Norway will continue to raise awareness by seeking support to the International Declaration on transnational organized crime in the global fishing industry (Copenhagen Declaration) and address these challenges through the Blue Justice Initiative.

International Declaration on Transnational Organized Crime in the Global fishing industry (Copenhagen Declaration) In 2008 the UN General Assembly adopted paragraph 58 of the UN fisheries resolution (A/RES/63/112 ) which noted concerns about "possible connections between international organized crime and illegal fishing". We believe that the world community now realise that there is transnational organized crime in the global fishing industry and that this is thoroughly documented. The fisheries sector is a high value, globalized, geographically expansive and multifaceted industry, leaving the sector vulnerable to transnational and organized crime and posing a challenge to ordinary policing methods. Fisheries crime – such as illegal fishing, money laundering, human trafficking, corruption, tax and customs evasion and fraud – undermines fisheries management efforts, rule of law and good governance, livelihoods and the revenue base of affected countries. Fisheries crime fuels illicit financial flows -- the blue shadow economy -- and undermines the competitiveness of the legitimate industry. We believe that it will be difficult to meet the targets set by SDG 14 without addressing transnational organized crime in the global fishing industry. Combatting transnational organized crime is linked to SDG 16. We need to fully recognize the destructive nature of fisheries crime, address the challenges posed by the blue shadow economy, and work jointly at all levels to enhance cross-border and inter-agency fisheries law enforcement. The world needs to give clear and strong answers to the plea of the General Assembly. In light of that Norway, together with eight other countries, adopted an international declaration against transnational organized crime in the global fishing industry (the Copenhagen declaration). The international declaration have now 48 supporting countries and is constantly growing. In both declarations the ministers [a]re convinced that there is a need for the world community to recognize the existence of transnational organized crime in the global fishing industry. Norway encourages States to formally support the International Declaration on Transnational Organized Crime in the Global Fishing Industry. Blue Justice Initiative The Copenhagen Declaration specifically identify developing countries as particularly affected by fisheries crime. The Blue Justice initiative is a response to this challenge and was launched by Norway during the Our Ocean conference held in Oslo in 2019. The initiative supports a number of projects which work towards the initiative’s vision of “a sustainable and fair blue economy free from fisheries crime". Norway has developed “the Blue Justice community” which is a secure digital communication platform that is available for participating governments. It provides an online space where colleagues across borders can communicate on issues relating to fisheries crime. Furthermore, Norway has also established “the International Blue Justice Tracking Center” in Norway which will assist developing countries in tracking fishing vessels. The initiative has also partnerships with UNDP, UNODC, ILO and IOM which have a number of different projects which supports developing countries in addressing these challenges. Norway will continue to support developing countries to address crime in the fishing industry through the Blue Justice Initiative.