A report just released by the
The report, 'Deterring illegal activities inthe fisheries sector', issued by the European Commission‘s Joint ResearchCentre (JRC), provides answers to several questions that consumers have at thetime of purchasing various fisheries resources: What species does this fishproduct come from? … Where was this fish caught? … Is it wild or farmed?
Molecular technology is based on genetics,genomics, chemistry and forensics.
According to European Commissioner for MaritimeAffairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, illegal fishing is said to be worth EUR10 billion a year worldwide.
"It is a criminalactivity that negatively affects the global economy, disrupts marine ecosystemsand damages fisheries communities and consumers," said Damanaki onpresenting the report in the city of Genoa, Italy.
"Failure to complywith rules in EU waters and beyond that, there can be no sustainable fisheries.Today a first step has been taken in a new era, it is now the time to transferthis new scientific knowledge into everyday practice throughout Europe,"she added.
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn,European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science and the Commissionerwith lead responsibility for the JRC said: "This crucial report by theCommission's in-house scientists working at the JRC indicates how the wider andmore coordinated use of innovative molecular technologies can help foil fisheryfraud and make sure that consumers receive what they pay for and know what theyare eating."
According to the JRC,labelling fish and fish products with a false species name and declaring falsegeographic origins are two common fraudulent techniques in the fisheries sector.
The report suggests thatthe EC should make a coherent and practical approach towards making newmolecular technologies available to European control and enforcementauthorities.
It proposes thefollowing concrete measures:
- Stepping up dissemination ofrelevant information and advice to stakeholders;
- Giving analytical laboratories in the Member States access tocommon repositories of reference data and other relevant knowledge for theanalysis of fish and fishery products. These repositories could be similar tothe “fishtrace” database, hosted by the JRC;
- Anetwork of certified test laboratories to carry out analysis for control andenforcement purposes and to share harmonized and validated analytical protocols.
(Fis)
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