A bottom trawling vessel deck. (Photo: Environmental Justice Foundation)

Report unveils EU's role in illegal seafood market

SIERRA LEONE
Thursday, October 11, 2012, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

A report released this week uncovers how the European Union (EU) and East Asian countries have been facilitating a market for seafood caught illegally in West Africa. The Environmental Justice Foundation’s (EJF) “Exposing Pirate Fishing: The Fight Against Illegal Fishing in West Africa and the EU” follows a two-year investigation and underscores how local fishing communities are fighting back against this illegal trade.
 
EJF found rampant pirate fishing in Sierra Leone and laundering of the illegal catch into the European market via vessels accredited to export fish to the EU.
 
These vessels fished well inside exclusion zones, attacked local fishers, refused to pay fines, covered their identification markings, used banned fishing equipment, transhipped fish illegally at sea, refused to stop for fisheries patrols, bribed enforcement officers, fleed to neighbouring countries to avoid sanctions and committed labour violations.

"As the world's largest importer of fish, the EU has a crucial responsibility to combat IUU fishing around the world," the report said.

West African waters are estimated to have the highest levels of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing anywhere and represent as much as 37 per cent of the region’s catch.

An illegal transhipment at sea. (Photo: EJF)

Key findings of the report include:

• 252 reports of illegal pirate fishing by industrial vessels in inshore areas in an 18-month period;
• Despite the EU Regulation to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU fishing, evidence collected on 10 vessels believed to account for the majority of reports revealed that nine are accredited to export their catches to the EU;
• 90 per cent of vessels documented by EJF in West Africa were destructive bottom trawlers;
• Evidence of extensive use of Flags of Convenience;
• Evidence of increasing volumes of illegal catches being transhipped at sea onto large refrigerated cargo vessels destined for East Asia;
• Photos of physical violence against a local fisher;
• How the proper application of technology such as Vessel Monitoring Systems/GPS units can help combat illegal pirate fishing;
• The important role of local communities in successful sustainable fisheries management.

EJF has been working with local fishers and coastal communities in Sierra Leone since 2010 to document and report illegal fishing. The evidence collected has been used to report illegal activities to the Sierra Leone government, the South Korean government and the EU.
 
EJF’s investigations have led to over USD 500,000 in fines for illegal vessels and ongoing investigations by the EU, South Korea and Panama. The EU is thought to be considering blacklisting the vessels involved.
 
EJF also wants weaknesses in the EU IUU Regulation to be addressed so that illegally caught fish cannot get access to the European seafood market.

Oliver Drewes, spokesman for European Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner Maria Damanaki, said that if the abuses were confirmed, the offending vessels would be banned from exporting to the Union and from European ports, Reuters reports.

By Natalia Real
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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