Wednesday 16 April 2008

While progress is being made in tackling illegal fishing for Atlantic cod in the Arctic, huge number of illegal landings of both Atlantic cod and Alaska pollock are continuing to make their way to international markets.

"Pervasive and highly profitable illegal fishing for Alaska pollock and Atlantic cod in the Arctic is threatening the health of these globally important ecosystems," said Giles Bartlett, Fisheries Policy Officer at WWF-UK.

"WWF-UK is concerned about the ability of Arctic fish to cope with climate change, with illegal fishing being an added stress that can reduce the capacity of fish populations to adapt and survive. This comes at a time when the UK is importing significant quantities of cod and pollock from the Arctic, due to depleted cod stocks in European waters," he explained.

Short-term profits
About 70% of the world's white fish supply comes from the Arctic, with the world's last large cod stock found in the Barents Sea. According to Norwegian government figures, more than 100,000 tonnes of illegal cod, valued at €225 million (£180 million), was caught in the Barents Sea in 2005.

Concerted efforts by industry, government and environmental groups to clamp down on this illegal activity has seen illegal landings cut by 50%, but illegal fishing for Alaska Pollock in the Russian Far-East remains a problem.

While investigation into illegal fishing in the Russian Far-East is less exhaustive than in the Barents Sea, the new report, Illegal Fishing in Arctic Waters, shows that in the Sea of Okhotsk alone, illegal landings of Alaska pollock can reach a value of more than €45 million (£36 million) annually. The economic loss to the legitimate fishing industry and public purse is estimated at €210 million (£168 million).

"Illegal fishing in the Arctic is a serious international crime crossing European, African, Asian and American borders," said Dr Neil Hamilton, Director of WWF International's Arctic Programme.

"Cheats are putting short-term profits ahead of the long-term survival of Arctic fisheries," he explained.

Global markets
Barents Sea cod is taken mainly by Norwegian, Russian and EU fishers, while the bulk of the Alaska pollock catch, fished mainly in the Western Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk, is taken by Russian fleets with China the largest buyer. With markets spread across the globe, the distribution of black market cod and pollock is a global problem.

WWF-UK is alarmed that several EU member states are opposing the current European Commission (EC) proposal to address illegal fishing. The EC is calling for a ban on illegal fish or fisheries products entering the EU market and major fines for EU and non-EU vessels caught fishing illegally.