The European Parliament has achieved a historic vote in favour of several crucial reforms to the Common Fisheries Policy. Now the challenge will be getting EU ministers onboard to ensure these encouraging decisions are written into European law.
In their annual marathon meeting on next year’s fishing quota, EU Fisheries ministers have yet again fixed fishing limits for many fish stocks higher than proposed by the European Commission, which largely followed scientific advice.
Christmas has come early this year for European fish stocks as the European Parliament’s fisheries committee voted on the most important file of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. On the key topics such as restoring fish stocks to healthy levels, setting fishing limits according to scientific advice, and ending discards, MEPs have expressed their will to lead European fish stocks to a more sustainable future.
In advance of the December Fisheries Council meeting and where fishing limits for 2013 will be set, SAR and FISH are calling on EU Fisheries Ministers to follow scientific advice and set limits that enable the EU to rebuild fish stocks to sustainable levels.
This week will see the European Parliament vote on the most important file on the reform of the CFP and Fisheries Ministers will set next year’s fishing limits. In advance of the Fisheries Council meeting, SAR and FISH are calling on Ministers to follow scientific advice and set limits that enable the EU to rebuild fish stocks to sustainable levels.
Today the Council agreed on deep-sea fishing quota for 2013 and 2014, and set them higher than proposed by the Commission for half of the stocks, ignoring the vulnerability of these stocks.
In a letter sent ahead of the November Fisheries Council meeting, Seas At Risk and the Fisheries Secretariat are calling on EU Ministers to set quotas for deep sea species that reflect the vulnerability of these stocks given their unique life traits.
Two recent economic studies show that the costs associated with temporarily reducing or halting fishing to allow stocks to recover are far outweighed by the economic benefits of healthy fish stocks.
At the October Council meeting, European Fisheries Ministers have reached a provisional agreement on the future of EU fisheries subsidies, setting aside €975 million for controversial subsidies that maintain or increase the current overcapacity of fishing vessels and thus contribute to overfishing.
In a letter sent ahead of the October Fisheries Council meeting, SAR and FISH have made a final call on EU Fisheries Ministers to oppose all proposals that allow aid for new builds, modernisation and/or engine replacements, decommissioning and temporary cessation.
The negotiations on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund are currently gathering speed. In a joint position paper, BirdLife Europe, Greenpeace, Oceana, OCEAN2012 and WWF are calling for a shift of funds away from subsidies that incentivise and support overfishing to funds that support sustainable fisheries and healthy marine ecosystems.
The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) today welcomed the proposal by the European Commission to phase out destructive deep-sea bottom trawling and bottom gillnetting by EU fishing fleets in the Northeast Atlantic.
In its adoption of an overarching communication on the CFP reform, the Parliament’s Fisheries Committee has encouragingly supported the objective of keeping EU fish stocks above levels that are capable of producing MSY, again signalling the Parliament’s intent to achieve a more sustainable CFP.
In his new book Ocean of Life, the renowned marine biologist Callum Roberts has made the case for urgent action to protect and restore the global marine environment – painting a gloomy picture but one, that he argues, can be corrected.
After an 18 hour negotiation marathon a scandalous lack of ambition has led ministers to backtrack on previous commitments and sanction another decade of overfishing, environmental destruction, and the loss of fisher jobs and livelihoods.
European Fish Weeks will provide the opportunity to get involved in events across Europe and tell politicians to “End overfishing or fishing will be over!”.
In a letter sent to EU Ministers ahead of the June Fisheries Council meeting, SAR and Fish have highlighted a list of key issues needing attention in order to repopulate European seas and enable a viable fishing sector through the reform of the CFP.
The 2012 European Fish Weeks will take place between June 8 and August 31. A new video by 0CEAN2012 underlines the message that you can help to convey in these weeks: “End overfishing or fishing will be over!” Politicians are responsible for making the decisions that will end overfishing; citizens have the responsibility to encourage and support them in making these decisions. European Fish Weeks will run between June 8 and August 31 and will provide the opportunity to make your voice heard by getting involved in Fish Week activities near you or by organising your own event.
European fisheries ministers expressed their opposition to the Commission’s proposals to improve the dire situation of fisheries in Europe and to pave a path towards a sustainable exploitation of marine resources.
The members of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee have voted to significantly strengthen the Commission’s proposal for a new Common Fisheries Policy. The final opinion as approved is a clear sign that MEPs want to put sustainability at the heart of the reform.
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