Strategy against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
The Commission presents a comprehensive strategy to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) which endangers the economy of the fisheries sector, fish stocks and the marine environment. The measures proposed would restrict access to the European Union (EU) market to those fishery products certified compliant with regulations by the flag State or by the export State in question. It also provides for surveillance of activities at sea, identification of IUU operators, improved implementation of legislation in the fisheries field and better application of sanctions in the event of infringements being committed. The initiative falls within the scope of the Community action plan to eradicate IUU fishing adopted in 2002 and follows on from actions carried out internationally (FAO, RFMO).
