Jacques Verborgh | Sound Fisheries Management Advocate

During 30 years of civil service within the European Commission I have developed a sound knowledge of fisheries management in a global context and in the North Atlantic region in particular.

Highlights of my Career in Fisheries

President of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) from 2017 to 2020. NEAFC is the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation established by the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in North‐East Atlantic Fisheries. Decision making is based on the latest scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). NEAFC also collaborates with the Commission established by the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North‐East Atlantic. NEAFC is based in London. During my time as President I have been chairing four Annual Meetings of the Commission in concert with the Secretary and in close collaboration with the Heads of Delegation. Meeting documents are in the Reports Archive of NEAFC.
Head of the EU Delegation for the fisheries consultations with Norway (2015–2018) within the framework of the bilateral Fisheries Agreement with Norway, since 40 years the most important fisheries agreement of the EU.
In the early stage of my career I have been instrumental in the establishment of the European satellite based Vessel Monitoring System (VMS).

Prior to joining the European Commission, I have worked 10 years with the National Bank of Belgium where I got acquainted with the standardisation of International Trade Procedures.

You can find my profile on LinkedIn.
A list of my publications is available on this website.