Policy & Compliance

Technology for Transparency: Fishing and marine management in the Mediterranean region

Fisheries, Impacts, Policy & Compliance, Transparency / By

Newly launched portal uses fishing vessel transparency as a tool to transform marine protection in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region June 5 is the international day for the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. First marked in 2018, this day was originally proposed by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) …

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Fishing Vessel Transparency is Part of the Solution for Nature Protection in the Mediterranean and Black Sea

Fisheries, Impacts, News & Views, Policy & Compliance / By

Innovative techniques for monitoring fishing activity can help protect marine biodiversity Fishing is woven into the social, economic and cultural fabric of the Mediterranean. For millennia, it’s been a way of life for those residing in coastal communities, while seafood itself has played a fundamental role in local diets. Fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black …

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Costa Rica Boats

Latin America Highlights Transparency as Essential in Tackling Illegal Fishing

Fisheries, News & Views, Policy & Compliance / By

Countries embrace transparency-based strategy to promote fair and effective ocean governance The 34th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ Committee on Fisheries (COFI 34) was held virtually last week. Front and center of the agenda was the need to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a practice which accounts …

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Sushi

New poll reveals demand for seafood traceability and public vessel tracking

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Oceana calls on U.S. government to reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the US seafood supply chain The largest ocean-focused advocacy group, Oceana, released results from a new poll revealing that 83 percent of Americans agree that all seafood should be traceable from the fishing boat to the dinner plate, and 77 percent support …

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Protecting Human Rights at Sea Starts with Access to Information

Protecting Human Rights at Sea Starts with Access to Information

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New collaboration between Global Fishing Watch and Human Rights at Sea aims to ensure policy and satellite technology solutions are aligned and information is available to all stakeholders  The International Labour Organization of the United Nations estimates that 16 million people were in forced labor in the private economy in 2016, with 11 percent across …

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Fishing vessels in coastal Ecuador

Leadership in Fisheries Management Will Help Bring Transparency to Latin American Waters

Impacts, News & Views, Policy & Compliance, Transparency / By

Costa Rica and Ecuador will join the Global Fishing Watch platform, furthering accountability of fishing activity in the region A new era of transparency in fisheries management is emerging in Latin America. Since 2018, Peru, Chile, and Panama and more recently, Costa Rica and Ecuador, have begun to adapt the orthodox, and not always successful, …

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A scoop is used to haul tons of tuna onto the deck of the purse seine fishing boat

Life Below Water: Ensuring Legal Seafood Starts with Supporting Fisheries Workers

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Transparency of vessel information will protect fisheries observers and help create a culture of compliance Working as a fisheries observer is a challenging job. Days, possibly even weeks away from shore, long hours in a tough environment – there’s no question that the role is physically and mentally demanding.  But the difficulties don’t stop there. …

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Celebrating 25 Years of Collaboration for Responsible Fisheries

Life Below Water: Celebrating 25 Years of Collaboration for Responsible Fisheries

Fisheries, News & Views, Policy & Compliance / By

Innovative use of data and technology can support the implementation of historic, flagship policies October 2020 brings the 25th anniversary of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (the Code). Developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Code aims to “strengthen international legal frameworks for more effective conservation, management …

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Iranian gillnet fishing vessel in Berbera harbour in 2015

Illegal Fishing Hotspot Identified in Northwest Indian Ocean

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Nearly 200 Iranian vessels detected in Somali and Yemeni waters represent one of the world’s largest illegal fishing operations. Global Fishing Watch (GFW) and Trygg Mat Tracking (TMT) have been working with partners in the Northwest Indian Ocean region, including the Somali government, to identify large-scale illegal fishing that is occurring inside the waters of …

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Fisheries activity

Peruvian Fisheries Experience Massive Decline in Activity from COVID-19

Fisheries, News & Views, Policy & Compliance / By

One of world’s biggest fishing nations faces economic setbacks, turns to artisanal fleet for food security This is the second blog in a series on the effects of COVID-19 on global fishing activity. Read our initial analysis of changes in global fishing activity during the pandemic here. According to the Global Fishing Watch database, fishing …

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Peter Thomson

Life Below Water: Transparency and Innovation will Help Build Ocean Resilience

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Meaningful ocean action is needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14, says United Nations Ambassador Ambassador Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, addresses the importance of transparency and technology to achieve SDG-14. The world is at a standstill. Over the last few months, COVID-19 has challenged health systems, crippled economies, …

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Life below water

Life Below Water: Prioritizing safe and decent working conditions for fishers and fisheries observers

Fisheries, News & Views, Policy & Compliance / By

Two months ago, the death of fisheries observer Eritara Aati Kaierua was reported in Pacific waters, leading to an ongoing murder investigation. For many people, the idea of a murder taking place on board a confined fishing vessel out at sea seems inconceivable, but for those that know the fisheries sector well, it is yet …

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Subsistence fisher returning in Kiritimati Island.

Life Below Water: Ensuring sustainable consumption and production of seafood

Fisheries, News & Views, Policy & Compliance / By

Large scale, commercial fishing activity has often historically taken place out of sight – fishing grounds far from shore make them difficult and costly to monitor, jurisdiction considerations impede governance and a patchwork of regulations have not kept pace with advances in fishing technologies. As our global seafood consumption has increased, so has the impact …

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saltelite

Detecting Dark Fishing Activity in the North Natuna Sea

Data and technology, Fisheries, News & Views, Policy & Compliance / By

On March 1st 2020, Indonesian authorities seized five Vietnamese vessels fishing illegally in the North Natuna Sea, located south west of Indonesia’s Natuna Islands, which borders the South China Sea. The successful operation was conducted by patrol vessels from the Indonesian Directorate General (DG) of Surveillance (PSDKP) of The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries …

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Ghanaian woman works on a fish market in Ghana

Life Below Water: Sustainable fisheries and gender equality

News & Views, Policy & Compliance, Transparency / By

In West Africa, fishing, fish processing and fish selling are all part of life for many women. Roughly 6.7 million people directly depend on fisheries in the region, which have a landed value of 3.5 billion USD per year. Across West Africa, women form the majority of fish processors and make up a significant number …

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