Source: European Parliament
One of the main pillars of Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 (the IUU Regulation)[1] is action against EU nationals who have engaged in or supported illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The provisions regarding EU nationals cover both the prevention and sanction of support or engagement in IUU fishing by EU nationals.
More specifically, Article 39(1) of the IUU Regulation prohibits EU nationals from supporting and engaging in IUU fishing. It further provides a non-exhaustive list of examples of such engagement and support, mentioning in particular engagement on board or as operators or beneficial owners of fishing vessels included in the EU IUU vessel list.
However, the general prohibition to EU nationals from engaging in or supporting IUU fishing is not limited to involvement of IUU-listed vessels but IUU fishing activities in general.
In addition, the obligation of Member States under Article 39(3) of the IUU Regulation to take action against EU nationals relates to those that have been identified as supporting or engaged in IUU fishing in general, not only to those that are involved with IUU-listed vessels.
The Commission is working with Member States to provide support in the implementation of Article 40(1) of the IUU Regulation regarding the identification of information of EU nationals pertaining to legal, beneficial or financial interests in, or control of, fishing vessels flagged to a third country which they hold and the names of the vessels concerned.
- [1] Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, amending Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1936/2001 and (EC) No 601/2004 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1093/94 and (EC) No 1447/1999 (OJ L 286, 29.10.2008, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1005/oj).