Coalition for Fisheries Transparency

We can notice more movement towards [fisheries] transparency nowadays than there was 10 years ago. But, we also noticed that individual successes on a local or national basis lacked global momentum towards transparency. Our coalition was born to connect and coordinate civil society organizations working in different geographies. Our goal is to amplify and accelerate the movement towards greater #fisheriestransparency on a global scale. Read the entire article with Maisie Pigeon, director of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency 👉 https://lnkd.in/gtApcncv Many thanks to Dialogue Earth for publishing it!

Our new blog post [https://bit.ly/4jc76xQ] by Pesisir Lestari Foundation discusses social protection for small-scale fishers in #Indonesia, and highlights the need for an active involvement of fishers in policy planning and decision-making. Strengthening collaboration between fisher groups and the government is the key for recognition and empowerment. Many fishers operate small unregistered vessels, which potentially hamper their ability to obtain official recognition, fisheries subsidies and financial support. The case study of Indonesia showcases how principles of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency [https://bit.ly/4i1utJ5] interact with each other, notably Principle 1 (clear information and vessel registration as a form of openness and legal assurance fo fishers and fisheries actors), and how this can contribute to strengthening their inclusive policy-making processes, including the provision of various forms of support that reinforce the position of fishers, especially small-scale fishers (Principle 9).

📢 Save the date! 🗓️ Are you attending the 10th Our Ocean Conference in Busan, South Korea, this year? Together with partners, including EU IUU Fishing Coalition, US IUU Fishing & Labor Rights Coalition, IUU Forum Japan and Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, we're pleased to invite you to our side-event that will discuss the importance of seafood traceability tools and systems on a national, regional, and global scale. Our panelists coming from key market states will share experiences and examples of best practices, including the use of technology around their existing systems. Don't miss this important event and share it among your contacts. More information to come soon.

In fisheries, knowing the beneficial owner or 'real owner' is all important. A lack of #transparency in the global fisheries sector often allows beneficial owners to hide behind foreign flags, complex ownership, and corporate structures to avoid sanctions and scrutiny, leaving them free to continue with any illicit activities. 🔹Making public the information on beneficial ownership of vessels corresponds to Principle 3 of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency ⏩ https://bit.ly/4d8jQBD 🔹 We also dedicated a whole chapter of our recent report to that matter, starting on p. 24. ⏩ https://bit.ly/4dye4tK

A warm welcome to Natural Justice that has just joined the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency as an affiliate, providing guidance to the Coalition and our members. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration ahead!🤝

Empowering women in #Liberia to take on leadership role in the fisheries that defines their livelihood

Hon. Emelia Arthur's appointment as Ghana's Minister for Fisheries & Aquaculture Development could mark a turning point for the future of the country's fisheries and the Ghanaians - if the Minister can successfully integrate the principles of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency [https://bit.ly/4d8jQBD] into policy & practice. For Ghana, the relevant policy measures to advance #FisheriesTransparency include Principle 2 (regular publication of details on fishing vessels licences) & Principle 3 (disclosure of vessels' beneficial ownership), to ensure that coastal communities' voices are represented in decision-making and can benefit from sustainable fisheries management. Minister Arthur herself admits illegal fishing is one of the pressing challenges Ghana is facing, and she committed to addressing it during her tenure. The Minister also announced plans to accelerate efforts to lift a second "yellow card" issued by the European Union over Ghana's failure to combat #IUUfishing.

Great explanatory video by our colleagues at Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF)! 👇 Illegal transshipment is a pervasive issue globally. To effectively address the myriad challenges posed by at-sea transfers, States must ban transshipment unless it is pre-authorized, monitored and publicly documented. Implementing it is essential for preventing labor abuses onboard fishing vessels, limiting the entry of illegally caught fish into seafood markets, and protecting fish populations. 🔹 Transshipment constitutes Principle 6 in the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency ⏩ https://bit.ly/4d8jQBD 🔹 We also dedicated the whole chapter to that matter in our latest report, starting on p.36 ⏩ https://bit.ly/4dye4tK

"It’s been horrible to see Senegal go from being an anti-illegal-fishing champion in the region to a country where there is growing distrust between the small-scale fishing operations and the government," says Dyhia Belhabib, PhD, who investigates the illegal fishing sector in the region. By increasing #transparency around the entire seafood supply chain, Dr Belhabib hopes to cut off market access for illegally caught fish. She also plans to communicate the results of her research to the Senegalese government, to build bridges with local fishers. Dive into the full inteview at the link below👇

In Australia 🇦🇺 , more than 65% of seafood is imported - mostly from Vietnam, Thailand and China, but also from New Zealand, Norway and other countries. Information about #transparency and #traceability of those products entering Australian market is scarce, which makes the local consumers wonder what they're eating, and how the species was caught. To respond to this situation, the Australian Government is considering implementing a framwork that would prevent potential products from IUU fishing entering the market. The member of our Coalition, the Australian Marine Conservation Society, has come up with a number of proposals towards its government to improve transparency and traceability in fisheries. Find our more in their recent blog post 👉 https://bit.ly/42L3DkB