The European Commission has accepted a report from Member of European Parliament (MEP) Linnea Ergstrom on the need to ensure not only environmental, but social, sustainability of fish imports.

In a non-binding resolution adopted on May 30, MEPs said all imported fisheries and aquaculture products should comply with the EU law standards regarding the conservation, management standards and hygiene requirements. The extension of control measures to non-EU products should boost fair competition and help third countries to meet the EU’s standards, it was felt.

The resolution invited the commission to look into creating a label to identify the EU’s fishery products, and the Spanish tuna fleet has offered the use of its Responsible Fishing Tuna Standard (APR).

"Our fleet has taken this decision given the international support for this rule, developed entirely in our country, as well as being the only one in the world that considers the social sustainability of the crews at the same level as the biological and economic," said the Organization of Associated Producers of Large Freezer Tuna Vessels (OPAGAC).

"If Europe takes this step, it would be a remarkable impulse to stop illegal fishing, since the EU is the largest market for fishery products in the world today," said Julio Moron, OPAGAC managing director.

"Many fishery products sold in the EU come from precarious fishing activities that do not meet the requirements of environmental sustainability or respect the social and labor rights of the crew; requirements that, paradoxically, are required of the European fleet."