel and this concept was adopted by all member agencies of the Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics (CWP). However, since international joint-ventures in world fisheries have increased considerably, both in number and in economic importance, such arrangements are often a source of difficulty in assigning the nationality to the catch. A brief review is made of some specific situations in which difficulties in assigning a nationality existed, leading to misreporting and double counting (New Zealand, Namibia, Peru and Argentina). Recommendations made by the CWP at its 17th Session are outlined. At the meeting it was stressed that reporting by the flag State of the vessel concerned is always the preferred option.