Fishy labels: What do we know about the seafood we buy in supermarkets?
Version in French
Campaign: Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing
Who is actually benefiting from Western African fisheries?
In Africa, local communities that depend on fishing for their food security and livelihoods compete with industrial foreign fleets targeting the same fish. After a seven-month collaboration, Financial Times research using data from Oceana unveiled 39 vessels flagged to Gambia, Mauritania, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau. Even if the vessels were flagged to these countries, they had ownership … Read more
Follow The Fish Statement
Version in French
Oceana’s reaction to the appointment of Ursula von der Leyen
In response to the election of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission, Oceana issued the following statement: “Oceana congratulates Ursula von der Leyen on being re-appointed as President of the European Commission. The announcement of a European Oceans Pact is a welcome first step, because a healthy and productive ocean is … Read more
Identifying EU nationals who profit from foreign illegal fishing activities: the importance of beneficial ownership transparency
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a threat to fish stocks, coastal communities and those fishing legally. It also generates significant profits for those who orchestrate systematic and deliberate IUU fishing activities. Being able to identify who profits from fishing activities, in particular those who ultimately own or control a vessel, the “beneficial owner,” … Read more
Enhancing vessel identification in GFCM
Since 2013, when fishing vessels became eligible to apply for International Maritime Organisation (IMO) numbers, these seven-digit identifiers have gained global recognition as an invaluable tool for vessel identification. Unlike call signs, names, flags, or other registration numbers, IMO numbers remain consistent and permanent throughout a vessel’s lifecycle, from construction to dismantling. They need to … Read more
The need for more transparency on ultimate ownership for the GFCM fishing fleet
In this briefing, we present an analysis of the available information on the ultimate ownership of vessels fishing in the GFCM Convention area. We highlight best practices from other RFMOs that disclose beneficial ownership information within their authorized vessel lists. Based on those assessments, we offer recommendations to improve transparency in the GFCM and facilitate … Read more
Call for the Compliance Committee of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean to increase transparency and effectively tackle non-compliance cases and IUU fishing
Ahead of the 17th session of the Compliance Committee (CoC) of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) in Rome, Italy, ClientEarth, Environmental Justice Foundation, Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Nature Conservancy and WWF, who work together to protect the Mediterranean Sea against the impacts of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, are … Read more
