Press Release: EU supports Indian Ocean countries’ fight against illegal fishing in the region

The European Commission, on behalf of the Union, has entered into a partnership with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) to fight Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fisheries in the region. At a meeting, held in the Seychelles on 23-24 January 2007, the two Parties signed a framework partnership agreement that launches a regional plan for fisheries surveillance in the southwest Indian Ocean. Furthermore, the EU will fund an initial project under this plan to the tune of €7 million covering the first three years (2007-2010).