Respect the ocean and end illegal and unregulated fishing, urges senior FAO official on World Oceans Day
Introduction:
When it comes to ending illegal and unregulated fishing, it’s all about “respecting the Ocean, so that the Ocean can give us more”.
That’s the verdict of Matthew Camilleri, a Senior Fishery Officer, in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department at the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), speaking out against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, as World Oceans Day was marked on Friday.
The 5th of June 2018 was the first International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, known as IUU Fishing. It is estimated that 20 per cent of all fish caught are a result of IUU fishing, which leads to an annual loss of approximately $23 Billion worldwide.
The International Day was chosen on the second anniversary of the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA), the first binding international agreement to target IUU fishing. PSMA came into force on 5 June 2016.
Fatima E. Mendez spoke with Mr. Camilleri. She started by asking him why it was important to establish an International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing.
When it comes to ending illegal and unregulated fishing, it’s all about “respecting the Ocean, so that the Ocean can give us more”.
That’s the verdict of Matthew Camilleri, a Senior Fishery Officer, in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department at the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), speaking out against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, as World Oceans Day was marked on Friday.