Undercurrent News: January 25, 2019:
Environmental organizations ClientEarth and Our Fish welcomed a decision by the European Commission to follow-up on infringement proceedings against Denmark for failing to properly control fishing practices, and illegal misreporting of catches, they said, in a press release.
Denmark has been found in breach of its legal obligation to ensure that fishers record bycatches in their electronic logbook, leaving huge quantities of fish undeclared. As a result, the European Commission has formally notified Danish authorities, giving them two months to comply with EU law.
“Denmark is blatantly breaching its obligation to control fishers operating in its waters. We welcome the Commission’s decision to open infringement proceedings for Denmark’s failure to monitor fishing activities by its vessels,” ClientEarth Fisheries lawyer Elisabeth Druel said, in a statement. “In addition, we’re concerned that Danish authorities also granted illegal fishers access to European public money.”