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Maria Damanaki |
THE United States and Europe have signed a joint agreement to clamp down on illegal and unregulated fishing.
The communiqué was issued following the visit of EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki to the US last week where she met her American counterpart, Jane Lubchenco, who is the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Through their officials, both women signed an agreement to set up a new system for exchanging information on illegal and unregulated fishing. They have also agreed to increase the level of monitoring and enforcement.
The pledge was welcomed at the weekend by the WWF which said it was a good step on a very important issue.
Jane Lubchenco said the illegal fishing posed one of the most threats to the American industry as well as to the well being of the seas and marine life. One of the problems facing both the EU and the United States is that both are large importers of fish and it may not always be possible to establish that the fish that comes in is always from a legitimate source.
Jane Lubchenco said in a statement: ‘‘International cooperation across oceans will help us maintain a level playing field for our fishermen by strengthening enforcement and preventing illegal fishing.’’ Maria Damanaki, said that an EU report estimated that illegal fishing or pirates as she called them take 20 per cent of the global fish catch, but some environmental groups estimate that the figure could be as high as 30 per cent. "The truth is, we don't know exactly, but we have to find out," she said.
Under the new agreement, the US and the EU will share information on illegal fisheries and promote the sustainable use of fisheries resources while preserving marine biodiversity. The deal will build on earlier co-operation between the two blocs.
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