Last week, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen published mission letters for her incoming cabinet of Commissioners, outlining their priorities. Here its our reaction to the mission letter for EU IUU Fishing Coalition’s Reaction to the Mission Letter for Costas Kadis, Fisheries and Ocean Commissioner Costas Kadis, Fisheries and Ocean Commissioner.
What we like
- Zero tolerance on IUU Fishing: We are pleased to see a continued and clear commitment to fighting illegal fishing, and we would support additional resources being allocated towards the full implementation of new and existing anti-IUU fishing initiatives.
- Focus on implementation: We support the importance given to the implementation of existing regulations, including upholding the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Fisheries Control Regulation.
- Level playing field and protection of EU fisheries: We support this ambition, noting that strong import controls are key to keeping products linked to IUU fishing and forced labour out of the EU, ensuring fair competition and protecting consumers. We also recommend special consideration and support should be given to low income non-EU countries to facilitate the uptake of anti-IUU fishing measures.
- New generation of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPA): We support strengthening the SFPAs to make them more transparent, fair, protect local fishing communities and better linked to fisheries reforms aimed at tackling IUU fishing.
- European Ocean Pact: We are pleased to see a focus in this Pact on a healthy ocean and an inclusive process with all relevant stakeholders, including coastal communities and small-scale fishers.
- Ocean Research & Innovation strategy: We support investing in a better understanding of our seas, including on the ever-increasing impacts of climate change, as well as how technology can support the EU’s ocean policy.
- High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) ratification: We are encouraged to see the EU’s prioritisation of bringing the BBNJ treaty, a historic achievement towards ocean protection, into force.
What concerns us:
- No ocean fund: We are concerned there is no clarity on how the European Ocean Pact will be funded.
- Insufficient coordination between relevant EU agencies: We note a holistic, global approach is essential to protect the ocean and those who rely on it. This includes science-based fisheries management, regulating operations, eliminating harmful subsidies, ensuring vessel safety, and securing decent work conditions. Greater coordination and stronger partnerships between EU agencies are vital to achieve these goals and protect the EU market and consumers.
- Sustainability vs. Competitiveness: Competitiveness is inherently tied to maintaining healthy assets, which can only be ensured through sustainable management. By treating sustainability and competitiveness as mutually reinforcing, we can achieve both objectives, along with other agreed-upon EU goals and targets.
What to watch out for:
- Ocean Governance: We are concerned that separating the portfolio of Environment from the Oceans and Fisheries one, with the two responsible Commissioners working under the guidance of different Vice-Presidents, might sideline, and to a degree isolate, ocean protection and management from the European Green Deal and the other environmental portfolios.
- Evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP): We look forward to participating in this exercise and call on the European Commission to highlight CFP’s strong points, such as EU’s anti-IUU fishing framework, and identify solutions on how to improve its implementation.
- Implementation: We need to see policies turn into real actions. The Commission should demand clear reporting from Member States and prioritise enforcement of existing rules.
We hope to see more focus on a truly sustainable, holistic approach to protecting our oceans.