Deterring Illegal Activities in the Fisheries Sector Genetics, Genomics, Chemistry and Forensics to Fight IUU Fishing and in Support of Fish Product Traceability

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and fraud along the fish product supply chain impede sustainable fisheries worldwide and pose a major challenge to regulators, as well as control and enforcement authorities. In this context the ability to determine authenticity and provenance of fish and fish products throughout the fish product supply chain constitutes a key asset. This JRC reference report describes existing techniques based on genetics, genomics and chemistry that are suitable for fisheries control and enforcement and traceability of fish products. It argues that despite their value these techniques are currently underutilised, and discusses how they can be implemented by control and enforcement authorities. To demonstrate feasibility, examples are provided of cases where such techniques have already been successfully employed to reveal fisheries fraud and to generate evidence in court cases. Furthermore, strategies of how (forensic) genetics and chemistry could be translated into a routine European fisheries control and enforcement framework — in the context of EU policy and legislation — are explored. The purpose of this report is to catalyse an informed dialogue amongst stakeholders and to contribute to a more efficient technology transfer process. IPSC Deterring illegal activities fisheries.indd 317.05.2011 12:11 The mission of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical sup-port for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of European Union policies. As aservice of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology forthe Union. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, whilebeing independent of special interests, whether private or national.LB-NA-2494-EN-C IPSC Deterring illegal activities fisheries.indd 417.05.2011 12:11