Key Traceability’s Concern over lack of Observer Coverage on Fishing trips and Transshipment

We recognise that during this global climate of the Covid-19 pandemic that measures taken to protect human safety may be inadvertently creating issues for fishery sustainability. It has been necessary for some tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) to suspend the requirement for human observers to be present on fishing trips or to witness transshipment on the high sea or in port, in some cases at least until the last quarter of this year or in others for the foreseeable future.

We understand the need for caution and increased practices to ensure the health and safety of all personnel who are involved with fishing operations; however, the temporary suspension of certain observer coverage requirements is concerning due to the potential for other illegal practices as a result of reduced surveillance.

Observer_derrogation_letter_V2.pdf

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