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EUROPE'S Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki has set off for the United States to seek greater trans-Atlantic co-operation on a number of key fishing and maritime issues.
Such a move, she says, can "deliver huge benefits in a number of key areas, as, for instance, observation, science and data sharing, deep-sea research, joint environmental stewardship to protect marine ecosystems and marine biodiversity and to mitigate climate change impacts, maritime monitoring and surveillance to address jointly safety and security issues at sea; and so on."
She added: "Moreover, I am convinced that the solution to illegal fishing lies in concerted international action. On the occasion of my visit to the US, I will sign, on behalf of the European Union, a joint statement recognizing the importance of the cooperation with the US authorities to effectively address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing."
During the five day visit, she will meet with Dr Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of commerce at the US National Oceans and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and with fishermen's associations in New York. She will also discuss illegal fishing and problems arising from last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill which closed huge fishing areas for several months.
Commissioner Damanaki will sign, on behalf of the European Union, a joint statement recognising the importance of the co-operation with the US authorities to effectively address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The ceremony will take place at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Centre in Washington today with Jane Lubchenco signing on behalf of the United States.
Tomorrow Ms Damanaki will deliver a keynote speech at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies entitled "Two continents, one purpose: defeating Illegal Fishing".
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