US seafood groups ask the EU to reform its CATCH catch-certificate system
An Alaska seafood industry white paper, "Advancing EU Efforts to Combat IUU Fishing: Why CATCH Needs Reforms", dated 1 September, carries the logos of the Pacific Seafood Processors Association, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and the At-sea Processors Association; trade media report that the National Seafood Association has since joined the call. It cites almost 16,000 t of Alaska seafood held up in the Netherlands in May, later cleared, and about 600 t delayed in Denmark, and asks for rules based on fishery risk, reporting by processing plant instead of by vessel, removal of the processing statement, better data interoperability, a US–EU working group and more time before permanent requirements apply.