Illegal fishing

A horizontal look at the three areas where the EU fights against illegal trade shows some surprising features: the illegal trade in endangered species, the oldest EU "battlefield", appears to show limited results; the fight against illegal logging, conducted for less than two decades, mobilised national administrations, but still needs to prove it is successful. And the youngest initiative, against IUU fishing activities, has used the most drastic sanctions which may lead to an import ban for fishing products. At the same time, the EU has the most financial means available for the fight against illegal fishing which allows it to make, together with Member States, extensive investigations and in particular enter into serious discussions and negotiations with third countries that are suspected of not being active enough in the fight against illegal fishing.

Undoubtedly, the common fisheries policy of the EU is financially better equipped than the environmental policy, though this observation does not explain why the fight against illegal logging is not better financially supported. The carrot and stick approach of the fisheries policy promises, in long term, the best results.

Both the sectors of illegal logging and illegal trade in endangered species should consider whether economic sanctions against states which show limited commitment in the fight against those illegal activities should not be introduced, together with offers for technical assistance, financial support, training support and capacity building measures for those countries which are ready to cooperate. It is not overlooked that it is easier to impose import bans on fishing products than in the two other sectors; though in both cases economic sanctions - not as a substitute but as a complement - are conceivable: the conservation of endangered species contributes to the livelihood of local populations, as does the fight to stop illegal logging to prevent deforestation, soil erosion, etc.