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Dear Readers,
Recent weeks have seen a big victory for our oceans and for Seas At Risk, as the European Commission launched a proposal for legislation to reduce the flow of single-use plastics and fishing gear into the sea. This unprecedented move to tackle marine litter follows several years of intense advocacy work by Seas At Risk and other civil society partners. Our next step is to prepare for a period of intense negotiation, which will hopefully yield strong legislation on ending plastic pollution in Europe.
Meanwhile, the Common Fisheries Policy’s deadline to bring fishing limits within sustainable levels and end discarding unwanted catch is looming. The activities undertaken to date are clearly insufficient to meet this deadline, with the recently adopted fisheries plan for the North Sea being just one example.
Belgium finds itself in the spotlight in this newsletter, as the subject of two separate pieces. The first reports on the European Parliament’s reprimand to Belgium for its inadequate measures to protect its marine ecosystems, while the second features the first Belgian stakeholder debate on deep-sea mining.
If you enjoy this newsletter, please do share it with colleagues and friends, and encourage them to sign up for more European news on marine protection.
The Seas At Risk Team
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Victory for the oceans – Commission takes important legal step to protect our seas from the plastic deluge
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In an unprecedented move to tackle marine litter, the European Commission launched the long-awaited proposal for legislation to reduce the flow of single use plastics and fishing gear into the seas. The initiative focuses on the 10 most commonly found single use plastics and fishing gear, which together represent around 70% of marine litter found on Europe’s beaches.
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European Parliament finally leads by example: no more single-use plastic bottles from next year
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The next EU legislative period will start in July 2019, from which time the European Parliament will no longer use single-use plastic bottles at its facilities and meetings. On 11 June, the Bureau of the Parliament agreed to include new conditions in its upcoming canteen and catering contract, disallowing the delivery of plastic bottles to Parliament facilities. Instead, the number of drinking water fountains will be extended to facilitate the use of reusable bottles at Parliament facilities.
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Fisheries plan for the North Sea undermines Common Fisheries Policy commitments
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The European Parliament recently approved new legislation on the management of fisheries in the North Sea. The multi-annual plan (MAP) is the second such programme, after the earlier Baltic plan. Both bills undermine the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy, a central tenet of which is to end overfishing.
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European Parliament sends message to Belgium: take nature protection laws seriously
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The European Parliament has, for the first time, rejected a draft delegated act of the European Commission. The proposed legislation would have enacted the inadequate measures put forward by Belgium to protect its marine ecosystems. In rejecting the draft, the European Parliament sent a strong signal to Member States and the Commission that European nature protection laws must be taken seriously.
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Belgium launches long-awaited public debate on deep-sea mining
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On 5 June, the Belgian Ministries of Economics and Environment organised an international stakeholder workshop to discuss Belgium’s position on deep-sea mining. Belgium is currently in the spotlight of international deep-sea mining development, as a sponsoring state to an exploration contract signed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in 2013 with the Belgian company Global Sea Mineral Resources (GSR). The contract is for the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an area more than twice the size of Belgium.
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European Parliament misses opportunity to develop ambitious EU vision for aquaculture
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The European Parliament recently approved the own initiative report on sustainable and competitive aquaculture. Regrettably, MEPs failed to take the opportunity to develop a new vision for European aquaculture, instead choosing to simply reiterate the conclusions from EU reports published five years ago.
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Common Fisheries Policy: decision makers need to take action to restore fish stocks and reduce unwanted catch
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The Common Fisheries Policy legal deadline to bring fishing limits within sustainable levels and end the wasteful practice of discarding unwanted catch is rapidly approaching. Seas At Risk, together with its members and other NGOs, call on European and national policy makers to meet the key objectives and commitments of the Common Fisheries Policy.
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Port of Rotterdam fuel oil spill - a stark reminder of risks to Arctic ecosystems
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On Saturday 23 June 2018, a collision between a tanker and the jetty in the Port of Rotterdam - Europe’s biggest seaport, resulted in a heavy fuel oil (HFO) spill. Despite the immediate mitigation actions taken by the crew of the vessel and resources on-shore, 217 tonnes of HFO are estimated to have spilled from the fuel tank.
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Song of the Whale’s arrival in Malaga kicks off international whale research project
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This summer, unique whale research vessel Song of the Whale will be leading a new project studying whales and other cetaceans. The research project is supported by Seas at Risk’s member, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and other partners, and aims to establish cetacean abundance and distribution in the Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic areas. The collection of up-to-date data on whale populations will allow for swift responses to the threats faced by species in the region.
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Spanish Environment Minister jeopardises protection of red coral in Catalonia
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Recently, the Spanish Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment, Ms. Isabel García Tejerina, granted 12 permits for the extraction and sale of red coral (Corallium rubrum) at the Catalan coast. Seas At Risk member, the ENT Foundation, together with its partner organisations, urges the Spanish Minister to revise her decision and suspend the extraction of red coral along the whole Catalan coast.
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Marine environment NGOs in Spain and Portugal join forces to protect their oceans and sustainable fisheries
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15 marine conservation NGOs from Spain and Portugal, including Seas At Risk members Sciaena, LPN, GEOTA, Quercus and ENT Foundation, have agreed to coordinate their work on key marine conservation issues. Their first joint meeting took place on 11 June 2018 and discussed Iberian sardine stock, deep sea fishing opportunities and full implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy.
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