Pew Environment Group Welcomes European Parliament's Strong Stance on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

Uta Bellion, Director of the EU Marine Programme of the Pew Environment Group issued this statement following today's plenary session of the European Parliament where Members endorsed in a simple vote a report by Marie-Hélène Aubert, Member of the Fisheries Committee, on the European Commission's proposed Council Regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing¹.

"This really is encouraging news. European Fisheries Ministers need to take the recommendations from the Parliament on board and agree to strong and dissuasive measures that will put an end to illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing. The mounting crisis in the fisheries sector is a clear indication that such pirate fishing cannot be tolerated any longer."

Members of the European Parliament today strongly supported Aubert´s report and the European Commission's proposal on IUU fishing. They took a strong stance on some key issues that are currently subject of debate amongst a number of large European fishing and fish importing countries, such as whether to include EU vessels in the scope of the regulation, how to define and harmonize minimum penalties for infringements for all Member States and how to establish a smart EU certification system that would prevent any fish caught through IUU practices to end up on our plate.

The Pew Environment Group urges the Council to take up the advice from the European Parliament and vote at the next meeting on 23-24 of June for strong, effective measures that will affect EU and non-EU vessels in all waters.