The EU and US signed an agreement known as IUU fishing to strengthen bilateral cooperation to combat illegal fishing. This statement is the first of its kind in the longstanding partnership between the EU and the US on fisheries management. They have agreed that the seafood they import from each other will not be caught illegally.

Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and Dr. Jane Lubchenco, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator from United States signed on 7 of September the IUU fishing agreement, a historic statement pledging bilateral cooperation to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing). The EU and US rank first and third, respectively, as the world’s top seafood importers (Japan second), and have agreed that the seafood they import will not be caught illegally.

A system to exchange information on IUU activities has been included in the new agreement. Furthermore, it promotes management measures at regional fishery management organizations that strengthen the control, monitoring and enforcement of vessels operation within certain areas; encourages other countries to ratify and implement the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Committee on Fisheries’ Port State Measures Agreement; and promotes the sustainable use of fisheries resources while preserving marine biodiversity. IUU fishing deprives legal fishermen and coastal communities of up to $23 billion of seafood and seafood products annually.

The US is turning a corner in ending overfishing and rebuilding stocks and the EU is in the process of reforming its Common Fisheries policy designed to rebuild its fisheries. Beyond domestic boundaries, there is increasing need for international cooperation, especially among major fishing and seafood-importing nations, to improve global fisheries management of shared marine resources and to preserve the associated employment and other economic benefits of sustainable fisheries.