Oceana has called on the Cypriot government to collect and disclose information on Cyprus-based companies that own fishing vessels registered outside the European Union, warning that a lack of transparency is creating a major gap in enforcement. The organisation said the absence of clear ownership data could allow illegal fishing to continue unchecked, while placing law-abiding fishing operators at a disadvantage.
“Transparency around vessel ownership is essential for enforcing fisheries rules, ensuring illegal activities do not go unpunished and legitimate operators are not subject to unfair competition,” said Vanya Vulperhorst, Oceana’s illegal fishing and transparency campaign director.
“The consequences of inaction are significant. We have identified at least 105 EU-owned vessels registered in 20 different high-risk countries, and almost one third of these vessels are authorised to export their catches to the EU. To ensure the EU market is free from illegally caught products, member states must improve both accountability and control of these EU-owned vessels,” she added. A recent Oceana report identified links between Cypriot interests and vessels registered in jurisdictions including Belize and Equatorial Guinea, which the organisation says are associated with limited oversight and weak controls.
Oceana said effective enforcement depends on authorities being able to identify who is ultimately responsible for illegal activity. Without ownership transparency, it said, authorities face difficulties investigating offences, imposing penalties and preventing profits from illegal fishing from flowing back into the EU. The issue, according to the organisation, reflects a broader structural problem in the global fishing industry. Vessel owners can register ships under foreign flags in countries with weaker regulatory systems, while profits return to the EU through complex corporate structures. This, Oceana said, enables operators to avoid stricter EU standards and limits the ability of authorities to identify who benefits from fishing activity.
Governments from around the world are expected to meet in Kenya in June for the international Our Ocean Conference. Oceana is calling on Cyprus and the EU to make concrete commitments on fisheries transparency and to strengthen global efforts to improve access to information on vessel licensing, ownership and monitoring. The organisation also called on Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou to place Cyprus at the forefront of international efforts against illegal fishing at the conference.
