National Plan of Action (NPOA)

A national plan of action (NPOA) is a state’s voluntary policy document implementing one of the FAO international plans of action adopted under the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The four IPOAs cover seabirds (1999), sharks (1999), fishing capacity (1999), and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IPOA-IUU, 2001). An NPOA-IUU sets a state’s measures as flag, coastal, port, and market state; an NPOA-Sharks sets shark assessment and finning controls; an NPOA-Seabirds sets longline bycatch mitigation such as bird-scaring lines and night setting.