The IUU fishing vessel Taruman held 143 tons of illegally harvested Patagonian toothfish (Chilean sea bass).
Download here. (Credit: Australian Customs Service)
Today, the Presidential Task Force on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud, co-chaired by the Departments of State and Commerce, released its recommendations to the President for a comprehensive framework to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud. The recommendations include input from various stakeholders and aim to level the playing field for legitimate fishermen, increase consumer confidence in the sustainability of seafood sold in the U.S., and ensure the vitality of marine fish stocks. The public will have an opportunity to review on implementation of these recommendations.
The recommendations released today include:
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International: Work with international governments, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, and others to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud at the international level.
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Enforcement: Strengthen enforcement tools to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud.
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Partnerships: Create and expand partnerships with U.S. state and local governments, industry, and non-governmental organizations to identify and eliminate seafood fraud and IUU seafood in U.S. commerce.
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Traceability: Create a risk-based traceability plan to track seafood from harvest to entry into U.S. business to prevent entry of illegal product into the supply chain and better inform retailers and consumers.
"The U.S. is a global leader on sustainable seafood, and the seafood industry is an incredibly important sector in our nation's economy," said Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the Department of Commerce. "We have made tremendous strides in combating IUU fishing and seafood fraud, and the Task Force's recommendations will build on these successes, and serve as an important tool as we strive to level the playing field for legitimate fishermen."
According to NOAA, in 2013, U.S. fishermen landed 9.9 billion pounds of fish and shellfish worth $5.5 billion. Globally, IUU fishing causes estimated losses of $10-$23 billion annually, fueling trafficking operations while undermining economic opportunities for U.S. fishermen and others engaged in legal fishing.
"Seafood is one the most traded commodities in the world. Consumers should be able to have confidence their seafood was legally and sustainably harvested," said Catherine Novelli, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. "The Task Force submitted strong recommendations to President Obama designed to stop the trade of illegal fish and promote the sale of sustainable seafood. IUU fishers gain an unfair advantage in the marketplace over law-abiding fishing operations as they do not pay the cost of sustainable production. The U.S. will continue to work with partners around the world to promote the proper management of marine resources for the benefit of future generations."
The recommendations will be accessible for public review and review for 30 days, beginning December 18, 2014, and closing January 20, 2015. Specifically, the Task Force is requesting review on how to implement these recommendations. More information can be found here. Based on comments received, the Task Force will develop an action project for these recommendations to be released in early 2015.
NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and our other social media channels.
The Department of State leads the United States' international engagement on fishing and other ocean issues. To learn more, join the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs on Facebook and Twitter.
