NGOs urge the European Commission to end the use of ‘flags of convenience’ in fisheries
Press Release Date: February 10, 2026
Location: Madrid
Contact:
Irene Campmany | email: icampmany@oceana.org | tel.: +34 682 622 245
New European Commission study reveals how secret vessel ownership undermines the fight against illegal fishing
Each fishing vessel must be registered in a country, and ‘flies its flag’. A new study by the European Commission confirms that EU fishing companies flag their vessels to countries with minimal disclosure requirements on vessel information and beneficial ownership structures, making them ideal for concealing illegal and unsustainable fishing activities. This practice is closely associated with Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, environmental harm, weak human rights, and a diverse range of criminal activities, including money laundering. In response, NGOs – the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Oceana, and The Pew Charitable Trusts call on the Commission to close legal loopholes in EU fisheries policies and ensure full transparency of vessel ownership.
The study highlights how opaque ownership structures and weak oversight by using flags of convenience, allow fishing vessel operators to evade rules, hide their identities, and exploit weak governance and enforcement by frequently changing flags to continue illegal or unsustainable fishing practices. The considerable success of the EU’s world leading regulatory framework in tackling IUU fishing is undermined by the use of these flags of convenience. This weakens sustainable fisheries management and harms the livelihoods of coastal communities dependent on marine resources.
“The European Commission report shows that flags of convenience, also called flags of non-compliance, are directly linked with illegal fishing and represent a threat to fisheries sustainability and to the objectives of the EU Ocean Pact. The message is clear: the era of hidden owners and use of irresponsible flags must end. This study gives the Commission the evidence it needs to act. Now it is time to deliver” says Illegal Fishing and Transparency campaign director at Oceana, Vanya Vulperhorst.
“Acting as a responsible flag State in overseeing the registration, authorisation and operation of their fishing fleets underpins all international commitments and obligations for fishing, be it in national waters or on the high seas. States that facilitate flags of non-compliance, whether by default or by design, help to enable unscrupulous operators to systematically engage in and profit from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing globally. The report shows some simple steps by which all countries can help tighten the net,” says Peter Horn, International Fisheries project director with The Pew Charitable Trusts.
“Flags of convenience are an open invitation to those responsible for illegal fishing, human rights abuses and environmental destruction. The EU has the evidence, the tools and the power to act. Ahead of the Our Ocean Conference, the European Commission and Member States must close these loopholes, guarantee full transparency of vessel ownership and commit to the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency” states Steve Trent, CEO and Founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation.
To stop these abuses, the European Commission must require Member States to collect and share information on foreign vessels owned by EU nationals. This is key to investigating and sanctioning infringements of EU laws and to better understand who ultimately profits from fishing activities. Ending the use of flags of convenience will ensure those truly responsible for illegal fishing and environmental harm are held accountable.
Notes to the editors
- A flag of non-compliance, often also known as a flag of convenience in the fisheries sector, is when a vessel is registered in a country other than its real owner. This is often done to take advantage of weaker laws, including on labour and crew rights, lower taxes, and minimal oversight. In many cases, this allows the true owners to hide their identity and activities, evade rules, and engage in illegal fishing with a lack of accountability.
- Adopted by the European Commission in June 2025, the European Ocean Pact aims to protect the ocean, promote a thriving blue economy, and support coastal communities. Among its commitments, Action 7 pledges the EU to tackle the use of flags of convenience and ensure full transparency of vessel ownership.
- In a newly released report, Oceana reveals that at least 105 presumed EU‑owned fishing vessels are flagged to 20 countries identified by the EU as non‑cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, issued an EU ‘yellow card’ for failing to address illegal fishing, or designated as flags of convenience by the International Transport Workers’ Federation. These vessels are owned by individuals or companies based in 16 EU Member States—primarily Spain, Portugal, Lithuania, and Sweden—and 33 of them are authorised to export their catch to the EU market. The lack of transparency surrounding EU‑owned vessels operating under flags of convenience, yellow‑carded states, or tax havens creates clear risks of facilitating illegal fishing.
