Failures In Monitoring And Enforcement

In a follow-up letter, Ms Gilmour called for the issue to be referred to the National Audit Office (NAO) for scrutiny, citing what she described as a lack of regulation and ineffective monitoring.

She accused the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) of failing to submit non-UK catch data to the UK authorities, allowing “illegally caught, untraceable fish to enter the EU market.” She also criticised the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) over its handling of the I-VMS rollout, stating the system was “broken” and that inshore fishermen were “taking the brunt in every conceivable way.”

“The UK has the second highest likelihood globally, over 50%, for IUU [illegal, unreported and unregulated] fishing being landed,” she said. “Immediate action is required.”

 
Five Key Demands For Action

In her correspondence to the Minister, Ms Gilmour urged the Government to act on what she described as “critical failures” by taking five immediate steps:

Implement real-time monitoring of all foreign vessel landings to ensure accurate catch records.

Enforce proper inspection of foreign vessel catches, net mesh sizes and tagging of lost gear.

Investigate and regulate export customs clearance to prevent IUU fish from exiting the UK.

Strengthen enforcement by increasing unannounced inspections of foreign vessels in UK waters.

Hold EFCA accountable for reporting catch data and monitoring IUU fishing of foreign vessels in UK waters.

 
Call For Ministerial Response

Ms Gilmour said the contrast between the “relentless requirement” for UK inshore vessels to install I-VMS units and the lack of regulation for foreign vessels was “beggars belief.”

She warned that “without immediate intervention, our coastal communities will continue to decline, and the UK’s ability to sustain its fishing industry will be irreparably damaged.”

Ms Gilmour has requested a meeting with Mr Zeichner to discuss the matter and said she expects a full ministerial response to the concerns raised on behalf of the South West’s struggling fishing communities.