The Presidential Task Force on IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud Report

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March 18, 2015

    The Presidential Task Force on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud released a report to implement fifteen recommendations set in December 2014 to combat IUU fishing.  The March 15, 2015 report outlined that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations will include “obligations to end harmful fisheries subsidies that contribute to overfishing and to support measures being developed or implemented through relevant RFMOs [Regional Fishery Management Organizations]”.  Representative Michael Froman of the Office of the United States Trade Representative stated, “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. Our trade agreements give us a vital tool to combat this ecological and commercial threat.”  

    The report states that the TPP should be used to eliminate harmful fishing subsidies, while committing the signing members to combat IUU fishing.  Additionally, the report suggests garnering more support and working with Congress to implement the Port State Measures Agreement, which would stop illegal fish from reaching consumers.  The U.S. government will work with organizations and governments from around the world to combat the issue, while also consulting with other stakeholders in the market.
    
    To enforce the regulations, agencies will need to share their data and tariff codes will be altered.  The report explains that the government should begin by focusing on fish that are most likely to be IUU.  In order to increase transparency, the fish should be labeled with their “species, geographic origin, means of production”
     
    These protocols will eventually be applied to all U.S. seafood.  State Department Under Secretary Cathy Novelli remarked, “Illegal fishing and seafood fraud affect the American public and people around the world. The plan we are releasing today puts us on course to tackle these complex global challenges, with a new traceability program at its heart.”

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