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Commercial Fishing

EU WANTS STRICTER TRACEABILITY FOR IMPORTED FISHERY PRODUCTS FROM CHINA

EU WANTS STRICTER TRACEABILITY

EU wants stricter traceability for imported fishery products from China. Parliament calls on China to share more data on the size of its fleet, catches, subsidies and agreements with third countries, to better fight illegal fishing.

With 573 votes to 11 and 30 abstentions, MEPs adopted a resolution on Tuesday, urging China to be more transparent on its distant-waters fleets as well as its third country agreements.

Backing the use of all international tools available to it in the fight against illegal fishing, MEPs want the Commission to launch a catch identification system in cooperation with Chinese authorities.

Protection of EU fleet against unfair trade practices

Noting that China has increased its exports to the EU market, in particular tuna, through autonomous tariff quotas, MEPs call on the Commission to assess the impact of these imports on European industry and make adaptations where necessary.

Moreover, MEPs want member states to enforce EU law on the catch report and traceability system and say the digitalisation of IUU catch certificates via the CATCH system will reduce opportunities for fraudulent imports. They also want member states and the Commission to provide information on how many products are caught by Chinese vessels are entering the EU market.

Restrictive measures to Chines companies convicted for human rights abuses

Parliament notes that the intensive activity of the Chinese fleet is depleting fisheries resources, at the expenses of inhumane working conditions and human rights violations. Therefore, MEPs urge the Commission to step up its international cooperation in the fight against IUU fishing and the labour and human rights abuses associated, as well as adopt restrictive measures against companies that do not respect human rights.

Speaking in plenary on Monday evening, rapporteur Pierre Karleskind (Renew, FR) said:

“Between 1983, when the Common Fisheries Policy was set up, and today, 40 years later, the share of Chinese fishing at world level has gone from 5% to 15% cent of global captures. Governments and NGOs have indicated a number of practices that we consider may be illegal and could jeopardise food security.

On fish-related products in Europe, are we sure they don’t come from China, where there is forced labour or illegal fishing practices? We need to strengthen transparency, traceability and control, but also cooperation, with China.”

Background

China has the world’s largest fishing fleet. Estimates about its distant-water fleet size vary between 900 and 2900 vessels.

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