Global push to block illegal seafood

Released jointly by US, EU and Japanese coalitions, the Fisheries Import Control Scheme Handbook (FICSH) outlines streamlined steps countries can take to keep illegally harvested seafood out of global supply chains.

“There should be no safe harbour for illegal seafood anywhere in the world,” said Dr Max Valentine, Oceana’s illegal fishing and transparency campaign director, who was also a contributor to the handbook.

“These programmes help ensure that the seafood we eat is safe, legally caught, responsibly sourced, and honestly labeled. The United States, along with all major market states, must implement these crucial recommendations so there is no port where IUU fishers will find profit.”

Standardised approach

The handbook recommends a standardised set of 17 key data elements – including vessel name, catch area, species and authorisation to fish – that importers should provide to prove seafood was legally sourced.

Current US rules under the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) require only 12 of these elements and cover less than 40% of all seafood imports, despite the nation importing 94% of the seafood it consumes.

Advocates say stronger import control measures would curb illegal fishing, reduce labour abuses and ensure fair competition for legitimate fishers.

They argue that consistent global standards would close loopholes exploited by criminal operators and protect consumers from fraudulent or unsafe products.

The Fisheries Import Control Scheme Handbook (FICSH) has been jointly produced by Oceana, the US IUU Fishing and Labor Rights Coalition, the European Union (EU) IUU Fishing Coalition and the IUU Forum Japan.