Updated summary comparison of VME encounter protocols in bottom fish RFMO/As

This document was presented at the NPFC/FAO VME workshop in March 2018 as a working paper NPFC-2018-WS VME01-WP02. It reviews the encounter protocols of bottom fish RFMO/As. The purpose of this document is to facilitate our understanding on the structure and function of NPFC VME encounter protocols in comparison with those adopted and implemented in other RFMO/As. Key elements of VME encounter protocols (VME indicators, encounter thresholds, move-on distance, post-encounter treatment) were extracted from the texts of current conservation measures of bottom fish RFMO/As and listed in the paper. The elements of encounter protocols for trawl fisheries are summarized and compared.