The first illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing awareness day will take place globally on 5 June.
The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) said that the day will promote awareness of the need to combat IUU fishing, which it has included it among the five targets of the Mid-term strategy (2017–2020) towards the sustainability of Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries.
“We are extremely pleased to now have such an important arena to raise awareness about IUU fishing and its devastating consequences,” said Abdellah Srour, GFCM executive secretary. “We are confident that observing this international day will help strengthen efforts and collaborations in support of our mandate, which is to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine living resources,” he added.
IUU fishing activities seriously undermine fisheries management around the world, including in the GFCM area of application comprising the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Globally, it is believed to represent up to 20% of total catches.
The awareness day was officially introduced following a decision by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The date is a significant one as it was on 5 June 2016 that the Port State Measures Agreement officially entered into force as the first international treaty designed to end IUU fishing worldwide.
