Illegal fishing (IUU)

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing depletes fish stocks, destroys marine habitats, distorts competition, puts honest fishers at an unfair disadvantage, and weakens costal communities, particularly in developing countries.
The EU is working hard to close the loopholes that allow illegal operators to profit from their activities:
- Under recently adopted rules only marine fisheries products validated as legal by the relevant flag state or exporting state can be imported to or exported from the EU.
- A European black list has been drawn up covering both IUU vessels and states that turn a blind eye to illegal fishing activities.
- EU operators who fish illegally anywhere in the world, under any flag, face substantial penalties proportionate to the economic value of their catch, which deprive them of any profit.
- The new EU regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing entered into force on 1 January 2010. The Commission is working actively to inform all parties on how to apply the new rules.
Guidance documents
Legislation and official documents
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 1234/2012 of 19 December 2012
amending Regulation (EU) No 468/2010 establishing the EU list of vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
COMMISSION DECISION of 15.11.2012
[2 MB]
on notifying the third countries that the Commission considers as possible of being identified as non-cooperating third countries pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
Legal base: Council regulation (EC) No 1005/2008
Implementing regulation: Commission regulation (EC) No 1010/2009
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1222/2011
of 28 November 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 as regards administrative arrangements with third countries on catch certificates for marine fisheries products
Regulation no. 202/2011 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 as regards the definition of fishery products and amending Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 as regards prior notification templates, benchmarks for port inspections and recognised catch documentation schemes adopted by regional fisheries management organisations.
Commission regulation (EU) No 86/2010 of 29 January 2010 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 as regards the definition of fishery products and amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 as regards exchange of information on inspections of third country vessels and administrative arrangements on catch certificates
Commission Regulation (EU) No 395/2010 of 7 May 2010 amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 1010/2009 as regards administrative arrangements on catch certificates
Commission regulation (EU) No 468/2010 of 28 May 2010 establishing the EU list of vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 724/2011 of 25 July 2011 amending Regulation (EU) Nr 468/2010 establishing the EU list of vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
Commission statements
[48 KB] (18 September 2008)
Flag state notifications
List
[180 KB]




