Elimination of illegal fishing

Key points:

• Given that the persistent practice of IUU fishing requires a comprehensive response, based on an effective regulatory instrument to be applied throughout the supply chain, from catch to sale, the EESC believes that, in general, the proposed Regulation provides the necessary framework to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing and therefore supports it.
• Without seeking to exclude the Community fleet from the scope of the proposed Regulation, the EESC believes that the proposal should distinguish more clearly between IUU fishing by third country vessels, which flag states do not monitor, and other acts of illegal fishing carried out by Community vessels which violate the Common Fisheries Policy.
• The Committee believes that the proposed Regulation does not properly explain how the flag state authority should validate the catch certificate requested by the European Community. Given that this validation must be carried out electronically, the EESC believes that the proposed Regulation should clearly explain the method of validation both for vessels transporting fresh catches as well as those which transport frozen fisheries products.
• In the case of non-compliance by states, the Committee believes that the possibility of applying sanctions unrelated to fishing should be considered