The failure of some States to meet their international obligations concerning flag State responsibility under international law has led the international community to seek innovative ways of addressing IUU fishing.

At the national level countries are implementing measures to deny access to known IUU fishing vessels to ports, taking steps to strengthening real-time monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) and raising public awareness about the long-term impacts of IUU fishing.

IPOA-IUU
In 2001 the Members of FAO concluded, within the framework of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, an International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU). It complements certain aspects of the 1993 FAO Compliance Agreement and the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement.

To support the implementation of the IPOA-IUU, FAO has prepared a technical guideline designed to provide practical advice on how States should implement the IPOA. In particular, the IPOA encourages States, to develop national plans of action to implement the IPOA-IUU. A simple language publication entitled "Stopping IUU Fishing" which is designed to sensitize fishers and fishing communities about the effects of IUU fishing is also being widely disseminated by FAO.

Port State measures
Negotiations for the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures were concluded in 2009 and following approval by the FAO Conference. The Agreement opened for signature for one year on 22 November 2009. The Agreement will enter into force 30 days after the date of the deposit of the twenty-fifth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the FAO Depositary.

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In support of Rio+20 outcome paragraph 170 - We recommit to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as advanced in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and to prevent and combat these practices, [...]