Fishermen from EU countries will be allowed to fish in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. On Monday evening, the European Parliament approved—with an overwhelming majority—the EU’s accession to the fisheries treaty for this part of the ocean.

Dutch ECR MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen and rapporteur on the file called it “a welcome development, considering the hard times for many fishermen these days.” EU fishermen are already active in the South Pacific Ocean, where fishing activities are confined to the summer months. Expansion of fishing to the North will make year-round fishing operations in the Pacific possible for EU fleets.

Through this treaty, the EU will join others in protecting biodiversity and promoting the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks in the North Pacific. The EU will play and pay its part in achieving these goals as it readies itself to become the treaty’s ninth full member, joining Canada, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Taiwan, the United States of America and Vanuatu.

Parliament’s approval should be finalised in time to allow EU fishermen to start fishing in 2022. Mackerel and sardines are among the many interesting species that can be found in the area.