The Baltic Sea RAC concludes that the two-day conference on Control and Compliance in Copenhagen was successful, and among other things made Baltic sea Fisheries ministers commit to combat IUU fishing.
All EU countries in the Baltic Sea area agree to combat illegal and unreported fishing
A draft action plan for the sectors involved in activities related to fishing in the Baltic Sea area to combat illegal and unreported fishing activities was the outcome of a two day conference held in Copenhagen this week.
The conference was initiated by the Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council (BSRAC) which is made up of fishing sector interests and other stakeholder groups.
People and organisations with an interest in the subject were invited. Ministers and senior officials from the eight Baltic Sea member states and the EU Commission were among the 150 participants. There was a agreement that illegal or unreported fishing activities are a major threat to a sustainable cod stock in the Baltic Sea. It was also stressed that those who break the rules steal from those who obey them.
The conference heard presentations from the catching and processing sector, scientists, economists and environmentalists and the participants engaged in a lively and constructive debate.
The conference identified how the various stakeholders involved in the Baltic Sea cod fisheries might influence or take action that reduces the problem of unreported and illegal fishing. While it was not possible to gain consensus on all the points, a list of actions was produced, among the key points were:
- Fishermen and scientists to work closer together.
- Improvements in the traceability of the Baltic Sea cod.
- Make more publicly available information on unreported and illegal fishing activities.
At the end of Day 1 of the conference the Danish Fisheries Minister convened a meeting of all the Baltic Sea Member States. Joe Borg, the Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, was also present. The meeting produced a signed declaration committing Member States to among other things:
– strengthen cooperation on control and enforcement, and
– adjust fishing capacity to suit the cod resource.
Reine J. Johansson, who is the chairman of the BSRAC, regards the outcome of the conference as very satisfactory. “The combat against illegal fishing activities is crucial for the success of a new multiannual management plan for cod in the Baltic. It is also an important outcome that the ministers now commit themselves to act against the unreported cod fishery,” he says.