Everything that we catch counts, so count everything we catch – NGOs call on European Parliament to vote for a strong fisheries Control Regulation

05 March 2021
by WWF -- last modified 05 March 2021

Next Wednesday, 10 March, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will vote in plenary on the future EU fisheries Control Regulation - the rules which govern EU fisheries activities and, ultimately, the sustainability of the seafood available to EU citizens.

The vote marks a pivotal moment in the EU's revision of how its fisheries are managed, and could affirm the EU's role as a global leader in fisheries governance.

Why it matters:

The fisheries Control Regulation is the cornerstone of how fisheries are controlled and monitored in the EU. This helps to ensure seafood is caught in line with the sustainable fishing rules set in the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, with direct benefits for Member States, fishers and citizens, as well as the health of marine ecosystems.

The current revision process of the Regulation offers opportunities to make fisheries management more sustainable, ensure a level playing field among fishers from different EU regions, address the lack of transparency on how the EU fleet is regulated and, as a result, increase profits for the sector. In addition, a strong future Control Regulation is key to stopping illegal fishing activities, which hurt fishers operating within legal boundaries.

The EU Fisheries Control Coalition – The Environmental Justice Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Oceana, Seas At Risk, and WWF, together with ClientEarth, The Fisheries Secretariat, Our Fish and Sciaena – is working to ensure that fisheries management in the EU safeguards ocean health and marine life for generations to come.

What the NGOs are looking for:

• For accurate records of everything the EU fleet catches, including sensitive and protected species, the use of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) must be mandatory. REM is internationally proven to be a reliable, cost-effective and scalable means to support well-managed, accountable and sustainable fishing. To make this a reality, MEPs must vote for onboard cameras to be introduced on a mandatory basis in the EU.
• Dolphins, seabirds, turtles and other sensitive species die by the thousands each year due to incidental capture in EU fishing nets. Fishers are not currently required to record where and when this 'bycatch' takes place. If MEPs are serious about meeting the EU's Biodiversity Strategy targets, they must vote to make it mandatory to report bycatch of unwanted catches, including of protected and sensitive species.
• Knowing the exact amount of fish caught can be difficult at first glance, so fishers have a margin of error for estimating and recording their catches. However, the recent proposal by MEPs on the Fisheries Committee would allow up to 40% of catches to go missing from the records. It is essential that the plenary overrides the proposal and tightens the rules to ensure accurate catch reporting and accountability for sustainable fishing.
• Members of the European Parliament, fishers and civil society have the right to know how shared fisheries resources are managed. However, Member States can currently veto the disclosure of fisheries information without any reason. MEPs must vote to make transparency the rule and secrecy the exception, or else remain in the dark about the true nature of EU fisheries controls.

A robust Control Regulation is essential for sustainable fisheries and healthy marine ecosystems. It will ensure that fisheries activities are fully documented and bring transparency to our seafood supply chains.

WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. The European Policy Office contributes to this by advocating for strong EU environmental policies on sustainable development, nature conservation, climate and energy, marine protection, sustainable finance and external action.

WWF European Policy Office