illegal fishing

UN Security Council sheds focus on transnational maritime crime

Transnational maritime crime is becoming increasingly sophisticated as criminal groups exploit jurisdiction and enforcement challenges on the high seas, warned Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in his briefing to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on transnational organized crime at sea.

The debate, organized under the Presidency of Equatorial Guinea and chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Simeon Oyono Esono Angue, is the...

https://safety4sea.com/un-security-council-sheds-focus-on-transnational-maritime-crime/

World’s biggest fish factory vessel remains on IUU list

After Oceana’s investigation, the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) announced its decision to keep the fish factory vessel ‘Vladivostok 2000’ (previously named Damanzaihao) on the list of illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing vessels. In the meantime, the Organisation warned China, Panama and Cook Islands for providing assistance to the vessel.

Specifically, SPRFMO’s Compliance and Technical Committee discovered that the three countries were not...

https://safety4sea.com/worlds-biggest-fish-factory-vessel-remains-on-iuu-list/

Watch: Sea Shepherd ship attacked in Upper Gulf of California

On January 31st, Sea Shepherd vessel the ‘M/V Farley Mowat’ was attacked by more than 50 assailants posing as fishermen on board 20 high speed boats while performing maritime conservation patrols inside the Vaquita Refuge in the Upper Gulf of California. A total of 52 skiffs were counted.

The poachers threw molotov cocktails and projectiles, including lead weights and large stones, smashing windows and setting the side of the Sea Shepherd ship on fire.

Sea Shepherd crewmembers fended the...

https://safety4sea.com/watch-sea-shepherd-ship-attacked-in-upper-gulf-of-california/

Thailand enters Work in Fishing Convention

Thailand is the first country in Asia to accept the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188), that protects the living and working conditions of fishers onboard vessels. The Convention has specific requirements related to work on board fishing vessels, including occupational safety and health, medical care at sea and ashore rest periods, written work agreements, and social security protection. It also aims to ensure that fishing vessels provide decent living conditions for fishers on board.

Spe...

https://safety4sea.com/thailand-enters-work-in-fishing-convention-2/

USCG conducts patrols on fishery regs in the High Seas

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon (WHEC 717) continue their South Pacific patrol in support of counter-Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing and global security missions. Mellon’s crew is helping the Commission enforce its regulations on the tuna fishing industry, a $5 billion per year fishery that is essential to economies in the South Pacific.

Commonly, a suspect vessel cannot be inspected and searched in international waters unless it is stateless or the people onboard has...

https://safety4sea.com/uscg-conducts-patrols-on-fishery-regs-in-the-high-seas/

EU Commission warns Denmark over failure of fisheries control

The European Commission decided to send an additional letter of formal notice to Denmark, over its failure to enforce several important provisions of the EU Control Regulation. The Regulation has been in force since 1 January 2010, establishing a system for the control, inspection and enforcement by national authorities of the EU rules of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Denmark has been found in breach of its legal obligation to ensure that fishers record bycatches in their electronic logbook,...

https://safety4sea.com/eu-commission-sends-warning-to-denmark-over-failure-of-fisheries-control/

Ghana must enshrine transparency to save fishing industry, says new report

Transparency, such as publishing details of fishing licences, must be improved to eradicate illegal fishing and prevent the collapse of Ghana’s fishing industry, according to a new report by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and Hen Mpoano, under the EU-funded Far Dwuma Nkɔdo project.

The report reveals that the Ghanaian fishing industry suffers from a shocking lack of transparency, which allows illegal operators to disguise the identity, ownership and history of fishing vessels,...

https://safety4sea.com/ghana-must-enshrine-transparency-to-save-fishing-industry-says-new-report/

Master and vessel owner to pay £15,624 for fisheries offences

Master and vessel owner are ordered to pay £15,624 for fisheries offences. The hearing was conducted on January 8, at Plymouth Magistrates Court in a prosecution that was brought by the Marine Management Organisation, MMO. Two charges were brought before court concerning exceeding monthly quota limits. In addition, the defendants pleaded guilty to both charges.

Mainly, Kindred Spirit is a 13 meter stern trawler that belongs to Roger Klyne and is skippered by Stephen Fisher.

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https://safety4sea.com/master-and-vessel-owner-to-pay-15624-for-fisheries-offences/

Norway Supreme Court begins hearings on snow crab case, linking it to oil

On January 15, Norway’s Supreme Court began hearings on whether European vessels can fish for snow crab off Arctic islands, north of Norway without getting permission from Oslo. The hearings will result into who has the right for oil explorations in the region, according to Reuters. Into question is whether the snow crab is a sedentary species that is living on the seabed or a fish stock that wanders.

Specifically, snow crab is considered a delicacy in Japan and S. Korea.

If snow crab is to be...

https://safety4sea.com/norway-supreme-court-begins-hearings-on-snow-crab-case-linking-it-to-oil/

Watch: Sea Shepherd vessel attacked in the Upper Gulf of California

Sea Shepherd Vessel M/V Farley Mowat was attacked while it was conducting maritime patrols inside the Vaquita Refuge in the Upper Gulf of California, and had recovered three illegal gillnets, when the crew noticed approximately 35 skiffs operating inside the refuge.

The Sea Shepherd vessel headed towards the skiffs to observe fishing methods being employed, since all gillnet fishing is strictly prohibited inside the marine protected area.

Moreover, five skiffers illegally boarded the vessel and...

https://safety4sea.com/watch-sea-shepherd-vessel-attacked-in-the-upper-gulf-of-california/

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