Press Release: European Commission welcomes new step by North- East Atlantic Fisheries Commission in fight against illegal fishing

The European Commission has welcomed the new port state control scheme that was adopted on 17 November 2006 by the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) to tackle illegal fishing activities. The measures, which will become applicable from 1 May 2007, will require the green light from the flag state to the port state before foreign fishing vessels will be authorised to land frozen fish products in the ports of the Contracting Parties to NEAFC. The agreed measures also include new obligations and benchmarks as regards inspections to be carried out by the port state. This is a very important development in combating illegal catches of fish that are more difficult to detect, particularly when the fish is landed frozen, as is often the case with cod from the Barents Sea.