On the 13th September, the European Commission proposed a revision of the EU tools designed to address unsustainable fishing practices by non-EU countries on fish stocks of common interest.
The announcement stated the revision will “make the current tools more effective and reinforce the good governance and sustainability of our ocean”.
The Commission’s proposal is to amend Regulation (EU) 1026/2012 to clarify the conditions needed to identify a country allowing non-sustainable fishing practices on fish stocks of common interest. Countries identified as such can ultimately be sanctioned by EU restrictive measures, including import bans.
Fair competition
The aim of the amendments is to address the long-term sustainability of shared fish stocks in a non-discriminatory manner, in that it will tackle overfishing and work to ensure fair competition between operators in the EU and in non-EU countries that will preserve future fish populations.
The proposed changes aim to strengthen regulation with clearer guidelines for triggering sanctions, ensuring non-EU countries understand conditions for penalties on unsustainable fishing.
Credit: Image Ocean Bank
Next steps
The proposal has been passed to the European Parliament and the Council, who will now discuss it under the ordinary legislative procedure.
Background
Regulation (EU) 1026/2012 allows the Commission to adopt restrictive measures against non-EU countries allowing non-sustainable fishing, ensuring the long-term conservation of fish stocks of common interest to the Union and non-EU countries.
These measures can include identifying a country as allowing non-sustainable fishing and imposing quantitative restrictions on imports of fish from the stock of common interest caught under the control of that country, and on imports of fishery products made of or containing such fish.
The objective of the proposal is to improve the clarity and legal certainty of the current legislation in line with EU international obligations.
More information