Press Release: The EU’s instrumental in strengthening action against illegal fishing

On 7 March 2001 the European Commission welcomed the international Plan of Action to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, which was adopted by the Committee on Fisheries of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation). From the start, the EU has been one of the most active promoters of the Plan of Action and has been extensively involved in its formulation. In its view, the State has primary responsibility for fisheries activities as flag state, port state and import state. The adopted Plan of Action clarifies these responsibilities and helps to fill a number of loopholes in international law. However, there is also a need to implement existing international legal instruments. In this respect, Mr Fischler, EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries regretted the fact that some EU Member States have still not ratified the 1995 United Nations Agreement on Straddling Stocks, which represents an effective instrument to combat illegal fishing.

http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/OIS/PRESS_NE/PRESSENG/2001/pren0111.htm http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/OIS/PRESS_NE/PRESSENG/2001/pren0111.htm

http://www.fao.org/fi/default.asp http://www.fao.org/fi/default.asp

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