As the NEAFC Annual Meeting ends, the EU Commission believes fisheries face significant challenges in conservation and control
NEAFC Annual Meeting Concludes Amidst Growing Disagreements on Fisheries Conservation and Control
The 43rd annual meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) concluded on Friday, 15 November, with significant challenges emerging in securing consensus among its members. The meeting, which included representatives from the European Union, Denmark (on behalf of the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Russian Federation, grappled with issues of fish stock management, illegal fishing, and compliance with existing regulations.
EU Raises Concerns Over Compliance Failures
For the first time in NEAFC’s history, no compliance report was presented, sparking serious concerns from the European Union. The absence of the report means that serious infringements by some NEAFC parties will not be formally recognised or addressed. Furthermore, violations by other fleets operating within the NEAFC area are unlikely to face sanctions.
The EU expressed particular frustration over the lack of unified action against Russia’s fishing activities. Russian vessels have reportedly engaged in bottom fishing outside designated areas, contravening NEAFC recommendations designed to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems. Despite EU calls for enforcement action, no other parties joined in urging Russia to halt these activities.
Pushback Against Non-Contracting Parties
The EU opposed granting cooperating non-contracting party status to Panama and the Bahamas, citing detected infringements and inadequate enforcement measures. Additionally, the EU proposed adding vessels from these nations to the NEAFC illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing list.
Despite disagreements, NEAFC adopted several recommendations aimed at conserving fish stocks in the North-East Atlantic:
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Catch Limits for Key Species: Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for mackerel, blue whiting, and Atlanto-Scandian herring were set based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). However, the EU criticised the lack of comprehensive sharing arrangements for Atlanto-Scandian herring.
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Redfish Fisheries Prohibition: Directed fisheries for redfish in the Irminger Sea will remain prohibited from 2025 to 2027. Despite previous bans, Russia has engaged in unsustainable fishing of these stocks. At the EU’s initiative, NEAFC agreed that Russian vessels targeting redfish would lose access to EU ports. The EU urged other NEAFC parties to adopt similar measures.
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Protection of Vulnerable Species: NEAFC implemented measures to protect porbeagle, spurdog, and orange roughy, including catch limits and prohibitions on directed fisheries in certain areas.
Looking Ahead
NEAFC will continue its efforts to implement these measures, aiming to ensure the long-term sustainability of fish stocks and marine ecosystems. The EU pledged to push for greater compliance and cooperation among NEAFC members. Decisions on the status of cooperating non-contracting parties and updates to the IUU list are expected in the first half of 2025.
Background
NEAFC is a regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO) tasked with conserving fishery resources in the North-East Atlantic. Its contracting parties include the EU, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, the UK, and Russia. The EU, represented by the European Commission, actively participates in 18 RFMOs globally, underscoring its commitment to sustainable fisheries management.
The meeting highlighted the significant challenges facing the region’s fisheries, including conservation, regulatory compliance, and effective control of fishing activities. The EU’s call for decisive action and its critique of NEAFC’s handling of compliance underscore the urgency of addressing these issues in the years ahead.
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