This report summarises observations made by France with regard to illegal fishing from 23 August 2013 to 23 August 2014. It covers Statistical Subarea 58.6 and Divisions 58.5.1 and 58.5.2 which include the Crozet, Kerguelen and Heard and McDonald EEZs respectively, as well as Statistical Divisions 58.4.3 and 58.4.4, international waters including BANZARE, Elan, Lena and Ob Banks, where France has carried out exploratory fisheries.
In the French EEZs, where the surveillance system remained in operation throughout the year, no observations of IUU fishing activity were noted or reported, although fishing gear not belonging to licensed vessels was found on a number of occasions. Furthermore, no IUU fishing activity was directly observed by France in the above-mentioned international areas.
Between 2004 and 2014, the satellite radar surveillance system and maritime patrols have proved their efficacy and these efforts should be continued. Indeed, with the exception of one year, vessels on CCAMLR’s IUU list have been observed every year over the last ten years. The most recent interception, in 2013, by a French naval frigate, of a fishing vessel in the Crozet EEZ, along with the regular recovery of illegal gear, is evidence of intrusions into the French EEZs. In international waters within the Convention Area (BANZARE, Elan, Lena and Ob Banks), observations over this period also report fishing activities being undertaken by vessels on CCAMLR’s IUU list.