A robust EU control system is critical to ensure that seafood sold in the EU is sustainably sourced, complies with traceability rules and is properly monitored by the Member States. This is the main message of a joint statement made by the Europêche association (EU shipowners) and the European Coalition against Illegal Fishing (which includes The Environmental Justice Foundation, Oceana, The Nature Conservancy, The Pew Charitable Trusts and WWF) to EU decision-makers on Thursday 15 October.
The associations call on Members of the European Parliament and EU Fisheries Ministers, who are currently negotiating a recasting of the Regulation on the control of fishing activities, to address the shortcomings of the current Regulation. Organisations ask: - to digitise the traceability of seafood products; - to simplify control measures; - to require additional information for imported fishery products; - to impose electronic catch reporting for small-scale fishing vessels; - to provide more public information on the implementation of enforcement measures by Member States. “This will create a true level playing field for EU control efforts so that all fishermen are treated fairly and equally”. Link to the statement: https://bit.ly/3nQPThf (Original version by Lionel Changeur)