U.S., EU join forces to fight "pirate fishing"

U.S. and European Union officials announced at a Sept. 8 Newsmaker that they are joining in a global effort to combat "illegal, unreported and unregistered fishing," or "pirate fishing."

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Jane Lubchenco and EU Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki, who later in the day signed a joint statement on the effort, said it was first of its kind in the "longstanding partnership" between the United States and the EU on fisheries management.

Lubchenco said the EU and United States rank first and third as the world's leading seafood importers, with Japan in second place. Globally, pirate fishing "deprives legal fishermen and coastal communities of up to $23 billion of seafood and seafood products annually," she said. "This puts honest fishermen at a disadvantage in the global marketplace."

Illegal fishing is "a criminal activity, and we have the duty to do everything possible to stop (it)," Damanaki said. "Today's agreement will help us do just that. By joining forces, we make it harder for culprits to get away with their dirty business."

Lubchenco, who is also undersecretary of Commerce for oceans and atmosphere, said, "Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is one of the most serious threats to American fishing jobs and fishing communities, as well as to the health of the world's oceans. International cooperation across oceans will help us maintain a level playing field for our fishermen by strengthening enforcement and preventing illegal fishing."

Damanaki and Lubchenco said that individually, the EU and the United States have established several legal measures to combat pirate fishing, among them the U.S. High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act that identifies countries engaged in pirate fishing and an EU regulation that blocks illegal seafood imports without the required certifications.

Both the United States and the EU participate in international fishery management organizations and promote international instruments to address pirate fishing, the officials said.

Lubchenco said the agreement partners "will use all the tools at our disposal to clamp down on (pirate) fishing and prevent illegal seafood from entering our markets. With all the sacrifices U.S. fishermen have made, they deserve no less. The U.S. and the EU share common challenges in fisheries management, so working together will bring us closer to achieving a shared vision of sustainable fisheries."