The main objective of the EU’s Regulation to end IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing is to prevent, deter and eliminate trade of fisheries products originating from IUU fishing activity and entering every year our EU markets. The IUU Regulation is the most ambitious law to fight IUU fishing globally and this year we celebrate the 10th anniversary since its adoption.
How has the EU action against illegal fishing changed our seafood trade flows? And what do these trade patterns tell us?
Ten years after the adoption of the EU IUU Regulation, a new report examines how the EU’s carding system has impacted the flow of seafood products into and within the EU
Source: EJF, Oceana, Pew and WWF. Author: Victoria Mundy
The combination of overfishing and an unprofitable fleet is starting to become a frequent occurrence in the Mediterranean. It may sound contradictory, since logic would seem to dictate that the more you fish, the more you earn, but the reality is that the consequences of reaching a certain level of overfishing has an impact on people.
Research expeditions at Oceana are composed of several elements that help collect, identify and document marine communities living on the ocean floor. One method that covers all of these elements is grab sampling which is typically used during Oceana’s expeditions. Although for a non-scientist, grab sampling can give an impression of “playing with the mud,” it is in fact another way of how we study the sea floor. You would be surprised how rich marine life is here; you could find: shells, worms, sponges, brittle stars, sea urchins and many more.
Yesterday's agreement by EU bodies on a new regulation governing the European Union’s extensive external fishing fleet is a momentous step towards building sustainable fisheries globally and deserves wholehearted praise.