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Impact of illegal fishing on food security – the role of the European Union

TA-9-2024-0043 · P9_TA(2024)0043 · PE753.497

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 28 Sept 2026

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Parliament's resolution calls for a zero-tolerance EU approach to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, applied equally to all countries. It asks the Commission to engage with third countries exporting fishery products to the EU, to consider sanctions if they fail to comply, and to support capacity-building. It welcomes the new Fisheries Control Regulation, the CATCH IT system and the IUU Fishing Action Alliance, and urges harmonised import controls and traceability across member states. It calls for action against flags of convenience, forced labour and human rights abuses, and for a whistleblower protection programme. It urges member states to ratify international conventions, use the EMFAF to support small-scale fishers, and implement the IUU Regulation with effective sanctions.

Key points

  1. Reaffirms the need for a zero-tolerance approach to IUU fishing, applied equally to all countries, and promotes sustainable fisheries to combat overfishing and unfair competition.
  2. Notes the fishing sector's role in food security and livelihoods, and recognises EU fishers' commitment to sustainable resource management.
  3. Calls for a holistic approach addressing poverty, lack of economic alternatives and weak governance, and encourages Commission capacity-building and international cooperation.
  4. Urges the Commission to engage with significant fishery product exporters to the EU, and to consider sanctions or trade measures if they fail to comply with international norms.
  5. Calls on the Commission to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to coastal states to strengthen their fight against IUU fishing and sustainability requirements.
  6. Welcomes the Commission's website on fishing authorisations and urges third countries and regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) to adopt similar measures.
  7. Welcomes the new Fisheries Control Regulation's requirement for imported fishery products to indicate the IMO number or another unique vessel identifier.
  8. Welcomes the IUU Fishing Action Alliance and urges its members to coordinate national systems and consider jointly issuing yellow and red cards.
  9. Emphasises the need for rigorous scientific research and data collection on IUU fishing's impacts, and calls on the Commission to allocate funding for such research.
  10. Underlines that EU IUU regulations must be implemented in a harmonised approach across all member states to prevent loopholes.
  11. Requests that the Commission ensure EU guidelines provide guidance on improving implementation in member states failing to uphold the Regulation and on verifying biennial reports.
  12. Underlines the importance of more import controls to protect public health and EU fishing industry competitiveness, and calls on member states to allocate sufficient capacity and resources.

Who is affected

  • EU member states, which must allocate resources for import controls, implement the IUU Regulation and ratify international conventions.
  • The Commission, which is asked to engage with third countries, provide support to national authorities and ensure consistent import control procedures.
  • Third countries exporting fishery products to the EU, which are urged to implement measures against IUU fishing and may face sanctions.
  • Small-scale and artisanal fishers, who should receive targeted support from the EMFAF to comply with IUU regulations.
  • Coastal communities, whose livelihoods may be affected by the transition to sustainable fishing practices and who should receive support.

Figures and deadlines

  • EU fishing fleet of around 73 000 vessels
  • EU represents 34 % of total world trade in value
  • Almost 70 % of fishing products consumed in the EU are imported
  • EU fishing sector employs 124 000 fishers directly and generates EUR 6,3 billion in revenue each year
  • Global unreported catches around 28 million tonnes in 2016, valued at USD 41 billion
  • Illegal catches in early 2000s estimated between 10 and 26 million tonnes, valued at USD 10-23 billion
  • IUU-caught products imported annually into the EU estimated at around 500 000 tonnes, valued at EUR 1,1 billion
  • European Maritime and Fisheries Fund provided EUR 580 million for monitoring, control and enforcement