EJF Applauds EU Fisheries Ministers' Move to End Pirate Fishing

EJF strongly commends European adoption of a regulation to prevent ‘pirate’ fishing

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council has adopted a substantive and extremely important agreement to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) or “Pirate” fishing. The Council has agreed to a range of measures, including a new catch certification system, harmonised sanctions, and port control measures.

As the largest consumer market for seafood in the world, the European Union has a key role to play in international fisheries, including the elimination of illegal fishing activities. EJF investigations have shown that pirate fishing operators specifically target developing countries that are unable to afford the costs of patrolling their waters. These pirate operators have been exploiting a number of loopholes to effectively ‘launder’ their stolen fish into the European market, loopholes that with the new regulation should be effectively closed.

EJF Director Steve Trent said: "We applaud the European Council on its adoption of the crucial regulation. Pirate Fishing is one of the main global threats to fish stocks, and is having enormous impacts on the livelihoods and basic food security of poor fishing communities in many developing countries. It is estimated that Africa alone has been losing over US$1 billion every year to illegal fishing operators, with much of this stolen fish ending up on European plates. The Council has taken an important step to help redress the balance in favour of sustainable fisheries not just in European waters, but around the world”.

EJF now urges the Commission and all Member States to work quickly towards ensuring the effective and comprehensive implementation of the regulation within the EU. It is also vital that support is developed for developing nations in their efforts to adapt to the regulation and combat IUU in their own waters.