Council and Parliament secure deal to better tackle non-sustainable fishing by third countries

The Council has reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on improved rules to tackle non-sustainable fishing practices allowed by non-EU countries in relation to stocks of common interest.

Overall, the aim is to safeguard the long-term sustainability of shared fish stocks, while also ensuring fair competition for European fishers and protecting EU fishing interests.

Today's agreement gives us stronger tools to tackle non-sustainable fishing practices allowed by third countries and to encourage responsible fishing. Our message is clear: we are determined to safeguard the long-term sustainability of shared fish stocks and protect European fishers from unfair competition.

Jacek Czerniak, Polish State Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development

Clearer rules aimed at promoting sustainable fishing practices

The targeted revision makes the rules for identifying countries allowing non-sustainable fishing practices clearer and more transparent.

Under existing rules, once a country has been identified as allowing non-sustainable fishing practices, the EU can impose restrictions such as import bans. Thanks to the revised regulation, non-EU countries will have a clearer understanding of the circumstances under which their actions could lead to EU penalties.

More specifically, the updated regulation clarifies the notion of 'failure to cooperate' and provides a list of examples of non-cooperative behaviour. Such examples include refusing to consult or to involve all the relevant countries in the consultations.

The text also clarifies that a country can be considered as allowing non-sustainable fishing if, while failing to cooperate, it does not adopt, implement or enforce the necessary measures, including control measures.

Additionally, the new rules clarify that if a third country imposes quotas or discriminatory measures, without due regard to the rights, interests and duties of other countries and the EU, and which lead to the stock being in an unsustainable state, the regulation can be applied.

The co-legislators have also clarified that the measures foreseen in the regulation can be applied in all cases where international cooperation is required, including in the context of a regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO).

Additionally, the Council and the Parliament have agreed that the Commission must update them on developments or actions taken when identifying a country as failing to cooperate or when imposing restrictions on imports.

Enhanced cooperation

Another key objective of the proposal is to improve cooperation with non-EU countries before and after the EU takes action to address non-sustainable fishing practices. The updated rules will ensure a continued dialogue with the third country, as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation, aiming to ensure that the country ceases to allow non-sustainable fishing.

The agreed text clarifies that if the stock falls under an RFMO, the compliance body of that RFMO will deal with the matter, in order to remedy the situation, before the EU takes measures.

A specific deadline of 90 days for third countries to reply to notifications by the EU has also been agreed.

Next steps

The provisional agreement will now need to be confirmed by both institutions before it can be formally adopted.

Background 

Regulation (EU) 1026/2012 sets out a framework for the EU to adopt measures against non-EU countries that allow non-sustainable fishing practices. These measures can include identifying a country as such, as well as imposing restrictions on imports of fish and fishery products from that country.