Aiming to eradicate IUU fishing – Utilizing technology and international cooperation

The 2025st International Symposium will be held in Busan, South Korea from April 4 to 28, 30.10th Our Ocean ConferenceUnder the theme of "Our Ocean, Our Action," various initiatives for the conservation and sustainable use of the marine environment were shared from around the world.

On the final day, April 4, an official side event was held entitled "The Role of Technology and Harmonisation in Ensuring Seafood Traceability and Fighting Against IUU Fishing" (hosted by the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement, Friends of the Earth Korea, EU IUU Fishing Coalition, IUU Forum Japan, US IUU Fishing & Labor Rights Coalition, and Coalition for Fisheries Transparency).

Government officials and experts from South Korea, the European Union (EU), the Marshall Islands, and Japan gathered together to discuss how technology can be used to improve transparency in seafood distribution in order to eradicate IUU fishing, as well as the importance of international cooperation to accelerate the effectiveness of these efforts.

Electronic monitoring to be implemented in Pacific countries in global tuna supply area

Joseph emphasizes the importance of electronic monitoring while pointing to a can of tuna (Photo: Oceana / Franz Mahr)

The first speaker was Glenn Joseph, Director of the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Board. The country is a central and western Pacific island that supplies more than half of the tuna consumed in the world.9 countriesCiting the example of skipjack resource management being carried out in the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), which consists of 10,000 islands, Mr. Takeuchi pointed out the importance of introducing electronic monitoring, including the use of AI, in island nations that tend to lack funds and technology.

He also pointed out management problems facing the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), noting that while the deployment of observers is mandatory for all fishing vessels in coastal waters, there is no similar measure in the high seas, and that the observer deployment rate for longline fisheries is less than 5%, showing a severe lack of transparency. He then mentioned the need for international cooperation to resolve these issues.

EU fishing certificates now fully digital

Vicheva said the aim is to eradicate IUU through dialogue and the use of warning cards. (Photo: Oceana / Franz Mahr)

Next, Charlina Viteva, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission, first emphasized that the EU maintains a zero-tolerance stance against IUU fishing. She shared that since adopting IUU fishing regulations in 2008, the EU has been reviewing its comprehensive management system in 2023, and that the revised regulations have been gradually implemented since January last year.

He said that after the revision, the Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS), which was previously paper-based, will be fully electronic, which is expected to significantly reduce the risk of IUU fishery products entering the EU market. He also emphasizes international cooperation and operates a "warning card system" as a support measure for countries exporting to the EU market. There are "yellow cards" that warn countries that do not comply with the rules and "red cards" that mean they are excluded from the EU market, but rather than suddenly issuing "red cards," he said that the system provides comprehensive support, such as support for appropriate legal development and enforcement, and capacity building.

South Korea makes catch certificates mandatory for tuna

Yangjing said catch certificates will be extended to include coastal fishers in the future. (Photo: Oceana / Franz Mahr)

Yang Yang-jin, Director of the Korea National Fisheries Quality Control Service, gave a detailed introduction of his country's catch certification system. When fishing vessels that have caught two croaker species (bobo croaker and longneck croaker), which are important food fish in Korea and mainly caught in West Africa, or Pacific saury, enter a Korean port, they are required to submit a catch certificate and advance application form at least 2 hours before entering the port. The catch certificate is integrated with the country's Port and Harbor Logistics Information System (PORT-MIS) and can be submitted electronically, but he said that strict measures are being taken, such as suspending entry if the certificate is not submitted or is incomplete. He also spoke about the prospects for further measures to prevent illegal activities, such as making coastal fishermen required to report, by enacting the Sustainable Coastal Fisheries Development Act in the future.

Japan's fishing certificates now cover 3% of imported seafood

Otake explains that they will continue to analyze risks, expand the scope of fish species covered by catch certificates, and strengthen international cooperation. (Photo: Oceana / Franz Mahr)

Yu Otake of the Fisheries Agency of Japan stated that as a maritime nation and the world's third largest importer of seafood, Japan recognizes IUU fishing as a serious threat to sustainable fisheries and culture, and is actively working to combat it. Japan is working in cooperation with international frameworks such as the UN's SDGs, G3, and APEC, to implement IUU countermeasures required by regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), FAO, and WTO, and will enforce the Act on Proper Distribution of Specified Aquatic Animals and Plants in 7.

In addition to managing the domestic distribution of abalone and sea cucumbers, this law also introduces a catch certification system developed based on the EU's catch certification system to prevent the inflow of seafood products resulting from IUU fishing from overseas, and requires the submission of certificates from exporting governments for mackerel and saury, which are at high risk of IUU fishing. When combined with tuna and other products subject to import controls under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, the report said that approximately 3% of Japan's imported seafood products are subject to import controls. The scope of these systems is being gradually expanded, and the obligation to keep records for domestic transactions of Pacific bluefin tuna is scheduled to begin in April 2026.

Mr. Otake explained that in implementing the system, they are conducting IUU risk analysis of major imported fish species while placing importance on collaboration with various stakeholders such as NGOs and industry groups, and are considering adding high-risk sharks and shrimp as target species. He also expressed his intention to strengthen international cooperation for the effective implementation of the law through dialogue with approximately 50 countries and regions, and emphasized Japan's contribution to eliminating IUU fishing and realizing sustainable fisheries.

Speakers say international cooperation is essential to increasing transparency (Photo: Oceana / Franz Mahr)

Improving transparency through the introduction and expansion of electronic catch documentation systems

In the Q&A session, future efforts and challenges of each country were discussed. Mr. Yang of South Korea stated that the implementation of the Sustainable Coastal Fisheries Development Act, which is currently under consideration, will aim to make catch certificates applicable not only to domestic but also to imported and even farmed seafood. Mr. Otake of Japan pointed out the need to digitize catch information and strengthen cooperation with businesses and flag states in the import management system, which has been in place for just over two years, and stated that they aim to resolve the issue in stages.

Mr. Joseph of the Marshall Islands raised the issue of gaps in the current management methods by RFMOs in the high seas and exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and the low rate of observers on board, and called for serious responses from flag states. Ms. Viteva of the EU emphasized the importance of global measures against IUU fishing, calling for major market countries to utilize their influence and take strict measures against non-cooperative countries. She recommended the introduction of import control regulations for seafood products, citing the EU's warning card system, and pointed out the effectiveness of improving transparency through electronic catch reporting.

Overall, the importance of improving transparency, data-based management, and international cooperation was confirmed, and the need for system design tailored to each country's circumstances and collaboration to solve problems was emphasized.

Greater international cooperation and import controls needed to combat IUU fishing

Mr. Seol calls for a roadmap to ensure transparency from the South Korean government. (Photo: IUU Forum Japan / Yukiko Kuwata)

In the closing remarks, Kim Sol from the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) took to the stage and stressed the importance of being able to track fish from the time they are caught until they reach your dinner table (traceability). Touching on the fact that only 6% of domestic seafood in South Korea is subject to traceability, as well as issues such as the aging of fishermen and declining catches, she called on the South Korean government to create a clear roadmap for ensuring transparency.

Finally, moderator Beth Lowell summarized the knowledge and practical examples shared throughout the seminar, noting the importance of political will and international cooperation. She concluded by emphasizing the need to continue to promote international cooperation to eradicate IUU fishing and seafood import controls to increase transparency throughout the industry, in line with the theme of the Our Ocean Conference, "Our Ocean, Our Action."