Pelagic Picture #4 – Control Compliance

Pelagic Fisheries

It is often claimed that the control of ‘supertrawlers’ is flawed. Like the assumption that large vessels are by definition unsustainable compared to small vessels, this claim is also completely false. It does no justice to all the efforts our members and the crew onboard their vessels make to fish responsible and sustainable.

Pelagic fish stocks have the potential to contribute inexhaustibly to global food security if managed properly and responsibly. Good control and inspections contribute to good management and PFA members will always welcome this. In our fourth edition of Pelagic Picture, we highlight the compliance with control of our freezer trawlers.

1. FALSE: Pelagic freezer trawlers can do whatever they want to catch fish.

         FACT: Fishing operations of pelagic freezer trawlers respect allocated quotas, which are science-based.

2. FALSE: Pelagic freezer trawlers are not controlled.
   
   FACT: Pelagic freezer trawlers are regularly inspected by fisheries control authorities of EU Member States. Both at sea and on land. Pelagic vessels are easily monitored, as they are fewer in number than small-scale vessels

3. FALSE: National administrations do not know what pelagic freezer trawlers catch.
   
   FACT: : Catches and landings are monitored by national authorities, both flag states and port states. Logbooks and land-based checks are used to this end. Even before fishing, flag states are largely aware of fishing plans through the annual Producer Organisation Programmes

4. FALSE: Pelagic freezer trawlers can go anywhere they want to catch fish and will not be stopped. For example in MPAs.FACT: Pelagic freezer trawlers fish where fishing is allowed and includes certain MPAs due to the fishing technique (mid-water trawling) and their (lower) fishing impact.

Date Posted: 4th January 2024