The EU should step up the fight against illegal fishing in international waters to overcome unfair competition from China says PECH Committee. Photo: penguin-news.com
- Response to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) requires more political action
- Stricter traceability for imported products
- Protection of fisheries resources at global level and respect for human rights
The EU should step up its fight against IUU fishing in international waters and work for a more robust traceability system, defend MEPs on the Fisheries Committee.
Concerned about the reports from governments and non-governmental organisations connecting IUU fishing to vessels with a Chinese flag, members on the Committee on Fisheries stress that the Commission should stop the use of flags of convenience and improve the systems used to identify vessels engaged in IUU fishing.
With this in mind, MEPs also propose that EU countries should apply EU law on traceability and reporting of catches more effectively, provide information on products caught by Chinese vessels entering the EU market as well as harmonise customs and port controls of imported products.
Fisheries Committee members also ask the Commission to implement a traceability system in cooperation with China, while assessing the results of the initiative for a blue partnership.
Protecting fish stocks
Deploring the lack of transparency and reliable data on China’s distant-water fleet, catches, subsidies and agreements with third countries, MEPs stress that Chinese fishing operations deplete natural resources, even weakening the positive results to which the EU-fleet has contributed. They therefore request a scientific assessment on the level of exploitation of resources.
In addition, and noting the increase in Chinese exports to the EU, MEPs request that the Commission ensure a rapid, uniform and global implementation of the CATCH IT system, when it becomes mandatory in the block.
Labour and human rights abuses
Deeply concerned about information regarding inhumane working conditions on board Chinese vessels, MEPs urge the EU to increase cooperation with the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan and other countries to urge China to make progress on this matter as well as tackling IUU fishing.
This own-initiative report was approved by unanimity (22 votes). It is now going to be tabled for debate and validation in one of the next plenary meetings.
China has a total of 564 000 vessels, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Although it is being scaled down, it is the world’s largest fishing fleet, probably in distant-waters as well. In 2019, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs reported that there were 2700 vessels operating in distant-waters.
The amount of catches of the distant-water fleet is also uncertain, but the EP study on the “Role and Impact of China on world fisheries and aquaculture”, shows that it ranges between 30% and 25% of the total Chinese catch. Given its size and global presence, the record of IUU fishing of the Chinese fleet – the worst overall score out of 152 countries in 2019 and in 2022 – is a matter of concern to the Fisheries Committee.
Source: Press Release
