IUU fishing Regulation
The Regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing was adopted on 29 September 2008 and entered into force on 1 January 2010. As one of the central pillars of the Community's fisheries control policy, the IUU Regulation will control all landings and transhipments of third-country fishing vessels in Community ports and all trade of marine fishery products to and from the Union.
The IUU Regulation aims to combat illegal fishing by making sure that none of its products end up on the Community market. To do so, the Regulation sets up a catch certification scheme ensuring the full traceability of all marine fishery products traded from and into the Community. In addition to the certification scheme, the Regulation also addresses the issues of port state control and of mutual assistance. Moreover it introduces a Community alert system to detect the most suspect cases of illegal practices, the vessels involved and any non-cooperating third countries. Proper enforcement will be ensured thanks to a harmonised system of proportionate and deterring sanctions for serious infringements.
The new implementing rules provide the legal and technical framework for the implementation of the IUU Regulation. They cover the access to designated Community ports by third-country fishing vessels and inspection. They also address catches by small fishing vessels and deal with the recognition of some catch documentation schemes adopted by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations. Imports of marine fishery products arriving to the Community by plane, rail or road and approved economic operators are dealt with, as are verifications of catch certificates, cooperation with third countries, sightings, mutual assistance and amendments to Annex I of the IUU Regulation.
The Regulation was adopted on 29 September 2008 to combat the escalation of illegal fishing and to complement the yet insufficient counter measures taken at regional and international level.
