EU, U.S. fight to reel in illegal fishing

EU, U.S. fight to reel in illegal fishing    The European Union and United States on Wednesday entered an agreement pledging bilateral cooperation to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
   “IUU fishing is a criminal activity, and we have the duty to make everything possible to stop this practice,” said EU Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki, in a statement. “Today’s agreement will do just that. By joining forces, we make it harder for culprits to get away with their dirty business.”
   “International cooperation across oceans will help us strengthen enforcement and prevent legal fishing industries from being undermined in the global marketplace by illegal fishing,” added Jane Lubchenco, U.S. undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) administrator.
   The European Union and United States rank first and third, respectively, as the world's top seafood importers (Japan is second), and have agreed that the seafood they import will not be caught illegally. Globally, illegal fishing deprives legal fishermen and coastal communities of up to $23 billion of seafood and seafood products annually.
   The EU and the United States have already put in place a number of legal measures to combat illegal fishing, such as the EU’s IUU Regulation and the U.S. High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act. Both actively participate in international fishery management organizations and promote international instruments to address IUU fishing.
   Wednesday's agreement commits the European Union and United States to work together to adopt the most effective tools to combat illegal fishing. It commits them to continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of management measures in their role as parties to regional fishery management organizations and to various international treaties, and commits them to using tools that prevent illegal operators from benefiting economically from their illegal activities.
   The new agreement includes:
   ' A system to exchange information on illegal fishing activities.
   ' Promotes management measures at regional fishery management organizations that strengthen the control, monitoring and enforcement of vessels operation within certain areas.
   ' Encourages other countries to ratify and implement the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's Committee on Fisheries' Port State Measures Agreement.
   ' Promotes the sustainable use of fisheries resources while preserving marine biodiversity.