The People's Republic of China and the EU have agreed to establish a working group to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing following a meeting in Beijing between Qu Dongyu, China’s vice-minister of agriculture, and Karmenu Vella, EU commissioner for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries.
It was also decided the first IUU working group meeting would be held in the first half of 2016.
The Chinese minister declared there was great potential for cooperation on fisheries issues between his country and the EU.
Along with Commissioner Vella, he agreed that the fight against IUU fishing was one of the most important priorities at both bilateral and multilateral level and underlined the need for all countries to fulfill their international obligations as flag, coastal, port or market states.
Both sides reaffirmed their will to enhance better science, enforcement and governance of the Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs).
Ahead of his visit to China, Vella said, "Global environmental and maritime challenges cannot be tackled by Europe alone. As two of the world’s biggest economies, the EU and China's role is fundamental to ensuring a greener future. Their work in shaping ocean governance, developing resource efficient and circular green economies can deliver growth, jobs and a safer environment.”
During his visit, the commissioner also met Zhang Jianlong, minister of state forestry administration; Chen Jining, minister of environmental protection; Chen Lei, minister of water resources and Wang Hong, minister state oceanic administration. He also addressed students at the Dalian Maritime University.
