22 November 2010: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has announced that an FAO Technical Consultation has agreed to identify a structure and strategy for the development and implementation of the Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels.

The new initiative aims to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by improving transparency in the global fisheries sector. The recommendations of the consultation will be presented to the January 2011 meeting of FAO’s Committee on Fisheries for approval. [FAO Press Release]