Key Documents Library: Policies, Procedures, and Regulations

The Commission has adopted a comprehensive suite of documents to guide every aspect of its work, including rules of procedure, financial and staff regulations, and guidance for the operations of its subsidiary bodies. 

The Commission has also adopted rigorous data management and reporting standards covering scientific data provision, electronic catch and effort reporting, transhipment declarations, and voluntary processor data, as well as robust monitoring, control, and surveillance protocols such as VMS standards, electronic monitoring minimum requirements, and MTU type-approval lists. These documents can be accessed through the Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation webpage. 

Dedicated observer programme standards and forms ensure consistent at-sea monitoring, while a range of scientific committee workplans, research programme protocols (e.g., for turtles, shark-species designation, the tissue bank), and budget formulation guidelines keep its technical and scientific bodies focused, coordinated, and cost-effective.

Note that some supplementary information for Conservation and Management Measures, including safe handling guidelines and best practices for release of certain non-target species, are now available at the Conservation and Management Measures page. Please also refer to the Bycatch Mitigation Information System (BMIS) for additional information related to bycatch CMMs: https://www.bmis-bycatch.org.