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European fishing firms reflag ships to tap Indian Ocean tuna quotas, report finds

A new report released Thursday by the Blue Marine Foundation and Kroll reveals that European companies have taken a third of the tropical tuna catch in the Indian Ocean, while yellowfin and bigeye tuna remain under pressure and still rebounding from severe overfishing.
Following a 21% reduction mandate for EU-flagged vessels, European companies are reflagging ships to foreign nations to maintain catch levels and bypass limits intended to help yellowfin tuna stocks recover.
Tracking European companies across foreign registries, Jess Rattle and Kroll investigators found vessels registered under flags of Seychelles, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, and Oman, a strategy that masks parent ownership and hinders regulatory oversight.
Spokesperson Anne-France Mattlet concurred that Europeche has more than 50 purse seine and supply ships operating in the Indian Ocean, stating the industry benefits regional economies through taxes, licensing fees, and infrastructure investment.
Five years ago, the Maldives accused the European Union of failing to propose serious quota reductions at a tuna commission meeting, tensions that resurface ahead of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission's annual gathering in the Maldives.

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