The Spanish Government is committing €250,000 in funding towards the creation of a Global Record of fishing vessels in a bid to help tackle Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Global Record will provide a central database of information on vessels throughout their lifespan, regardless of whether they change names, flags or identification markings. This is expected to drive both transparency and traceability in the global industrial fishing fleet.
Consisting of an international database of industrial fishing vessels, the Global Record will contain each vessel’s unique IMO number, as well as information on its ownership, flag and history.
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) has welcomed Spain’s commitment. Steve Trent, executive director, said: “What might seem an obscure technical tool actually has huge practical use and will bring direct and significant benefits to the marine environment, legitimate fishing operators and coastal communities around the world.”
“We now hope that other countries will step up and provide the additional financial support needed, so that this practical and cost-effective tool can become a reality,” he added.
A Global Record will help countries make informed judgments about whether vessels should be considered high-risk, and whether they should be granted flags, fishing licences and access to port, says the EJF.
It is also expected to be integral to the effective implementation of the UN’s Port State Measures Agreement, by supplying port officials with verified vessel information that they can use to guide inspections.
There is also increasing interest in the Global Record by actors in seafood supply chains, many of whom are increasingly taking steps to verify the identities and activities of boats supplying them with fish, in order to ensure they have not been involved in IUU fishing or the abuse of crews.
The contribution by Spain represents over half of the annual budget of the Global Record, which is estimated at €500,000. Spain will also join the Global Record’s Advisory Committee, giving Spanish authorities an important roles in guiding the project’s progress and providing input on technical issues associated with its development.
