Global State of IUU Evidence-based risk assessments (sustainability, legality and traceability). John Pearce
Global State of IUU IUU is a global problem. Illegal and unreported fishing losses worldwide are between $10 bn and $23.5 bn annually, representing between 11 and 26 million tonnes. (Agnew et al. 2009). IUU product can enter markets through legitimate channels, but IUU can create problems for the legitimate seafood industry by putting companies reputations at risk and undermining consumer confidence in sustainable seafood products. Fisheries managers - How to combat / reduce / deter? Companies How to ensure sustainability, legality and traceability and therefore protect reputation and satisfy customer expectations?
What has moved on since 2009? Global acknowledgement and engagement FAO Expert Group (2015) PSMA Couple of additional large studies Asia and Pacific Islands European Union IUU Regulation Control of third party imports through catch certificate. Discards control through Landing Obligation United States Seafood Import Monitoring Program Approved December 2016 Similar to catch certificate program operates on commercial rather than state level Updated analysis?
What has moved on since 2009? Global acknowledgement and engagement FAO Expert Group (2015) PSMA Couple of additional large studies Asia and Pacific Islands European Union IUU Regulation Control of third party imports through catch certificate. Discards control through Landing Obligation United States Seafood Import Monitoring Program Approved December 2016 Similar to catch certificate program operates on commercial rather than state level Updated analysis?
Where is Global IUU going? Pressure is being applied Indonesia Recent increase in control. EU carding process - Update One - Cambodia (EU Red) Eleven - Comoros, Curacao, Kiribati, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago and Tuvalu (EU Yellow). Eleven countries that have had yellow or red cards now have been given the all clear Belize, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Togo and Vanuatu Still a number of weak links (flag, coastal and port) Weak links continue to be identified Regional approaches (e.g. regional PSM programmes) Additional capacity building and training to address these links.
Evidence based assessments Three pillars of assessing fish products: Sustainability; Legality; and Traceability. Ideally all fish products being sold globally should be able to demonstrate these three basic principles.
SUSTAINABLE LEGAL TRACEABLE
Sustainable and Legal but NOT Traceable SUSTAINABLE Sustainable and Traceable but NOT Legal LEGAL TRACEABLE Legal and Traceable but NOT Sustainable Sustainable, Legal and Traceable
Evidence based assessments Four pillars of assessing fish products: Sustainability; Legality; Traceability; and Social and ethical. Ideally all fish products being sold globally should be able to demonstrate these three basic principles.
Risk Assessment Why look at risk assessments as a way forward? Risk assessment approach assess weaknesses in each of the three pillars. Provide advice on how to address those weaknesses. Examples of criteria: Sustainability Ensure appropriate stock assessment conducted Legality Ensure port inspections carried out on landings at an appropriate level Traceability Ensure relevant data are collected for each batch of fish in the supply chain. Social and ethical Fair transparent fisheries agreements are in place between fishing fleet States and coastal State.
Sustainability Target species: Target species is harvested at a sustainable rate Target fish population does not decline over time because of fishing practices. Now also refers to other bycatch or impacted species or habitats : Fishery harvested at a rate where no bycatch or other species are impacted at an unsustainable rate. Include other fish, turtles, cetaceans, birds, benthos such as corals etc. Also no serious adverse ecosystem impacts on habitats or biodiversity
Sustainability Risk based assessment 6 key areas Monitoring of catch data (target species) Stock assessment (repeat for each stock considered) Level of exploitation (target species) Bycatch assessment (for all bycatch species in general or specific for highly impacted species) Avoidance of habitat / ecosystem impact (repeat for each gear type and habitat type impacted) Fishery Operation (Management processes, regulatory framework, quotas and compliance).
Legality Has your fish been legally caught and is the supply chain legal? Legal - It has been caught within the laws of a coastal State and by a vessel operating legally under flag State control. Reported It has been reported to the management body. Regulated The fish is managed by a coastal State or RFMO.
Legality Risk Assessment IUU risk assessment 6 key areas Fishing Vessels and Legal Personalities Identification of who is doing the fishing Fishery Analysis of risks directly related to the fishery i.e. species and gear related Flag State How does the flag State perform? Coastal State / RFMO Risks with the control of the fishery Port State Risks when the fish are landed / transhipped Supply Chain and Market State Supply chain risks.
Traceability Two simple questions to ask yourself: Where does your fish come from? Can you prove it? Two levels of traceability assessment that can be used WWF Traceability Benchmarking Assessment Rapid assessment Can be done internally. Where are you against a simple standard? Audits (MSC and other standards) Longer more detailed by independent external auditors against standard Carries more weight e.g. MSC CoC Audits certification..
Traceability Benchmarking Assessment Based on WWF Traceability Principles, developed with WWF UK by MRAG Ltd. Three main areas: DATA AND INFORMATION Principle 1: Essential Information Principle 4: Digital information and Standardised Data Formats PROCESSES TRANSPARENCY Principle 2: Full chain traceability Principle 3: Effective Tracking of Product Transformation Principle 5: Verification Principle 6: Transparency and Public Access to Information
Summary IUU fishing has not gone away. Still a current problem in global fisheries. Risk assessments are a way to exercise due diligence in assessing the risks in your incoming supplies. With some sources it is difficult to be 100% sure of their status, but by using a risk based approach you will be more informed and can make better decisions: Remove specific sources of fish at high risk Address risks through a series of mitigation measures.