As Thailand works to eradicate illegal fishing and associated human rights abuse, this briefing assess the implementation of EJF’s recommendations since September 2015.

While Thailand has been making progress in its efforts to eradicate illegal fishing and human rights abuse, issues remain. This updated briefing outlines these issues and presents recommendations to address them.

Between January and December 2018, EJF used DNA testing to determine levels of seafood fraud in the Republic of Korea. The results showed that over a third of samples tested were mislabelled. This mislabelling defrauds consumers, risks public health, harms the marine environment and can be associated with serious human rights abuses across the world. These findings demonstrate the urgent need for greater transparency and traceability in Korean seafood.

Industrienationen sind in der Verantwortung die Wahrung der Menschenrechte in Anbetracht der Klimakrise in den Vordergrund zu rücken. Da Deutschland ein einflussreiches Mitglied in der Europäischen Union (EU) und innerhalb den Vereinten Nationen (UN) ist, fordert EJF mit diesem Positionspapier die Bundesregierung auf, eine Vorreiterrolle im Kampf gegen die Klimakrise einzunehmen und Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um all jene zu schützen, die heute schon unter den Folgen der Klimakrise leiden.

Ascending to the UN Security Council this year, and in 2020 assuming presidency of the EU, Germany is being given a prime opportunity to shape global action on climate change. In order to become a credible leader, Germany must meet its 2020 emissions reduction target, and create a legal structure in which it cannot fail to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. As well as mitigating climate change, Germany can safeguard the rights of those being forced to flee their homes because of global warming, facilitating and enshrining an international agreement to protect climate refugees. EJF's briefing explains why Germany must rise to the challenge.

Women play a vital part in Ghana's fisheries as business owners and fishmongers, yet have little say against the illegal fishing methods that are damaging their livelihoods. This gender report, co-authored by Hen Mpoano and EJF under the Far Dwuma Nkɔdo project, provides a close look at the gender dynamics of the artisanal fisheries sector, and makes recommendations to further empower women. It calls for the strengthening of women's organisations and the provision of leadership training, to build towards greater gender equity.

The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. This is putting its unique ecosystem at risk, and with it the existence of Europe’s only recognised indigenous people, the Sami, who have lived in the Arctic for millennia. Increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather is jeopardising Sami livelihoods and their rights as indigenous people. The Sami have a clear message for decision makers, from the front lines of climate change: now is the time to act.

Transparency must be improved to eradicate illegal fishing and prevent the collapse of Ghana’s fishing industry, says a new report from the Far Dwuma Nkɔdo project, which lays out key measures that can be implemented immediately by the government. Transparency is crucial to provide much-needed accountability in a sector facing unprecedented challenges, as fish stocks plunge to their lowest recorded levels.

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.

This report lays out the ‘ten principles for global transparency in the fishing industry’. These simple, low-cost measures – which include publishing license lists and giving vessels unique numbers – are well within the reach of any country and can play a pivotal role in the battle against illegal fishing and human rights abuse in the sector.

Transparency in the fishing industry is the best weapon we have against the twin tragedies of illegal fishing and human rights abuse in the sector. EJF has collated ten simple principles for states to follow.

EJF’s report shows that the global fishing industry suffers from a shocking lack of transparency, allowing Illegal operators to create as much confusion as possible around their identities; escaping detection by changing vessel names; concealing ownership; flying different flags to avoid detection; or removing ships from registers entirely. This report lays out the ‘ten principles for global transparency in the fishing industry’. These simple, low-cost measures – which include publishing license lists and giving vessels unique numbers – are well within the reach of any country and can play a pivotal role in the battle against illegal fishing and human rights abuse in the sector.