On 17 December 2020, Oceana hosted an online workshop with the purpose of discussing progress made by the marine insurance industry in adopting best practices to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing — a devastating practice that is damaging the health of the ocean worldwide. Insurance companies can play a key role in helping … Read more
IHS Markit’s extensive Sea-web database now highlights vessels with ties to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing This advancement was facilitated through a collaboration between IHS Markit and the non-profit organisations Oceana and Trygg Mat Tracking (TMT) Effective January, leading global business information provider IHS Markit will add information on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing … Read more
Since 2003, the GFCM has designated 6 Fisheries Restricted Areas (FRAs) in its area of competence. However, the Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) of these critically important areas for the conservation of fisheries resources has been challenging and uneven. The lack of transparency and information concerning vessels authorised to fish inside these areas has undermined … Read more
Preventing public disclosure of information is a major impediment to achieving sustainable fisheries management and stringent fisheries enforcement. This problem is characterised by a lack of information on important elements of who is authorised to fish, where, when, how and what. Disclosure of information on the beneficial ownership of fishing vessels, and records of non-compliance … Read more
In 2017, the MedFish4Ever Ministerial Declaration was adopted by 16 countries and the European Union. It contained a forward-thinking commitment, not seen anywhere else, to protect Essential Fish Habitats (EFH) in the Mediterranean Sea and support fish stock rebuilding. This commitment was later translated into a GCM decision to create a network of Mediterranean EFs … Read more
A new paper, commissioned by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, outlines key actions that can be taken by public and private sectors to transition towards a sustainable ocean economy. Highlighted among these actions, is the need to stop insuring and financing non-compliant activities that are significantly harmful, such as illegal, unreported … Read more
The paper dives into examples of investment opportunities in an effort to illustrate how a green recovery for the oceans is possible, for instance by: Actively restoring marine ecosystems, such as rebuilding oyster reefs and fish passages in coastal dams — This can stimulate economic activities in sectors such as marine construction while increasing fish … Read more
Import control schemes have been adopted by some market States and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) to monitor seafood imports and curb illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. These import controls can take the form of Catch Documentation Schemes (CDS), where information on a consignment is recorded throughout the supply chain. However, other types of … Read more
On 16-17 December, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the EU (“Agrifish”) will decide on fishing limits in EU Atlantic waters and the North Sea for 2020. For the first time, measures will be approved for Western Mediterranean waters as well. Oceana urges ministers to meet this final extension of the legal deadline to stop … Read more
We call on decision-makers to support the Commission’s proposal to: · Introduce Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) requirements to enable fully documented fisheries (Article 1(23) of the proposal); · Allow for a better implementation of the enforcement provisions of the Control Regulation (Article 1 (69), Annexes III and IV); · Mandate the use of tracking devices … 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.
