Task force report on illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing emphasizes TPP
March 15, 2015 |05:23 PM
Today the Presidential Task Force on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud, co-chaired by the departments of Commerce and State, released an action plan that emphasizes the importance of concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
“TPP is a historic opportunity to address trade-distorting and environmentally damaging practices,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a news release.
“TPP is expected to be the first trade agreement to eliminate some of the most harmful fisheries subsidies, including those that contribute to overfishing,” NOAA said.
“It is also set to include groundbreaking stand-alone commitments to combat IUU fishing, and promote sustainable fisheries management and conservation of marine resources, including sharks and other threatened marine species. The U.S. is seeking similar commitments in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) negotiations with the European Union.”
“Pirate fishing is jeopardizing the health of our oceans, depleting fish stocks, and hurting fishermen who are doing things right and playing by the rules,” Trade Representative Michael Froman said in a news release. "Our trade agreements give us a vital tool to combat this ecological and commercial threat.”
The National Fisheries Institute, which represents the industry, said it supports many of the recommendations, but said “questions remain about execution, duplication of existing government efforts and funding.”
NFI said that “consideration of changing regulations, like using the common name of fish, rather than the market name, should be avoided in order not to confuse shoppers while costing producers, processors, restaurants, retailers and ultimately consumers.”
“TPP is a historic opportunity to address trade-distorting and environmentally damaging practices,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a news release.
“TPP is expected to be the first trade agreement to eliminate some of the most harmful fisheries subsidies, including those that contribute to overfishing,” NOAA said.
“It is also set to include groundbreaking stand-alone commitments to combat IUU fishing, and promote sustainable fisheries management and conservation of marine resources, including sharks and other threatened marine species. The U.S. is seeking similar commitments in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) negotiations with the European Union.”
“Pirate fishing is jeopardizing the health of our oceans, depleting fish stocks, and hurting fishermen who are doing things right and playing by the rules,” Trade Representative Michael Froman said in a news release. "Our trade agreements give us a vital tool to combat this ecological and commercial threat.”
The National Fisheries Institute, which represents the industry, said it supports many of the recommendations, but said “questions remain about execution, duplication of existing government efforts and funding.”
NFI said that “consideration of changing regulations, like using the common name of fish, rather than the market name, should be avoided in order not to confuse shoppers while costing producers, processors, restaurants, retailers and ultimately consumers.”
