Deploying three offshore patrol vessels for the first time added “fundamental fisheries control capacity to the EU”, according to the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA).

The EFCA says that the chartering of three seaborne inspection platforms—the Ocean Sentinel, the Ocean Protector, and the Ocean Guardian—and one airplane marked a “turning point” and had “concrete results.”

Last year, it also increased the use of satellite imagery and vessel detection technologies, using the European Maritime Safety Agency Copernicus Maritime Surveillance service.

The EFCA’s information systems enabled the collection of data from each member state on fishing vessels, catches and other information.

Joint Deployment Plan (JDP) inspections and suspected infringements evolution

The EFCA’s annual report for 2023 says that cooperative efforts with member states resulted in 44,993 coordinated inspections.

Some 4230 of these inspections led to the identification of at least one suspected infringement.

It says that in the fight against illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, the EFCA assisted the European Commission with the analysis of 637 catch certificates and processing statements from four third countries.

It also provided technical support during five evaluation missions to third countries.

Its report says that its working group on Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) was active during 2023 on “the exchange of experiences and best practices from the implementation of REM pilot projects and on the preparation for the future mandatory implementation of REM”.

The EFCA says it continued to assist the Commission in the cooperation with third countries and international organisations dealing with fisheries under the Common Fisheries Policy to strengthen operational coordination and compliance.

Through a project named PESCO, initiated in 2017 and concluded last year, it says it helped to “enhance the contribution of fisheries resources to sustainable development, food security and poverty alleviation in West Africa”.

The agency continued implementation of a project for weighing fishery products in member states.

Two projects in the western Mediterranean supported third countries, including “e-fish Med” which provided training and training material in fisheries control to five North African countries, and a separate project supported monitoring of fishing activity off Algeria.

EFCA executive director Susan Steele

EFCA executive director Susan Steele said she extended her " profound appreciation to all entities and collaborators who have played a part in the achievements of the agency”.

“Our joint endeavours have led to a more uniform and efficient application of the Common Fisheries Policy, fostering fair competition, preserving biodiversity, and securing a future for the industry," she said.

An exchange programme to improve co-operation in the “fight” against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has been initiated by the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA).

The EU-funded e-FishMed project involves fisheries inspectors and operators of Fisheries Monitoring Centres (FMC) in Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia.

The programme is technically supported by the e-FishMed project partners, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain, according to the EFCA.

The first course in the exchange programme is being organised by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food this month, and participants will start their work in Madrid.

The EFCA says they will visit the Spanish Fisheries Monitoring Centre and participate in several sessions that will facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practices and reinforce contacts, networks, and cooperation.

The exchange will continue in Malaga where the participants will take part as observers to fishery inspection activities.

The e-FishMed project contributes to harmonising fisheries control and inspection activities and promotes cooperation against IUU fishing, along with “effective implementation of control of conservation and management measures in the Mediterranean”, the EFCA says.

“The project will also contribute to creating the conditions for a sustainable blue economy in that area,” it says.

More information about the e-FishMed Project can be found here.

An offshore patrol vessel with the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) has berthed in Dublin to mark the 20th anniversary of the North Western Waters Advisory Council and the Pelagic Advisory Council.

The Ocean Protector is one of three EFCA offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), and participants at the 20th anniversary event in Dublin Castle have been invited to visit it today (Friday, March 15)

As Afloat has reported, the two advisory councils are discussing their role within the Common Fisheries Policy at the event.

The OPV Ocean Protector is one of the three inspection platforms chartered by the EFCA.

The 62-metre ship is a multi-role emergency response and rescue vessel and has a dynamic position system.

This system allows it to better maintain position, and to balance the environmental forces such as wind, waves and currents during the duty while also reducing fuel consumption to a minimum.

It is operational all year round as a fisheries patrol vessel to support member states in the different EFCA´s joint deployment plans.

The EFCA says that during its operations it is available for supporting other coast guard functions, such as providing support during search and rescue situations, maritime surveillance and pollution response.

“Its deployment enhances the EU capacity to improve the effectiveness of fisheries control operations in the EU and beyond,”the EFCA says.