News
IUU regulation
The European Community adopted a regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing (Council Regulation (EC) 1005/2008) on 29 September 2008, which will enter into force on 1 January 2010.
The IUU Regulation is a transparent and non-discriminatory instrument applying to all vessels engaged in the commercial exploitation of fishery resources in all maritime waters, and seeks to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing practices in as much they are linked to the European Community either through trade to and from its territory or the involvement of EC nationals in IUU fishing activities conducted under any flag. It also provides a comprehensive legal basis for operational cooperation between third countries and the European Community to combat IUU fishing more efficiently. One of the core elements of the IUU Regulation is the introduction of a catch certification scheme, which will ensure that all maritime fisheries products which are to be traded with the European Community are obtained in compliance with existing conservation and management measures.
During the last year, Iceland has been in bilateral contact with the Commission of the European Union, in order to negotiate specific administrative arrangements concerning the catch certification scheme and administrative cooperation in the fight against IUU fishing, within the framework of the IUU Regulation. We are aiming at finalizing this process in the next months, before the enter into force of the IUU Regulation.