"世界的な課題「IUU（違法・無報告・無規制）漁業」への法制度強化等を求める ―ノーベル平和賞ノミネートのパティマ・タンプチャヤクル氏とともに水産庁長官に要望書を提出," 1 March 2024

[Japanese-to-English translation provided by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

The IUU Forum Japan (WWF Japan, Seafood Legacy Co., Ltd., Sailors for the Sea Japan, etc.) submitted a letter to Takeshi Mori, Director-General of the Fisheries Agency of the Japanese government, requesting to strengthen measures against "IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated) fishing." Requests made by this letter include the strengthening of the Act on Ensuring the Proper Domestic Distribution and Importation of Specified Aquatic Animals and Plants (“the Act”), which is the core countermeasures of IUU fishing. Participating in the submission was Patima Tungpuchayakul, who was nominated for the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to rescue "sea slaves," people forced to work as slaves in the fishing industry in Southeast Asia. Eleven overseas organisations have also signed the letter in support. WWF Japan also submitted 12,362 signatures to Mr. Mori calling for the strengthening of the Act.

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IUU Forum Japan urges the Japanese government to strengthen import regulations such as the Act and to participate in international platforms to eliminate IUU fishing, taking into account successful measures against IUU fishing in other parts of the world. These measures are expected to have the effect of preventing seafood sourced by IUU fishing from entering the Japanese market. IUU Forum Japan looks forward to the Japanese government's leadership in eliminating IUU fishing around the world.

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