The 1st thing I knew about this study by the good people of the EU IUU Fishing Coalition was almost 2 years ago when Gilles Hosch and I were approached to write it, but the project didn’t eventuate for various reasons. I had no idea what had happened to it until now and was happy to read and agree with most of its content.
Overall I’m very pleased to see many of the ideas we were presenting with Gilles from 2015 to the 2019 period being echoed today. It meant that while being groundbreakingly then, weren’t too far fetched and more institutionally oriented works are expanding on them.
At some stage FAO will publish the latest work I been involved with FAO (Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) and Key Data Elements (KDEs) along the wild capture and aquaculture value chains) that will validate (and expand) on the Key Data Elements they propose, and with emphasis on the different
I like the last part of the introduction that I quote here below… but as usual, read the original!
In order to improve and broaden the scope and effectiveness of CDS, this analysis proposes a series of recommendations including a baseline for how to align and expand CDS coverage globally in order to close the remaining traceability loopholes using a generic CDS model. Informed by the main key data elements (KDEs) recommended in recent years by the seafood industry, civil society and in FAO publications, this study further proposes minimum standards applicable not to just mono-specific fisheries, to which current CDS mainly apply, but also to multi-specific, small-scale and recreational fisheries which are increasingly involved in the implementation of the catch documentation schemes. Ultimately, it is important to point out that the notion of CDS alignment is part of a gradual process that differs from the harmonisation of existing CDS. While harmonisation should be considered as the ultimate objective, the diversity and complexity of existing CDS requires that RFMOs first implement processes for mutual recognition and interoperability of their systems. This step should promote the adoption of the minimum alignment standards presented in this study as this will facilitate harmonisation, i.e. establishing a single, global CDS which would reflect a combination of all existing ones.