EU NGOs collaborate to improve the catch certification system in order to eliminate IUU fishing (Part 2)

EU IUU Union
Coordinator: Thomas Walsh

Thomas Walsh is the coordinator for the EU IUU Fishing Coalition (hereinafter referred to as the Coalition).Part 1We have now heard about the history of the union's establishment, the forefront of improvements to the EU fisheries certification system, such as expanding data requirements and digitalization, and their views on harmonizing the import control systems of each country.

In Part 2, we look back at the origins of Mr. Walsh, who grew up in a remote town in northern England but was captivated by the BBC's "Blue Planet" and entered the world of marine life. He also talks about his motivation for continuing his efforts to eradicate IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, and we hear his requests to the Japanese fisheries industry.

How to make sustainable seafood mainstream

--At the 10th Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS2024) in 2024, the goal was set to "make sustainable seafood mainstream by 2030." What do you think is necessary to achieve this goal?

This is a wonderful goal, and I strongly support it. I believe that achieving it will require global policy coordination and equalization of competitive conditions. It is important to harmonize national systems as much as possible so that fishermen and businesses are not at the mercy of a complex patchwork of import requirements. And, alongside strong regulations, transparency and accountability in supply chains are essential.

Coalition for Fisheries Transparency Of"Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency"As shown above, frameworks for improving transparency already exist that can be implemented with virtually no cost. Transparent data leads to fairer decision-making processes and allows all stakeholders to participate in discussions. Increased transparency makes data sharing significantly easier, helping to understand and organize the impact that the entire fisheries industry has on marine ecosystems and resource levels, and also contributing to the eradication of IUU fishing.

With the panelists from the TSSS2025 panel session on countermeasures against IUU fishing, held in Osaka in October 2025.

—Mainstreaming sustainable seafood requires addressing a great many challenges, including IUU fishing, human rights issues, and biodiversity issues. What approaches and mindsets do you think are most effective in tackling such complex problems?

Issues such as IUU fishing, human rights abuses, and biodiversity loss are deeply interconnected, and individual solutions are insufficient. The problems are simply too large, and there is still a significant lack of data and transparency to properly grasp their scale. What gives me hope is international cooperation. I have seen firsthand the significant impact that the Union's activities have had on the EU, and how powerful it is to present evidence-based recommendations to governments to drive change.

IUU fishing is truly a global problem that transcends national borders. For example, there are cases where EU companies own fishing vessels operating on the other side of the world. In other words, people in the EU can be complicit in destructive activities in distant places. It is impossible for any single government to confront this alone. That is why I believe it is important to have a global network, cooperate as much as possible, and increase transparency in global fisheries.

IUU Forum Japan,US IUU Fishing & Labor Rights CoalitionDialogue with stakeholders around the world, such as these, empowers us to make realistic recommendations. However, cooperation among NGOs alone is not enough. To resolve these crises in a unified manner, it is essential that major market countries promote a multilateral approach, and international cooperation is necessary.

In February 2026, representatives from the EU, the US, and Japan gathered in London for the annual meeting to combat IUU fishing. Thomas Walsh is second from the left in the front row (Photo courtesy of Thomas Walsh).

My childhood was inspired by "Blue Planet"

—When did you first become interested in the marine field?

I was born and raised in Sheffield, a town in northern England. It's quite far from the sea, but I've always loved it, and one of the first books I ever owned as a child was "The A to Z Guide to Marine Life." I learned about all sorts of creatures from that book. I remember a strange shark called the cookiecutter shark* that bites various marine mammals and leaves biscuit-shaped wounds. It was this book that sparked my strong interest in hammerhead sharks and orcas.

*The cookiecutter shark. As its English name "cookiecutter shark" suggests, it has a mouth shaped like a cookie cutter and has a unique ecology in which it bites the surface of the body of an animal much larger than itself, rotates its body, and bites off a round piece of flesh from the surface of the animal's body while it is still alive.

A scene from Sheffield, a town in northern England (Photo courtesy of Thomas Walsh)

Also, watching the BBC's ocean documentary series "Blue Planet" on television had a big influence on me. Naturalist David Attenborough was the narrator, and I was captivated by the show. As a child, I had never been abroad or out at sea, so I had never seen anything like that. That was the starting point of my desire to learn more about the ocean and marine life.

The beautiful sea and fish that captivated young Thomas Walsh ©Jurgen Freund-WWF

I don't remember the details of the documentary, but it hardly mentioned the impact humans have on the ocean, such as marine plastic pollution, climate change, or unsustainable fisheries; it was simply a love for the beauty of the ocean. Later, as I learned about the threats facing the ocean and marine life in high school and college, I decided to make this my career.

—You studied biology at the local University of Sheffield. Was your major marine biology?

My interests were in biology in general. I didn't want to narrow my specialization too early. I sometimes regret not choosing marine biology from the start, but I made a point of studying a wide range of subjects during my undergraduate studies. Even so, I connected my learning with my interest in the ocean as the core, and for my graduation thesis, I wrote about coral bleaching under the guidance of a marine biologist at the university. After that, I deepened my specialization at the University of Edinburgh.

Thomas Walsh, during his student days, dedicated himself to exploring marine issues.
(Photo courtesy of Thomas Walsh)

Motivation to work towards eliminating IUU fishing

—You specialized in ocean policy and ocean systems in your master's program. What led you to focus specifically on the issue of IUU fishing?

What I realized during my master's program is that the root of environmental problems is not a lack of knowledge or science, but rather many failures by humans, especially politicians. IUU fishing stood out in particular because it simultaneously undermines multiple aspects, including sustainability, food security, and human rights.

Through documentaries and reports by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), I was deeply shocked to learn that such a serious problem is largely invisible to the general public, including myself, due to the lack of transparency in the fisheries industry. This motivated me to contribute to this field. I also completed an internship at the EJF.

Fishing boats sailing the vast ocean © Environmental Justice Foundation

—After completing your master's degree, had you already decided to pursue a research position at an NGO? Starting a career at an NGO isn't very common in Japan, but is it more common in the UK?

I chose to work for an NGO because it sits at the intersection of research, advocacy, and real-world impact. NGOs often act quickly, collaborate across borders, and bring inconvenient truths that might otherwise be overlooked into the policy arena. I was deeply drawn to the rigorous research, sense of urgency in solving problems, and purposeful approach of NGOs.

It's a popular career path, I think. However, getting a job directly from a university to an NGO is quite difficult. Because there are so many motivated people who want to work on environmental issues, securing a position at an NGO may be just as competitive as aiming for a government job or other employment opportunities.

—What motivates you to continue fighting against IUU fishing?

I feel like I'm doing something meaningful. The fact that I can contribute, even in a small way, to improving policies, protecting the seas, and helping people in harsh conditions at sea gives me a strong sense that I'm playing a meaningful role.

At Rengo (the Japanese Trade Union Confederation), I've held various roles, from researcher to policy analyst, and now as a coordinator. I continue to work in the field of marine conservation at NGOs, and I still do, and I strongly desire to continue working with inspiring colleagues. I don't know how my career will unfold from here, but I'm looking forward to it and will continue to walk the path to find a place where I can make the greatest contribution and add the most value.

—Do you travel within the EU frequently?

Yes. I'm currently based in London, but I go to Brussels regularly. Many of my Union colleagues live in Brussels, and the European Commission's office is also there, so I go there as often as necessary.

--You visited Japan for TSSS2025. Do you often have opportunities to travel to various countries around the world representing the Union?

Last year was the most traveled year of my career. I visited South Korea for the first time, in Busan."The 10th Our Ocean Conference"Participating in the event and staying in Seoul was a wonderful experience. Also, being able to come back to Japan and visiting Osaka for TSSS2025 was the highlight of my last year.

Thomas Walsh (second from the left on stage) spoke at a panel session on countermeasures against IUU fishing at TSSS2025, held in Osaka in October 2025.

Japan should also expand the range of target fish species and introduce digital systems.

—Do you have any requests for the Japanese fisheries industry?

First, I would like to commend the Japanese government for establishing a catch certification system. I believe it is a very important step for a country with such a large market to follow global precedents and develop a system that works for the government, industry, and consumers. I would also like to commend the Japanese government for promoting an open stakeholder process.

I understand that a forum was established in 2025 involving NGOs and industry representatives to discuss the next steps, such as expanding the range of fish species covered. I would like to encourage the continuation of such efforts. While I am well aware of the unique and complex circumstances of Japan's fisheries trade, as someone who advocates for a better import control system, I would like to recommend that Japan also transition to a digital system and expand the range of fish species covered.

-- Do you also have a message for private businesses?

We encourage those in the Japanese industry to participate in the digital system CATCH if possible. Just because the system is already fully online doesn't mean you have to act immediately. It's a process that can be done over time. However, the more companies that participate, the less administrative burden it will be on the EU side regarding paper-based catch certificates.

This should lead to a reduction in administrative burden not only for EU authorities and industry, but also for the Japanese government and industry. Furthermore, I believe that end-to-end digitalization will result in a more reliable system free from fraud.

To protect our beautiful ocean ©OCEANA: Juan Cuetos

Thomas Walsh
As a coordinator for the EU IUU Coalition, she led the effective operation and implementation of EU IUU projects aimed at eradicating IUU fishing by promoting collaboration among stakeholders and supporting innovative strategies. She joined the EU IUU Coalition as a research fellow in 2021. From March 2023, as a policy analyst, she supported the Coalition's evidence-based advocacy activities by writing reports and policy recommendations on a variety of topics related to IUU fishing, fisheries transparency, and seafood traceability. She assumed her current position in June 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Sheffield, UK, and a Master of Science degree in Marine Systems and Marine Policy from the University of Edinburgh.

Interviewed and written by: Chiho Iuchi

He writes articles mainly about science, technology, and culture in both Japanese and English. After working for the Japan Finance Corporation for Small and Medium Enterprises (now the Japan Finance Corporation) and the English-language newspaper The Japan Times, he has been freelance since 2016. In 2024, he completed a Master's program in Sustainability Studies at the Hosei University Graduate School of Public Policy. He is a director of the Japan Council of Science and Technology Journalists.