Study finds that inconsistent procedures across member states and outdated documentation scheme undermine effectiveness of EU illegal fishing (IUU) Regulation.
Disparities and weaknesses in import controls in key member states of the European Union mean illegally caught fish can still slip through the net and into EU supply chains, according to an analysis published today by the Environmental Justice Foundation, Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts and WWF.
The analysis provides a comprehensive evaluation of countries’ progress in implementing import controls under the EU Regulation to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This is the first published analysis of data reported by member states to the European Commission for the most recent two-year reporting period, 2014 to 2015.
The study calls for more harmonised and rigorous procedures, as well as the digitisation of catch certificate information within the EU as a priority, to ensure unscrupulous operators do not attempt to move their catch through ports where weaker controls are in place.
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