On the occasion of the International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing (IUU), we would like to highlight the ways EFCA contributes to this key priority for the EU:
- By providing training, which helps Member States fulfil their obligations under the IUU Regulation, raising awareness and providing guidance on technical issues, allowing the exchange of experiences and establishing a network of cooperation.
- Among other measures, IUU Regulation introduced a catch certification scheme for the import of non-EU fisheries products to the EU market. EFCA provides expertise to Member States and the European Commission regarding the practical implementation of this traceability tool.
- The EU funded PESCAO project aims to prevent & eliminate IUU fishing, thus contributing to better fisheries governance and food security in Western Africa. EFCA provides capacity building and shares expertise in control operations gained in the EU context.
- Control technologies are critical to combat IUU fishing. Good examples of this are the use of EFCA Integrated Maritime Services and shared capacities of other EU Agencies, such as Copernicus, as well as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) operations to enhance fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance.
- Finally, the EFCA-chartered Lundy Sentinel is the EU Agency-led fisheries inspection platform that, together with other Member States assets, patrols the oceans and seas ensuring a culture of compliance where no illegal fisheries activities are allowed, both in EU and international waters.
