Europêche responds to IUU accusations

European fishing association Europêche has joined the war of words with China over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing off the coast of Africa, speaking out in support of ongoing sustainable fishing partnership agreements (SFPAs) for EU vessels.

“There have been disturbing reports about IUU fishing off the coast of Africa in recent weeks, which is something our organization and members stand against,” said Kathryn Stack, managing director at Europêche. “SFPAs are important in raising our standards in terms of fishing and thereby helping promote higher standards for all fishing off the coast of Africa, thereby protecting both the environment and African fishermen.”

The exchange began with environmental activist group Greenpeace, which issued a report on 21 May alleging it had witnessed “at least 74 vessels” engaged in 82 separate cases of IUU fishing, all off the coasts of Senegal, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Ghana.

The group specifically called out China as a culprit. In one 26-day period in Guinean waters, the group claimed it witnessed 12 vessels owned by Chinese companies or flying the Chinese flag engaged in IUU fishing activities.

Shortly afterward, an article appeared in China in the state-run Pengpai News with its own accusations. While the article appeared to be in response to Greenpeace, it only mentioned an “international environmental protection organization” that had been quoted extensively in African media. The Pengpai article took aim at the EU, not Greenpeace, alleging EU fishermen have been illegally fishing in African waters for years, and accusing the governments of European nations of using their navies to enforce IUU fishing by EU vessels. The article also claimed IUU fishing indirectly gave rise to piracy in the waters off the coast of countries such as Somalia.

Europêche’s statement, released yesterday, did not mention the Pengpai News article, but spoke at length on the SPFAs in place between the EU and African nations. Europêche said only about 400 vessels fish off the coast of Africa. “This is less than 1 percent of the EU fleet.”

Europêche also said SFPAs include provisions preventing EU fishermen from interfering with local artisanal fishing. The EU also provides financial assistance to African countries to assist local fishing sectors in exchange for the fishing rights.

“Europêche members have good relationships with our partners in Africa. By entering into SFPAs we can ensure that both partner countries and their citizens get a fair deal as part of our fishing in Africa,” Stack said.

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