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
In the EU, one of the largest consumers of fish in the world, it remains difficult for buyers to know which seafood products are harvested sustainably. Most of the seafood products on the EU market come from wild-fisheries (75%) and the rest, from aquaculture. 1 Almost 70% of the EU fish supply comes from imports … Read more
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
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
IUU fishing constitutes one of the most serious threats to the sustainability of fisheries and to marine biodiversity and ecosystems. It directly contributes to overfishing, undermines coastal communities and food security, and creates unfair competition for fishers operating legally, stealing income of billions of dollars from low income countries around the world. It can also … Read more
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Oceana, Europêche and ANFACOCECOPESCA met with Director-General (DG) Vitcheva on Thursday 4 April 2024 to discuss concerning recent developments in Thailand’s fishing industry and, more broadly, the Union’s policies to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing around the globe. Over the last decade, hard-won reforms have transformed the Thai … Read more
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
In December 2023, Toconao[1] (a Liberian-flagged container ship) lost part of its cargo (including plastic pellets), contaminating the coast of Spain and Portugal and triggering an environmental disaster with potential repercussions for marine biodiversity and fisheries. Despite the severity of the situation, identifying those who ultimately control and benefit most from the activity of this … Read more
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
Illegal fishing is depleting the ocean, and it takes place because it is a profitable business. To effectively address this problem, it is not enough to sanction a fishing vessel or putting a fine on its captain, we must target the economic incentives that fuel such activities. These are businesses that ultimately profit from illegal … Read more
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We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.
Oceana in Europe gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.
