The HSTF member nations are Australia, Canada, Chile, Namibia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, as well as directors-general of World Wildlife Fund International, the World Conservation Union and the Earth Institute. It was formed in December 2003 to “develop an action plan to achieve comprehensive solutions to the global IUU fishing problem.”
Loyola Hearn, Canada’s new Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, praised the task force’s work and announced “Canada’s next step in combating global overfishing.”
“The Task Force is a great example of what can happen when a small group of people decide to focus on action,” Hearn said. “The issue of overfishing has been talked to death. At this point, talk and study that doesn’t lead to concrete action — and meaningful results — is pointless.”