EU fisheries ministers have reiterated the importance of protecting the EU from imports of illegally caught fish.
At the Agribusiness Council on Monday 26 February, the ministers called on third countries to adopt a mandatory system of digital catch certification.
New catch certificates (CATCH) will be mandatory from 2026 in the EU. The certificates will be designed to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Combating illegal fishing is a priority for the EU, which was endorsed at the UN General Assembly and included in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A Global Fishing Watch study found that 20% of vessels fishing on the high seas are likely to be unregulated or unauthorised. Some may also be using fishing methods that are damaging to fish stocks and marine ecosystems.
To prevent the import of illegal fishing products, the EU requires that all catches entering the EU market must be certified.
