5th Update and Stakeholder Consultation onIllegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing

Session 2

The new EU regulation on IUU fishing

A NGO perspective – Sebastián Losada, Greenpeace

15 October 2009, Chatham House, London

High levels of IUU fishingHigh levels of IUU fishing

More than 8 years after the FAO IPOA on IUU was More than 8 years after the FAO IPOA on IUU was adoptedadopted

Insufficient measures by RFOsInsufficient measures by RFOs It is estimated that between 11-19% of the world fish It is estimated that between 11-19% of the world fish

catches originate from IUU activitiescatches originate from IUU activities Overcapacity and diminishing fish resources exacerbate Overcapacity and diminishing fish resources exacerbate

the problem – very little progress has been made in the problem – very little progress has been made in addressing the overcapacity problemaddressing the overcapacity problem

Main loopholesMain loopholes

Transshipments, lack of controls over non-fishing vesselsTransshipments, lack of controls over non-fishing vessels Flag State performanceFlag State performance Weak port controls, granting of port services other than Weak port controls, granting of port services other than

offloading fishoffloading fish Measures against vessels but not against nationals or Measures against vessels but not against nationals or

companiescompanies Insufficient communication between governments and Insufficient communication between governments and

organizationsorganizations Lack of political willLack of political will

Some recent positive stepsSome recent positive steps

A new FAO agreement on Port Control... still to be A new FAO agreement on Port Control... still to be formally adopted and ratifiedformally adopted and ratified

The new EU regulation on IUU fishing will enter into force The new EU regulation on IUU fishing will enter into force next January 2010next January 2010

On the negative side... Compliance with UNGA On the negative side... Compliance with UNGA Resolution 61/105 very poor... the unregulated 'U'Resolution 61/105 very poor... the unregulated 'U'

The EU Regulation on IUU fishingThe EU Regulation on IUU fishing

On paper, one of the highest standards worldwide at the On paper, one of the highest standards worldwide at the momentmoment

ScopeScope Port control and denial of port servicesPort control and denial of port services TraceabilityTraceability Transhipments banTranshipments ban SanctionsSanctions Risk managementRisk management Community alert systemCommunity alert system

Supporting regional MCSSupporting regional MCS

2006 Witnessing the plunder2006 Witnessing the plunder

Some examples from West Africa Some examples from West Africa gathered at-seagathered at-sea

Fish boxes unloaded from the reefer Elpis, Las Palmas, 17/03/2006

IUU fishing by the EU fleetIUU fishing by the EU fleet More political will from Member States will be requiredMore political will from Member States will be required The bluefin tuna fishery provides examples of The bluefin tuna fishery provides examples of

extremely weak measures against IUU fishingextremely weak measures against IUU fishing Enforcement lies with the Member StatesEnforcement lies with the Member States

The spotter plane I-GEMK while overflowing the Ligny Primo, Maria Antonietta and Luca Maria on 14 June 2007

The Ligny Primo together with the Luigi Padre at Valetta on 16 May 2007

The Ligny Primo and the Luca Maria overflown by spotter plane I-GEMK on 14 June 2007

The spotter plane I-GEMK at Lampedusa airport on 19 June 2007

EU ports... hopefully in the pastEU ports... hopefully in the past

Dealing with nationals: little progressDealing with nationals: little progress Dealt with at the Member States levelDealt with at the Member States level Need to involve Departments other than purely fisheriesNeed to involve Departments other than purely fisheries Transparency and access to informationTransparency and access to information

The case of Vidal ArmadoresThe case of Vidal Armadores

Operating in the Southern Ocean in the late 90'sOperating in the Southern Ocean in the late 90's The Camouco – Arvisa I – EternalThe Camouco – Arvisa I – Eternal The hot pursuit of the Viarsa IThe hot pursuit of the Viarsa I Still operating a fleet todayStill operating a fleet today

Vidal ArmadoresVidal Armadores

A network of legal A network of legal and illegal vesselsand illegal vessels

The Paloma VThe Paloma V

A joint venture in NamibiaA joint venture in Namibia International network of International network of

companiescompanies Clear links back to Spain... Clear links back to Spain...

no action so farno action so far

The GalaeciaThe Galaecia

Spanish nationals Spanish nationals involved... no involved... no action so faraction so far

The GalaeciaThe Galaecia

Complaints at CCMLAR Complaints at CCMLAR about a license for about a license for experimental fishingexperimental fishing

Solved by moving the Solved by moving the ship to the IOTC area in ship to the IOTC area in 2006 and 20072006 and 2007

Vidal ArmadoresVidal Armadores

A charter agreement was negotiated for the company in the A charter agreement was negotiated for the company in the ICCAT Convention Area in 2008ICCAT Convention Area in 2008

Give back the money!Give back the money!

In summaryIn summary

The EU IUU Regulation has possibility to greatly strengthen the fight The EU IUU Regulation has possibility to greatly strengthen the fight against IUU fishingagainst IUU fishing

Implementation not yet completed: regular checks and assessments of Implementation not yet completed: regular checks and assessments of standards and monitoring of practical application are needed - the standards and monitoring of practical application are needed - the devil is in the detaildevil is in the detail

Regional cooperation between developing States should be supportedRegional cooperation between developing States should be supported EU IUU activities should be appropriately sanctioned, at sea EU IUU activities should be appropriately sanctioned, at sea

monitoring needs to be improved and loopholes must be closed monitoring needs to be improved and loopholes must be closed (adoption of Control Regulation)(adoption of Control Regulation)

Very little has been done yet in relation to EU nationals involved in IUU Very little has been done yet in relation to EU nationals involved in IUU fishingfishing

Some next stepsSome next steps

Completion and ratification of the PSACompletion and ratification of the PSA Global record of fishing and fishing related vesselsGlobal record of fishing and fishing related vessels Assessment of flag State performanceAssessment of flag State performance Serious actions against nationalsSerious actions against nationals ADDRESS OVERCAPACITY!ADDRESS OVERCAPACITY!