Oceana reports on EU-owned fishing vessels in high-risk jurisdictions

The marine protection organization Oceana has identified links between Cypriot interests and fishing vessels registered in countries with lax regulations, such as Belize and Equatorial Guinea. The report highlights that such registration practices allow these vessels to operate with limited oversight, potentially facilitating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Oceana identified at least 105 EU-owned vessels across 20 high-risk jurisdictions, noting that nearly one-third of these ships hold permits to export their catch to the European Union. The organization urges the Cyprus government to collect information on companies owning such vessels and to close legislative gaps that prevent effective oversight. Vanya Vulperhorst, campaign director at Oceana, emphasized that transparency in vessel ownership is crucial for enforcing fishery rules and ensuring fair competition. Oceana further suggested that as a presiding member of the EU Council, Cyprus has an opportunity to lead in establishing stricter accountability measures. The report warns that the current lack of transparency creates an uneven playing field for legitimate fishing operators and undermines EU environmental goals.