Vella hails deal to fight illegal and unregulated fishing

European environment and fisheries commissioner Karmenu Vella welcomed a UN agreement to clamp down on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The Port State Measures Agreement – that will come into force on Sunday – will tighten port controls for all EU member states and 29 other nations, allowing them to keep illegal fishing operators out of their ports.

It will require countries to officially designate ports for use by foreign fishing vessels. These vessels will have to send prior notifications to enter designated ports and provide port authorities with information, including on the catches they have on board.

Countries will deny entry or inspect vessels that have been involved in illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing and to take appropriate action.

“We now have a powerful instrument that will help fight illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing at European and at global level,” Vella said. “This is a significant improvement to international ocean governance.”

He warned that IUU fishing is destroying global fish stocks and “threatening the economic survival of fishermen who play by the rules”.

“Such fishing is worth up to €10 billion a year, 15% of the global seafood market,” Vella said. “The agreement ensures better control of what happens in ports and is a key tool to prevent IUU fish from entering the market. It sends a clear message: when it comes to illegal fishing, we will not turn a blind eye.

“The fight against illegal fishing has become global and perpetrators will soon have nowhere to hide.”