CFFA Workshop on IUU fishing at European Maritime Day in Gijon

On May 19th, CFFA organised a workshop entitled "Implementation of the IUU regulation in developing countries: Organising the dialogue with third countries stakeholders".

Developing countries fisheries stakeholders, particularly the small scale fishing sector, are facing specific challenges for the implementation of the IUU regulation.

Although there is still little experience of the implementation (5 months), third countries fishing sector stakeholders (fishermen, exporters, competent authorities, NGOs) already have some examples to share about the concrete issues, - problems and opportunities-, arising from the implementation of the regulation, and suggestions to make about how to ensure the smooth implementation of the regulation, and how a sustained dialogue can be established between the EU and third countries stakeholders to ensure the objective is met: fight efficiently IUU fishing.

Presentations of the panel (in French):

"Application de la législation européenne de lutte contre la pêche INN : cas de la pêche artisanale au Sénégal"

By Gaoussou Gueye, exportateur et vice président du CONIPAS (Sénégal) et Makhtar Thiam, expert Pêche du West Africa Trade Hub

Présentation Gueye

"Application de la législation européenne de lutte contre la pêche INN : cas des exportations de produits de la pêche de Mauritanie"

By Sid’ahmed Sidi Mohamed Abeid, président de la section artisanale de la Fédération Nationale des Pêches de Mauritanie

Présentation Abeid

"Importation de produits de la pêche vers l’UE"

By Concepción Sánchez Trujillano, Deputy Director-General of Community Affairs, Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Areas (Spain)

Présentation Sanchez

"Contrôle et Traçabilité: Défis et solutions"

Par Hélène Bours, CAPE

Présentation Bours

"Implementation of the EU regulation on IUU fishing: Organising the dialogue with developing countries stakeholders"

Rapport d’atelier de la Commission

Rapport d’atelier (English version) 

EU proposed regulation to combat IUU fishing: Issues for Developing countries

CFFA generally welcomes the comprehensive package of measures proposed by the European Commission to combat IUU fishing. The proposal foresees actions to be taken by or against flag States, port States and market States as well as actors in the fishing sector all along the chain of custody and will go a long way toward curtailing IUU fishing, both within and outside EU waters, both by EU-flagged and/or owned fleets as well as foreign fleets.

However, although the proposal acknowledges the need to help developing countries to fight IUU fishing, it fails to propose concrete measures to that effect. Without such concrete support, the measures proposed, such as the trade related measures, will constitute new trade barriers for legally-caught fish from developing countries, especially those fish products from the artisanal fishing sector.

CFFA input at DFID meeting

Proposal by the European Commission for measures to combat IUU fishing: CFFA preliminary comments

CFFA welcomes the comprehensive package of measures proposed by the European Commission to combat IUU fishing. The proposal foresees actions to be taken by or against flag States, port States and market States as well as actors in the fishing sector all along the chain of custody and will go a long way toward curtailing IUU fishing, both within and outside EU waters, both by EU-flagged and/or owned fleets as well as foreign fleets. However, although the proposal acknowledges the need to help developing countries to fight IUU fishing, it fails to propose concrete measures to that effect. Without such concrete support, the measures proposed, such as the trade related measures, will constitute new trade barriers for legally-caught fish from developing countries, especially those fish products from the artisanal fishing sector.

CFFA Preliminary Comments

Proposal for a EU regulation

Improving traceability for fish products imported into the EU markets to combat IUU fishing

The EU as a bloc is the world’s largest market for fish, accounting for 40% of global imports. The African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) represent an important fish-trading partner for the EU. EU trade statistics1 show that in 2006, the value of EU fish imports from ACP countries was around 1.4 billion euros, i.e. about 12% of total value of extra EU fish imports.

A 2006 study2 warns about the EU’s declining self sufficiency from catches in its own waters, estimated to be just 40 % in 20063. This situation, together with the recent enlargement of the EU from 15 to 25 member states, provides ACP fishermen and exporters with significant opportunities, so long as they can comply with an increasingly complex set of standards, such as the ones that are being put in place for traceability. Traceability meets several objectives, - to ensure the origin, the sanitary quality of a product-, but it will also become a tool for the fight against IUU (Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated) fishing.

Improving traceability for fish products imported into the EU markets to combat IUU fishing