The new National Security Memorandum (NSM) issued by US President Joe Biden to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and related harmful fishing practices is a step in the right direction but more action is needed, insists international ocean conservation organisation Oceana.
Biden’s NSM on IUU fishing, which coincides with the United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, calls for a cross-agency approach to tackle IUU fishing, forced labour, and other human rights abuses in the seafood supply chain.
The memorandum directs government agencies to use the full range of existing conservation, labour, trade, economic, diplomatic, law enforcement, and national security authorities to address the problem of IUU fishing and associated labour abuses.
In a statement, Oceana Vice-President for the US Beth Lowell said President Biden is taking steps forward in the fight against IUU fishing and associated labour abuses, with the memorandum signifying “real progress” in pulling together the full force of the US government, but that more still needs to be done.
“The memorandum directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to expand the Seafood Import Monitoring Program to include some additional species, but it falls short from requiring the programme to apply to all seafood imports, which is key to stopping illegal products from entering the US market,” she said.
“Until the United States holds all seafood imports to the same standards as US-caught fish, illegally sourced seafood will continue to be sold alongside legal catch.”
According to Oceana, up to 85% of the fish consumed in the US is imported. It also highlighted that a report by the International Trade Commission found that the country imported $2.4 billion worth of seafood derived from IUU fishing in 2019.
Meanwhile, among findings from a 2021 nationwide poll conducted by Oceana were that 89% of voters agreed that imported seafood should be held to the same standards as US caught seafood, and 81% said they support policies that prevent seafood that was caught using human trafficking and slave labour from being sold in the US.
Additionally, 83% agreed that all seafood should be traceable from the fishing boat to the dinner plate, and 77% supported requirements for all fishing vessels to be publicly trackable.
Oceana said these findings show widespread bipartisan support for policies aimed at increasing transparency and seafood traceability to ensure that all seafood is safe, legally caught, responsibly sourced, and honestly labelled.
