17 May 2017: The International Conference on Seafood Transparency and Sustainability, which was co-organized by the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA), Waseda University and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), was organized to provide Japanese stakeholders with an opportunity to share information on the impact of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and how other countries address seafood transparency and sustainability, and to discuss next steps to increasing transparency and sustainability in Japan.

The event was attended by approximately 300 participants, representing government, the private sector, academia, media and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. It took place from 16-17 May 2017, in Tokyo, Japan.

The meeting consisted of five sessions as well as a field trip to Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. Panels considered the use of technology for monitoring and detecting IUU fishing and the prospect for international cooperation for combating IUU fishing, as well as policies and measures to promote seafood transparency and achieve sustainable fisheries and the use of fisheries certification and labels.

During a concluding discussion of the way forward, speakers noted that Japan, the US and the EU are expected to play the role of champions for effective implementation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing, for which the first Meeting of the Parties will take place from 29-31 May 2017. Panelists highlighted the need for international cooperation to end IUU fishing and to include China in the conversation, and noted the challenge in Japan to raise awareness about the current state of global fish stocks. Speakers suggested that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics could be used as a platform to disseminate the message about seafood sustainability and IUU fishing. [IISD RS coverage of conference][Meeting website]