Ocean conservation organization SeaWeb says the recommendations released yesterday from the United States’ Presidential Task Force on Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud will greatly assist the industry and ocean health.
The upcoming Seafood Summit (9 to 11 February 2015 in New Orleans, La., USA) will showcase the work that SeaWeb and its industry, NGO and other partners have been working on for the past several years, according to Dawn M. Martin, SeaWeb president.
“The Presidential Task Force recommendations on IUU fishing and seafood fraud reflect the gravity of the situation and the need for strong measures to bring an end to pirate fishing and this black market enterprise,” said Martin. “The actions described are a great first step and implementation will be a win-win for ocean conservation and the seafood industry.”
The task force has requested public comment within 30 days on how to most effectively implement its recommendations. Its goals making IUU fishing and seafood fraud a diplomatic priority, strengthening enforcement and tools to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud and stablishing a risk-based traceability program to track seafood from harvest to entry into U.S. commerce to prevent entry of illegal product into the supply chain and better inform retailers and consumers, among others.
And perhaps most pertinent to the upcoming SeaWeb Seafood Summit, said Martin, is the recommendation to establish regular forums with the sustainable seafood community to identify and eliminate seafood fraud and IUU seafood.
“As the date of the upcoming Summit draws near, we are heartened by the emphasis placed by the Presidential Task Force on partnerships and the need to regularly bring together seafood stakeholders from all sectors to enhance collaboration in combating IUU fishing, seafood fraud and related activities that jeopardize the health of the ocean,” said Martin.
“Each of the stakeholder groups highlighted in the recommendations—producers, importers, dealers, retailers, processors and nongovernmental organizations—will be together at the SeaWeb Seafood Summit, and the program includes numerous panels on traceability, IUU, human rights, and other aspects addressed by the Task Force. The solution-oriented dialogues that will take place will be among the most effective tools for combating illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing,” Martin continued.
The SeaWeb Seafood Summit will begin with a workshop on 8 February that will focus on traceability and IUU fishing. In addition, the 2015 conference program will feature pre- and post-conference field trips, panel discussions and keynote presentations on:
• The importance of aquaculture in meeting global protein needs;
• Traceability and its impact on seafood value chains;
• Fishery and aquaculture improvement projects (FIPs & AIPs);
• Preventing human rights abuses in seafood supply chains;
• Economic and ecosystem resilience and the role of the seafood industry; and
• Global sustainable fishing challenges and successes.
“We would ask everyone — friends of the ocean, the seafood industry, restaurants, supermarkets, recreational and commercial fishers — anyone who cares about ocean health, food security and human rights, to please let the government know you support their efforts to address Illegal fishing and seafood fraud, and submit your comments on the recommendations,” added Martin.
