Oceana has announced the publication of its report providing tools for transparency and traceability in fishing.
Illegal and opaque fishing is still going strong on the high seas, and there is a clear lack of transparency in fishing activities.
The report highlights the woeful requirements for using the Automatic Identification System (AIS) on U.S. fishing vessels. Statistics in the report include:
- U.S. fishing vessels legally operate in the dark (AIS off) for 40% of their time.
- 85% of the U.S. fishing fleet is under 65 feet and thus not subject to AIS rules, which means there is no transparency about their operations.
According to Oceana’s Deputy Vice President for U.S. Campaigns Beth Lowell:
“Americans have a right to know more about the seafood they eat and should have confidence that their dollars are not supporting the pillaging of the oceans or human rights abuses at sea. All seafood sold in the U.S. should be safe, legally caught, responsibly sourced and honestly labeled. Until then, honest fishermen, seafood businesses, consumers and the oceans will pay the price.”
Lowell added:
“The Biden-Harris administration has an opportunity to lead in the fight against illegal fishing and seafood fraud, leveling the playing field for American fishermen and seafood businesses, while protecting consumers and the oceans. The United States must take decisive action to combat IUU fishing and close the U.S. market to all illegally sourced products, including seafood caught using forced labor or other human rights abuses. The United States can be a leader in traceability of seafood and transparency at sea.”
You can find the full report here.
