National Plan of Action of the United States of America to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported Fishing.

As its title suggests, the objective of the present National Plan of Action is to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing. The principles to guide the pursuit of this objective include: 1) broad participation and coordination among States, as well as representatives from industry, fishing communities and non-governmental organizations; 2) the phasing in of action to implement the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA) on the earliest possible timetable; 3) the use of a comprehensive and integrated approach, so as to address all impacts of IUU fishing; 4) the maintenance of consistency with the conservation and long-term sustainable use of fish stocks and the protection of the environment; 5) transparency; and 6) non-discrimination in form or in fact against any State or its fishing vessels. Although IUU fishing may occur in all fisheries, this Plan focuses on marine fisheries. As envisioned in the IPOA, the United States intends to review the implementation of this National Plan of Action at least every four years after its adoption.