The European Union has officially become a member of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC), the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG Mare) has confirmed.
NPFC is a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) that was established in 2015 to ensure the long-term conservation of the stocks and protection of the marine ecosystems of the North Pacific Ocean.
The main target species currently regulated by the NPFC are Pacific saury, chub mackerel, sablefish, Japanese sardine, neon flying squid, Japanese flying squid, as well as some deepsea species.
DG Mare said that through its active participation in the NPFC, the EU will promote the conservation and sustainable management of the marine biological resources managed by the RFMO as well as the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems and species.
It will also contribute to strengthening the governance and existing legal framework of the organisation, promoting better science and effective compliance and enforcement of applicable rules.
With this new membership to the NPFC, the EU has increased its participation to 18 RFMOs and regional fisheries bodies, comprising 13 non-tuna and five tuna RFMOs.
