The European Parliament has strongly backed new fisheries legislation led by Maltese Labour MEP Thomas Bajada, aimed at strengthening enforcement of international fishing rules and protecting European fishers from unfair competition.Bajada served as the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the legislation, which brings conservation and control measures agreed between 2018 and 2024 by six Regional Fisheries Management Organisations into EU law.The MEP argued that having common rules is not enough unless Europe can properly enforce them, particularly when vessels from third countries are operating alongside European fishers.“If we expect our fishers to follow the rules, then those same rules must apply to everyone fishing alongside them,” Bajada said following the vote.He called for greater investment in aerial surveillance and modern monitoring technology, including the permanent use of drones for fisheries control. Bajada argued this could help authorities catch vessels engaging in illegal fishing before they are able to escape.At the same time, he pushed for simpler rules for European fishers, saying they should not “need a lawyer beside them” to understand their obligations.“We are not here merely to impose laws and fines on them. We are here to ensure that our fishers are not left to face unfair competition alone,” Bajada concluded.Could stronger surveillance help tackle illegal fishing in European waters?•