Bradshaw calls for fisheries action

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Bradshaw calls for fisheries action

Thursday 26 January 2006

fishThe abolishment of illegal fishing should become an international priority in order to ensure sustainability of fisheries around the world, UK Marine and Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw has announced. Speaking at the Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts and Islands in Paris this week, Bradshaw called for more international co-operation on the issue to establish ‘practical solutions’.

 

"We need to find ways of bringing fisheries and conservation interests together around a shared interest in good governance and sustainability,” said Mr. Bradshaw.

 

"IUU (illegal, unregulated and unreported) fishing is a serious global problem putting unsustainable pressure on fish stocks and the marine environment, and severe economic pressure on some of the poorest countries. We must address these problems as a matter of urgency - to do nothing will threaten precious sea life."

 

The minister also highlighted the role of the High Seas Task Force, an international group which he chairs, as a way of combatting the problem.