On Friday 13 September, the European Commission adopted a proposal to revise the EU’s instruments for combating unsustainable fishing practices by third countries on fish stocks of common interest.
The Commission hopes that “this revision will make the current tools more effective and reinforce good governance and the sustainability of our oceans”.
The proposal amends Regulation 1026/2012 to clarify the conditions necessary to identify a country authorising unsustainable fishing practices on fish stocks of common interest. Countries identified as such may be subject to EU restrictive measures, including import bans.
This mechanism aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of shared fish stocks in a non-discriminatory way. It helps to combat overfishing, which poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems, biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities. It also aims to ensure fair competition between EU operators and those from third countries.
The proposed amendments aim to strengthen the regulation by providing clearer guidelines for triggering restrictive measures. Third countries will thus be informed of the specific conditions under which their fishing practices may give rise to sanctions by the EU.
The proposal has been sent to the European Parliament and the EU Council, who will now examine it under the ordinary legislative procedure.
Link to the proposal: https://aeur.eu/f/dfv (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)