China’s moratoriums on fishing do ‘nothing to protect squid’
July, 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 41,000 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.
The European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council agreed a new law that requires all European Union (EU) fishing vessels, including 41,000 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.
July, 2023
Philippines Requires Commercial Fishing Vessels to Install Monitoring Devices
President Marcos of the Philippines issued a memorandum directing the Fisheries Bureau to implement vessel monitoring rules and install devices to track location, speed, and catch in all commercial fishing vessels greater than 3.1 GT in the country. This rule, which follows significant campaigning by Oceana and our allies, will help prevent and deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which accounts for up to 40% of the fish caught in the Philippines. Additionally, requiring tracking devices will help deter commercial fishing vessel encroachment into municipal waters that are reserved for artisanal fishers. Such encroachment has resulted in overfishing, habitat destruction, and fish stock depletion, which threatens coastal communities and artisanal fishers, who rely on a healthy ocean for food security and to support their livelihoods.
President Marcos of the Philippines issued a memorandum directing the Fisheries Bureau to implement vessel monitoring rules and install devices to track location, speed, and catch in all commercial fishing vessels greater than 3.1 GT in the country. This rule, which follows significant campaigning by Oceana and our allies, will help prevent and deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which accounts for up to 40% of the fish caught in the Philippines. Additionally, requiring tracking devices will help deter commercial fishing vessel encroachment into municipal waters that are reserved for artisanal fishers. Such encroachment has resulted in overfishing, habitat destruction, and fish stock depletion, which threatens coastal communities and artisanal fishers, who rely on a healthy ocean for food security and to support their livelihoods.
June, 2023
Public Database in the Philippines Increases Transparency at Sea
The Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources officially launched the Fisheries National Administrative Register, a free database that features information on Philippines-flagged commercial fishing vessels with previous violations under the country’s amended Fisheries Code. The register also includes information on foreign-flagged vessels involved in poaching in Philippines waters, including the penalties previously imposed. Oceana’s campaigning was key to ensuring this register was published and made publicly available. Public information is a key factor in deterring illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and promoting transparency at sea.
The Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources officially launched the Fisheries National Administrative Register, a free database that features information on Philippines-flagged commercial fishing vessels with previous violations under the country’s amended Fisheries Code. The register also includes information on foreign-flagged vessels involved in poaching in Philippines waters, including the penalties previously imposed. Oceana’s campaigning was key to ensuring this register was published and made publicly available. Public information is a key factor in deterring illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and promoting transparency at sea.
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