(TheFishSite) JAPAN - Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will visit Japan from 9-13 July. The aim of the visit is to strengthen the cooperation between the EU and Japan on fisheries and maritime policies.
On 11 July Commissioner Damanaki and Akira Gunji, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, will sign, on behalf of the EU and on behalf of the government of Japan in the field of fisheries, a Joint Statement on mutual cooperation in the fight against Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing.
The visit's programme also includes meetings with several other ministers and authorities, as well as with NGOs and academia.
Commissioner Damanaki will also travel to the Tohoku region, a region which suffered heavily in the 2011 tsunami. The Commissioner will meet with the local authorities and the local community.