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Dear Readers,
As we welcome the autumn, Seas At Risk is looking ahead to a busy marine litter agenda. In September, several committees of the European Parliament are due to give their views on the Commission’s proposal for a Single-use Plastics Directive, followed by a Plenary vote on the Plastics Strategy.
During the summer deep-sea mining remained a hot-button issue. July saw 168 countries attend the 24th annual session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), where Seas At Risk (together with other NGOs) warned about the irreversible damage to marine ecosystems caused by deep-sea mining and asked the ISA to discuss the need for deep-sea mining. This work has continued throughout September, when the ISA engages in stakeholder consultation on its draft exploitation regulations.
Finally, the autumn months should see the start of intensive political campaigning for the 2019 European Parliament elections. In its ‘Manifesto for the sea’, Seas At Risk called for the sea to be a high priority in election programmes, and will continue to seek to exert influence on behalf of our cause.
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.
Seas At Risk Team
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Seas At Risk launches ‘Manifesto for the sea’ in run-up to 2019 European Parliament election
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As European political parties prepare for the 2019 elections to the European Parliament, Seas At Risk publishes its ‘Manifesto for the sea’, calling on politicians to put the protection of seas and oceans high on their election programmes.
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40 environmental NGOs ask European Commission to halt reintroduction of harmful fisheries subsidies
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On 18 September, 40 NGOs across Europe (including Seas At Risk and some of its members) sent a letter to Commissioners Karmenu Vella and Cecilia Malmström, calling on the European Commission to refrain from providing financial aid for the construction of new fishing vessels in nine European outermost regions belonging to France, Portugal and Spain.
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European Parliament backs Plastics Strategy
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On 13 September the European Parliament voted in favour of the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, proposed by the European Commission in January 2018. Seas At Risk welcomes the Parliament’s endorsement of the Strategy. This vote shows that the European institutions acknowledge the need for Europe to change the ways it produces and uses plastic, and are in favour of moving towards the circular economy model.
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Promising exchange on single-use plastics at the European Parliament
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On 29 August, the European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI) gave its views on the Commission’s proposal on a Single-use Plastics Directive. The majority of MEPs in ENVI are seeking more ambitious measures to reduce plastic pollution than those proposed by the European Commission.
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International Seabed Authority annual session fails to address NGO demands
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For two weeks in July the International Seabed Authority (ISA) held its annual session in in Kingston, Jamaica. The Council and Legal and Technical Commission met first, before 168 member countries gathered for a week-long Assembly meeting. They discussed draft exploitation regulations, methods to calculate financial payment systems and benefit-sharing, and the 2019-2023 strategic plan, among others. The request by Seas At Risk and 50 other NGOs to discuss whether or not there is an objective need for deep sea mining was omitted entirely.
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50 NGOs call on world community to protect the deep sea from mining
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The deep sea is one of Earth’s most precious ecosystems, with a vital role to play in the health of our planet, yet we are squandering it for an outdated drive towards boundless growth. This is the stark warning from Seas At Risk, together with 50 NGOs from across the globe, to the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
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Public consultation on first deep sea mining equipment test in the Clarion Clipperton Zone
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During the summer months, Belgian authorities conducted a public consultation on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the mining equipment test due to be undertaken in the Pacific Ocean by Belgian company, Global Sea Mineral Resources (GSR). Seas At Risk asks the Belgian government and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to address the many shortcomings in the EIA and monitoring procedures, and to refuse permission for the test in light of the risk of significant irreversible impacts.
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German NGOs call on their government to stop supporting deep sea mining
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A coalition of 15 German environmental, development and human rights NGOs, including Seas At Risk member BUND, issued a position paper ‘Stop the exploitation of the deep sea!’, in which they demand the Federal Government reverse its political position and move decisively away from the depletion of the deep sea.
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Clean seas, plastic-free beaches and an end to overfishing by 2020? Not with these national measures, the Commission finds
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The European Commission stated that the goal of biologically diverse, clean and healthy seas by 2020 is unlikely to be achieved through the measures put in place by Member States under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
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G7 misses opportunity for real progress in the fight against marine litter
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Last week, G7 Environment Ministers met in Halifax, Canada to discuss climate change, oceans and clean energy. The Oceans Partnership Summit brought together some 200 representatives from industry, civil society and research, including Seas At Risk. These delegates were invited to come up with recommendations for the Ministers on sustainable oceans and fisheries, marine litter and resilient coasts and coastal communities.
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Voice For the Ocean: share your marine priorities for the European elections
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In the run up to the European elections in May 2019, Seas At Risk’s member, Surfrider Foundation Europe launched the Voice For the Ocean campaign. The aim is to encourage citizens to “make their voice heard” and speak up for the ocean by completing an online survey.
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Join Marine Litter Watch and help to track marine litter
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The European Environment Agency is encouraging citizens to get involved in its Marine Litter Watch Month from 17 September to 16 October 2018. The project aims to combat plastic litter, using citizen science (scientific research partly conducted by members of the public) and mobile phone technology to help individuals and communities to build a compelling case to clean up Europe’s beaches.
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