Sergio Paolo Francesco Silvestris (PPE), in writing. – (IT) Illegal fishing undermines efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks in all capture fisheries. When confronted with this phenomenon, national and regional fisheries management organisations can fail to achieve management goals. This situation leads to the loss of both short- and long-term social and economic opportunities and to negative effects on food security and environmental protection.

With its new legislation, the EU has armed itself with tools to combat illegal fishing. If the EU is to persuade other States to act as well, then the EU must itself be above reproach. The existing Regional Fishers Management Organisations (RFMOs) vary widely in their approach to illegal fishing and the legal measures, including sanctions, that they employ to combat it. Most of the ideas to combat the phenomenon need to be implemented among RFMOs. Finally, the EU could simultaneously support current global initiatives as well as proposing new ones.