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Dear readers,
The deadline to achieve clean, healthy and ecologically diverse EU seas by 2020 is quickly approaching. With this in mind, recent positive steps towards this goal should be celebrated. The speed at which marine litter has risen on the political agenda shows what can be achieved in a short time when policy makers really commit to resolving a pressing problem. The European Parliament is spearheading strong action, as shown by its vote to strengthen the Single Use-Plastic Directive and the Port Reception Facility Directive.
Elsewhere, however, lack of ambition and inaction are undermining the likelihood of achieving the 2020 goal. EU Ministers continue to allow overfishing of Baltic cod and the fisheries plan for the Western Waters similarly failed to stop overfishing. Seas At Risk has also warned policy makers about the spread of alien species as a result of aquaculture plastic pollution and has proposed measures to tackle the problem. Several Seas At Risk members gathered in Brussels to discuss how to better manage marine protected areas.
The International Maritime Organization has made progress on the Arctic heavy fuel oil ban, but shipping emissions talks stalled in London, increasing delays in achieving the goal of the Paris Agreement.
With the European Parliament elections getting closer, it is time to give clear signals about the future Europe we, as citizens, want to see. Seas At Risk joins its member, the European Environment Bureau, in its calls for an end to growth dependency in Europe and for an international agreement to protect biodiversity.
With a mix of celebration and caution - we wish you happy reading!
Seas At Risk team
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Historic step towards clean seas as European Parliament strengthens single use plastic directive
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On 23 October, the European Parliament voted in favour of the Single Use Plastic Directive, with an overwhelming majority of MEPs supporting the European Commission’s plan to reduce pollution from single-use plastics.
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European Parliament to tackle marine litter in European waters
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Mid-October marked an important milestone in the EU’s efforts to tackle marine litter in its waters, with European Parliament committees voting on two crucial legislative tools in the Commission’s fight against marine litter. Both votes showed strong support for the proposed Directives, which must now be secured in the subsequent legislative process.
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With only one year until the deadline, EU Ministers allow continued overfishing of Baltic cod
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At the 15 October meeting of the Fisheries Council, on fishing limits for the Baltic Sea, the Fisheries Ministers again agreed to continue overfishing. They allow a catch of 24,112 tonnes of cod from the eastern Baltic cod stock, 44% higher than scientists advise and an incredible 33% higher than fishing industry demands.
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European Parliament’s vote on Fisheries plan for Western Waters undermines Europe’s commitment to end overfishing by 2020
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On 25 October 2018, the European Parliament approved the multiannual plan for fish stocks in the Western Waters (north-east Atlantic), even though this plan facilitates overfishing. In failing to ensure the long-term environmental sustainability of fish stocks, the plan goes against the fundamental objective of the Common Fisheries Policy to end overfishing.
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Shipping emissions talks stall in London
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Two weeks of talks in London on what measures the global shipping sector should take to reduce its climate impact have failed to make progress. Governments meeting at the UN’s International Maritime Organisation were supposed to start delivering on their April commitment to decarbonise international shipping but instead became bogged down in procedural matters.
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IMO progress on Arctic heavy fuel oil ban welcomed by environmental and indigenous groups
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As the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 73) closed on 26 October in London, the Clean Arctic Alliance and indigenous groups welcomed the support given by member states to commence work on developing a ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil in Arctic waters.
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NGOs join forces to halt destructive fishing practices and other harmful activities in marine protected areas
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On paper, more than 10% of European seas are protected from the impact of human activities. The reality is quite different, however, according to managers of marine protected areas, who speak regularly with Seas At Risk members.
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Tackling marine litter from aquaculture and the spread of invasive alien species
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Recent scientific findings point to another looming threat to our seas. Marine litter from aquaculture contributes to the spread of invasive alien species, putting pressure on native biodiversity and habitats, as well as farmed species. Seas At Risk has proposed a set of measures to tackle the problem.
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European Environmental Bureau calls for an end to growth dependency in Europe
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In September, Seas At Risk member, the European Environmental Bureau, launched a petition calling on the EU to end its growth dependency. This came in the wake of an open letter from 238 academics, making the same plea, which was published by dozens of media outlets across Europe.
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Calls for "Paris Agreement" for nature
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Several prominent speakers, including Luc Bas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Humberto Delgado Rosa from the European Commission, told the conference that scientists issuing red alerts for nature should be met with the same level of concern and interest that greets reports from the International Panel on Climate Change.
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