China will have to make significant improvements to its fisheries’ traceability systems if it is to meet stricter European Union requirements aimed at preventing illegal fishing, according to a new report from wildlife advocates.
As of January next year, all fish products entering the EU must come with catch certificates validated by the country whose flag the fishing boat which caught the fish is flying, a move the EU hopes will aid the fight against what is called illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.
But China, which in recent years has soared to the top of the list of the world’s leading fish product exporting nations, has a long way to go to successfully track a product along its chain of transactions, according a report published on Monday (17 August) by Traffic, a UK-based conservation group that monitors trade in wild plants and animals.