Boost for African coastal states as EU parliament acts to curb illegal fishing

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Boost for African coastal states as EU parliament acts to curb illegal fishing

Decisive vote for legislative overhaul could deter illegal commercial
operations in African waters that threaten the livelihoods of local
fishing communities

Kyle G Brown
Thursday 2 February 2017 16.55 GMT

The European parliament has voted overwhelmingly to bring in new rules cracking down on illegal fishing, which could help coastal states in heavily fished African waters confront criminal activity.

Thursday’s vote to overhaul Europe’s external fleet legislation could deter commercial operators from encroaching on waters relied upon by local fishing communities.

The new measures include a requirement that vessels that have changed flags must show they were not engaged in illegal fishing for the previous two years. Operators that have been sanctioned for serious infringements over the previous 12 months will not be authorised to fish abroad.

“If implemented properly, this kind of legislation could be a strong deterrent for illegal fishing,” says Per Erik Bergh, of Stop Illegal Fishing and Fish-i Africa, which provides monitoring, control and surveillance support to eight east African countries bordering the Indian Ocean. “These are expensive operations, and denying fishing companies the right to fish, even for a year, could put them out of business altogether.”

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/feb/02/boost-african-coastal-states-eu-parliament-acts-curb-illegal-fishing

[Gustavo.Woltmann]

1. good job

That's very convenient because it effects the sea water as well as the consumers health, but it's a matter of how to monitor the fishers to accuse them and force them to pay the fine for not doing it again.

Thanks & regards,
Gustavo Woltmann