The European Commission has signed an administrative cooperation agreement with Faroe Islands which marks a new step in the parties’ efforts to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The EU has been committed in the fight against IUU fishing for over a decade, but intensified its actions by adopting the IUU Regulation in September 2008. The Regulation forms part of the EU fisheries control policy and will enter into force on 1 January 2010. The agreed records between the parties recognise that the control system in place in the Faroe Islands equals the level of control laid down in the European Regulation. The agreement will also enhance the cooperation in the fight against IUU fishing between the respective authorities. One of the core elements of the IUU Regulation is the introduction of a catch certification scheme which will ensure that all maritime fisheries products which are to be traded with the EU are obtained in compliance with existing conservation and management measures.
The IUU Regulation is a transparent and non-discriminatory instrument applying to all fishing vessels engaged in the commercial exploitation of fishery resources in all maritime waters, and seeks to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing in as much as they are linked to the EU either through trade to and from its territory or the involvement of EU nationals in IUU fishing activities conducted under any flag. It also provides a comprehensive legal basis for operational cooperation between third countries and the EU to combat more efficiently IUU fishing.
