EU sets IUU deadline for Curaçao, Ghana, Korea

The European Commission is issuing a six-month deadline for three nations — Curaçao, Ghana and Korea — to demonstrate they are taking action against illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.

The commission first warned the three nations in November 2013, citing “a number of specific” legislative problems. The commission acknowledged that all three countries have since changed their laws and regulations, which it called “credible progress,” but set the deadline to make sure the new rules take effect.

Failing to comply at the six-month mark could lead to import bans. The commission issued similar bans to Guinea, Belize and Cambodia in March of this year. The moves are part of a cracking down by the commission on IUU fishing, particularly taking place off the west coast of Africa.

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) praised the commission’s move, claiming that IUU fishing costs billions of US dollars per year, representing as much as 26 million metric tons of catch, much of it from endangered stocks in protected waters.

“This announcement means that the three countries are showing early signs of combating IUU fishing, and that is encouraging,” said Steve Trent, EJF’s executive director. “However, there is still more to be done. In recent months, EJF has provided evidence of IUU fishing in both West and East Africa to Korea. It is now their responsibility as a flag State to rapidly investigate their infractions.”

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