Since 2003, Oceana has achieved dozens of concrete policy victories for marine life and habitats in Europe. From stopping bottom trawling in sensitive habitat areas to protecting sea turtles from commercial fishing gear, our victories represent a new hope for the world's oceans.
December 14, 2023
Spain Sanctions 25 Fishing Vessels for Disabling Public Tracking Devices
The Government of Spain sanctioned 25 Spanish-flagged fishing vessels for repeatedly disabling their automatic identification system (AIS). The sanctions, with fines of up to €60,000 (US$65,000), are a direct result of Oceana’s analysis and close collaboration with the Spanish administration. Oceana found the sanctioned vessels appeared to be fishing near Argentinian waters between 2018 and 2021 with their AIS trackers turned off. These vessels spent nearly twice as much time with AIS devices off as they did visibly fishing.
Vessels are known to turn off their AIS trackers to avoid being seen, possibly to engage in fishing that is not authorized. Broadcasting AIS vessel location data is required by Spain and the European Union to guarantee safety at sea.
Mediterranean Countries Can Now Penalize States who Fail to Tackle Overfishing and Illegal Fishing
The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) created a sanction system that will allow it to penalize states that fail to tackle overfishing or illegal fishing by their fleets. This action, which is the result of campaigning by Oceana and its allies, is essential to restoring fish populations in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the most overfished seas on Earth. Starting in 2025, the GFCM will be able to sanction countries that fail to take action when their trawl fleets fish in no-trawl areas, or if they fail to follow rules on fishing gear or catch restrictions. These penalties can include restricting fishing authorizations or reducing the allowed fishing days at sea. Prior to the GFCM’s decision, Oceana, ClientEarth, and the Environmental Justice Foundation prepared a legal analysis, which found that the GFCM could establish such a system. Oceana continues to urge Mediterranean countries to follow through on their commitments and restore fish populations and ecosystems.
June 27, 2023
EU Requires Tracking Systems for All Its Fishing Vessels
The European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council agreed a new law that requires all European Union (EU) fishing vessels, including 49,000 small-scale vessels, to install and use tracking systems by 2030 at the latest. Tracking systems have numerous benefits for the ocean, including promoting sustainable fisheries by increasing transparency about fishing activities. Simultaneously, they empower fishers by involving them in fisheries management, and they enable rapid emergency response in the case of safety issues at sea. The law also requires more transparency from EU countries, which must now disclose national enforcement actions, including the annual number of infringements detected and sanctions imposed. They must also set up a digital traceability system to provide key information (species and origin) to authorities for all seafood products on the EU market. This law, which follows campaigning by Oceana and our allies, will enhance transparency, optimize fishing efficiency, and help combat illegal fishing.
European Commission Releases Public Database Disclosing Activities of EU Vessels Fishing Outside of EU Waters
Following campaigning by Oceana and its allies, the European Commission released a public database that allows anyone to search for information about EU-flagged vessels authorized to fish outside of European Union (EU) waters. As a measure to increase transparency, the database publishes information on each vessel, including: what waters it is authorized to fish outside of the EU and for how long; the fishing gear it is allowed to use; and its target species. Prior to this victory, public information about the activities of EU-flagged vessels fishing outside of EU waters was limited or non-existent, allowing these vessels to operate with little scrutiny. Oceana’s campaigning was critical in making this database a reality, which will help shine a light on fishing vessel activity and deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
November 30, 2022
New International Rule Requires Countries to Investigate and Deter Companies from Engaging with Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Vessels
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), an inter-governmental organization that oversees the conservation and management of fishes such as tunas and swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean, adopted a new rule that will prevent companies from providing services, such as insurance, satellite communications, and financial services, to fishing vessels known to be engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the ICCAT regulatory area. The 52 member countries of ICCAT will be required to take effective and deterrent action against citizens and businesses that engage with and support IUU fishing. Campaigning by Oceana in Europe, Brazil, Canada, and the United States, was key to securing this victory. This achievement builds on Oceana’s ongoing campaign to get companies that do business with the fishing sector to avoid supporting illicit fishing activities.
World Leader in Satellite Communications Inmarsat Stops Services to IUU Fishing Vessels
Inmarsat, a large satellite telecommunications company headquartered in London, ended contracts with 13 vessels after analyzing official lists of vessels engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This outcome follows campaigning by Oceana in Europe, after Oceana’s research uncovered evidence that Inmarsat was providing services to IUU fishing vessels. Inmarsat provides services to many fishing vessels around the world and its new integration of IUU fishing lists into its system will help ensure the company does not accept illicit operators as clients in the future. This victory will also make it more difficult for these vessels to access the essential satellite services they depend on to fish.
November 1, 2022
Mediterranean Countries Agree to Mandatory Disclosure of Vessels Allowed to Fish in Restricted Areas
The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), the regional fisheries management organization covering the Mediterranean and Black Sea, will now require countries to disclose key enforcement information for vessels that are allowed to fish in Fisheries Restricted Areas. Member countries of the GFCM must now report key information for these vessels, including their target species, and when and where they are fishing. The GFCM also agreed to publicly list vessels that are authorized to catch overfished deep-sea shrimp and hake in the Strait of Sicily. Both decisions were the direct result of campaigning by Oceana in Europe.
September 1, 2022
Spain Penalizes Fishing Vessels for Turning Off Public Tracking Devices
As a result of data provided by Oceana, the Spanish government fined two of its fishing vessels 20,000 euros each for turning off their public tracking devices (known as automatic identification systems, or AIS) on several occasions while off the coast of West Africa. All EU fishing vessels over 15 meters (50 feet) in length are required to have an AIS device that continuously transmits data on their location, direction, and speed. This information is critical to avoid collisions at sea, while also ensuring transparency in commercial fishing activities. The penalties served as a warning for the fishing industry and set a strong precedent for other EU countries.
March 23, 2022
Norwegian Insurance Company Hydor Ends Coverage of Three Illegal Fishing Vessels
Hydor AS, a Norwegian-based insurance company, ended its contract with a fleet of vessels that were listed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) for illegally fishing across the Atlantic. This decision follows campaigning by Oceana and its ally the Environmental Justice Foundation, who together warned Hydor about its unwitting support of illegal fishing operators. This victory will help to mobilize other companies to fight against illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing, a criminal activity that hurts law-abiding fishers and puts companies at legal, financial, and reputational risk.
November 30, 2021
Major Global Insurance Company AXA XL Introduces Transparency Requirement for Insured Fishing Vessels
Following campaigning by Oceana and our allies, AXA XL, one of the largest international insurers, now requires International Maritime Organization (IMO) numbers for all fishing vessels and refrigerated cargo vessels it insures. IMO numbers are unique identifiers that can be used for monitoring and tracking vessels, and do not change even if a vessel changes ownership, flag, or name — a common tactic used by illegal fishers to avoid detection. By requiring IMO numbers, AXA XL is reducing the risk of insuring vessels engaged in illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing and increasing transparency in the fishing sector. Their decision sets a leading example for other companies to follow, including those outside the insurance sector.
