The Global Oceans Commission (GOC) has joined the EU Commissioner for Fisheries to launch its ground-breaking report on reversing the decline of the world’s oceans.
The report, The Global Ocean - From Decline to Recovery, gives a range of detailed recommendations including measures to end Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Steve Trent, Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) executive director, said: “This report highlights one of the world’s most pressing problems and contains key solutions that can reverse the decline of the marine environment. I applaud Commissioner Damanaki for hosting the launch of this report. The EU has led by example in the effort to combat illegal fishing, demonstrating that the ideas proposed by the GOC are not only necessary, but achievable.”
The report argues that the current approach to global fisheries management needs immediate and significant reform. It calls on the UN to create a Special Representative for the Ocean.
This position would coordinate the universal adoption of existing measures that are being introduced too slowly, like the Port States Measure Agreement and mandatory unique identifiers for all vessels, and consider new measures like the creation of a High Seas Regeneration Zone.
The Brussels launch of the report coincides with the creation of a new coalition of NGOs working to combat IUU fishing. Supported by the Oceans 5 funders’ collaboration, the coalition will include the EJF, Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts and WWF. The coalition will focus on supporting the continued and improved implementation of the EU’s efforts to prevent illegal fishing.
Read the full report here.
