More than 200 villages along Ghana’s coastline rely on fisheries as their primary source of income. However, Ghana's small pelagic fishery, crucial for food security and livelihoods, is on the brink of collapse following decades of over-exploitation. The illegal practice of 'saiko' fishing - the transhipment of fish at sea from industrial trawlers to local canoes - has had a particularly destructive impact on Ghana’s small pelagic fisheries. This briefing looks at the scale of the practice and its impacts on livelihoods, food security and sustainability.

The Government of Ghana has committed to rebuildingthe nation’s fisheries through key measures set out inthe 2015-2019 Fisheries Management Plan. The nationalfisheries law framework is also undergoing a revision toensure emerging challenges are addressed and to bringGhana’s laws into line with international standards. Thisprocess offers a crucial opportunity to ensure principlesof sustainable management and good governance areenshrined within Ghana’s fisheries laws and future policies.

A new international agreement on migration – the UN Global Compact on Migration – is set to be adopted in autumn 2018. It covers a range of issues, from the drivers of migration to access to social services, and offers a chance to improve the governance of migration. However, as a soft-power tool that does not place any binding obligations on states, it cannot replace the unambiguous, legally binding agreement to protect climate refugees that EJF is calling for.

Investigations by EJF into the related problems of human trafficking and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Taiwan’s massive distant water fishing fleet has revealed worrying findings. This briefing details the structural shortcomings in Taiwan’s management of its deep water fleet that allow human trafficking and human rights abuses to persist.

This short paper provides highlights from the Report 'The Impact of the IUU Regulation on Seafood Trade Flows'

Description of the full report:
Ten years after the adoption of the EU IUU Regulation, this new report by EJF, Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts and WWF examines how the EU’s carding system has impacted the flow of seafood products into and within the EU.

It is the first detailed analysis to show that shifts in seafood import flows have occurred since 2010 that appear directly related to the IUU Regulation. The report focuses on ‘high risk’ trade flows to the EU, in terms of the likelihood that products were caught in contravention of applicable fisheries rules.

Contrary to previous analyses, the report shows that weaknesses in member state import controls and uneven standards could be providing a route for non-compliant products to enter the EU market.

Ten years after the adoption of the EU IUU Regulation, this new report by EJF, Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts and WWF examines how the EU’s carding system has impacted the flow of seafood products into and within the EU.

It is the first detailed analysis to show that shifts in seafood import flows have occurred since 2010 that appear directly related to the IUU Regulation. The report focuses on ‘high risk’ trade flows to the EU, in terms of the likelihood that products were caught in contravention of applicable fisheries rules.

Contrary to previous analyses, the report shows that weaknesses in member state import controls and uneven standards could be providing a route for non-compliant products to enter the EU market.

The Far Dwuma Nkɔdo project is implemented by EJF and Hen Mpoano, with funding from the EU. The project aims to secure greater environmental sustainability and social equity in Ghana’s fisheries sector, by supporting efforts to reduce illegal fishing and building the capacity of fishing communities in the sustainable management of their resource.

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts (Pew) and WWF are working together to support the harmonised and effective implementation of the European Union’s Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a major threat to livelihoods, food security and ocean health globally.

As the world’s largest import market for fish products, the European Union plays a pivotal role in reforming the global trade in fisheries products. This analysis charts the progress of the EU’s efforts to shut out illegal catch and end IUU fishing.

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts and WWF are working together to secure the harmonised and effective implementation of the EU Regulation to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Slavery, ‘pirate’ fishing and other serious crimes continue to plague Thailand’s seafood sector.

EJF believes that solutions to 'pirate' fishing and slavery in Thailand’s fishing sector are available, practical and achievable through a multi-track approach emphasising leadership, coordinated joint action and genuine commitment from all stakeholders. This report recalls and builds on the recommendations made in EJF’s 2015 report Pirates and Slaves. EJF also acknowledges and reiterates all recommendations made to Thailand in the 2015 US Department of State Trafficking in Persons report.

Eight environmental organisations set out priorities for the Government which are essential for increasing pollinator numbers and restoring the ecosystem services they provide. These include how current policy should be improved to provide pollinators with abundant well-connected habitat, plentiful food and freedom from toxic chemicals and disease.