The Coast Guard collaborated with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement in Alaska, advising all fishermen to familiarise with the laws prior to going fishing and be compliant to them.
Fisheries-related conventions are key tools used by flag, coastal and port States to monitor and control fishing vessels and limit the risk of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities, by enhancing transparency, traceability and governance.
The third report in the Caught Red-Handed paper series analyzes expert opinions about threats to maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean. The survey includes the responses of 110 maritime security professionals. 80% of experts agreed that illegal fishing was a significant security threat to their countries and impacted the economy sector, as well as the local way of leaving.
Sea Shepherd collaborated with Gabonese authorities to arrest the Chinese-flagged Haixin 27, as it was seen sailing into Gabonese waters from the Republic of Congo, while Gabonese fisheries enforcement officers discovered that the vessel’s fish hold was full, despite the fact that the vessel had no fishing logbook.
TRACIT and UNCTAD examined how illicit trade impedes the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, noting that despite the recognition of international trade as an important means to achieve the SDGs, insufficient attention has been given to the substantial impact that illicit trade has on holding back progress.
EU and Canada entered into an agreement aiming to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fisheries, marine pollution and climate change. The agreement will enable the easy implementation of the 3030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, mostly focusing on Goal 14, while also will facilitate the sustainable development of marine and maritime sectors.
Fishing is considered one of the most dangerous occupations in the world and, in spite of improvements in technology, the loss of life in the fisheries sector is unacceptably high. In order to improve the safety of fishers and fishing vessels, IMO has established, over the years, various initiatives, culminating with the adoption of the Cape Town Agreement of 2012.
In light of today’s European Fish Dependence Day, the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) informed that from now, the EU has used up all of its own seafood resources and now has to rely entirely on its imports for the rest of 2019, to meet demand. Europe consumes far more seafood than it can catch in domestic waters or produce in fish farms.
Broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough highlighted that industrial overfishing is more dangerous to the ocean than plastic. According to World Economic Forum, if the ocean was an economy, it would be the seventh largest globally. Yet, instead of protecting it, humans jeopardise its future.
The European Union published an infographic, providing information of the Illegal, Unreported and Undocumented (IUU) fishing, which still is on the rise in many countries. Specifically, fishing can be though of as illegal when there’s no authorization, when it is against conservation and management measures by RFMOs and when it is against national laws and international regulations.
