Take a Stand Against Illegal Fishing

Sharks, tuna and sea turtles are just some of the victims of illegal fishing practices.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a key driver of global overfishing. It threatens both marine ecosystems as well as food and regional security — not to mention it has a major impact on the global economy. In fact, recent estimates show that the world is losing up to $23 billion in annual revenue due to IUU fishing, with a staggering 86% of species currently at risk.

With the US as one of the world's largest markets for seafood, the realities of IUU fishing become even more severe. Americans consume about 5 billion pounds of seafood a year. Currently, however, it's not possible to determine if the fish we eat are legally caught.

Take action today: Help us ensure the fish you buy is caught responsibly from our world’s oceans.
Dear National Ocean Council,

Thank you for your diligent and sustained efforts in the fight against illegal fishing. As you continue to build the US plan for combatting illegal fishing, I strongly urge you to establish regulations that ensure all species are eventually covered under comprehensive regulation. This is not a matter of species vs. species, but rather an issue of good actors vs. bad actors.

The government must therefore be committed to a comprehensive rule that ends incentives for illegal fishing and guarantees that seafood can be traced via verifiable resources. While I support the task force's decision to test and phase in requirements that would be a part of this regulation, we must ensure that global actors have adequate time to make the necessary changes that such a regulation would entail.

I would like to see the following measures put in place:

1. mandatory and standardized electronic catch documentation

2. a comprehensive system of traceability — with practical requirements easily integrated into current practices

3. adequate border procedures that allow for informed decisions regarding product legality

[Your comment will go here]

Thank you.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
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