Are European Ministers determined to stop overfishing and discarding practices?

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To date, more than 100 fish stocks out of 153 are still being overfished in EU waters and the reduction of unwanted catches remains yet to be solved despite the attempts of regulation at EU level. According to the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy, discarding and overfishing are practices that have to come to an end within the EU by 2019 and 2020 respectively. However, Seas At Risk doubts that these goals will be achieved within the deadlines.  Progress has been very slow and decisions have often been influenced by economic interests to the detriment of the environment.

Shipping: the International Maritime Organisation edges towards decarbonisation objective

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The UN's shipping body has settled on the main elements of an interim strategy aiming to decarbonise the sector. Over 170 countries meeting at the International Maritime Organisation in London had some substantive discussion on objectives and ways to decarbonise shipping resulting in a 7-step outline that now needs to be developed into an interim plan due in 2018. One proposal calling for the shipping sector to adopt climate targets in line with the Paris Agreement and decarbonise by the second half of the century gained overwhelming expressions of support but failed to reach a consensus.

Arctic: IMO move on heavy fuel oil risks is welcomed

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London, July 7, 2017:- As the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 71) concluded  today, the Clean Arctic Alliance, of which Seas At Risk is member, welcomed the support from Member States for a proposal to identify measures which will mitigate the risks posed by the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in Arctic waters, and called on the IMO to work towards a swift conclusion of the work. (1)

The efficiency of new ships is falling, study finds

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Recent improvements in the design efficiency of new ships went into reverse last year, a new independent study has found. According to the CE Delft study the average design efficiency of new bulk carriers, oil tankers and gas carriers was worse in 2016 than in 2015. The share of new ships complying with future efficiency standards also decreased in 2016. The design efficiency of containerships and general cargo ships appears to be stagnating after a period of improvement.

IMO Member States urged to back action on Heavy Fuel Oil risks

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As the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC 71) opens today in London, the Clean Arctic Alliance, of which Seas At Risk is member, called on IMO member states to support a Canadian proposal to mitigate the risks posed by the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in Arctic waters (1).

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture: an environmental opportunity for aquaculture

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Seas At Risk organised a workshop on Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture as part of the annual European Maritime Day. This year’s edition took place in the port town of Poole in the UK and saw over 1,000 maritime stakeholders discussing maritime issues under the theme “The Future of our Seas”.

Europe’s chance to take a bold stand against plastic pollution

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At a conference of the European Network of the Heads of Environment Protection Agencies (EPA),  Seas At Risk presented a plea for Europe to take a strong stand against plastic pollution in the upcoming Plastic Strategy.

Welcoming a new member: the International Fund for Animal Welfare

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Seas At Risk welcomed the International Fund for Animal Welfare as a new member into its network at its recent Annual General Meeting in Stockholm.

UN Conference highlights need for major new action to achieve global goal on oceans

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The UN Ocean Conference in support of Sustainable Development Goal 14 on the protection of the oceans came to a close with the adoption of a ‘Call for Action’ and over 1300 volutary commitments towards ocean conservation. For the first time ever, the UN devoted an entire week to the oceans, raising awareness at the highest political level about the importance of the oceans to human survival, and creating the overwhelming sentiment amongst about 4000 participants of a collective movement for the oceans.

Marine litter in the spotlight of UN Ocean Conference

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Marine Litter was at the forefront of discussions at the UN Ocean Conference that ran from the 5th to the 9th June at the UN headquarters in New York.  Seas At Risk addressed solutions to the global threat, by co-hosting a side event and submitting a commitment on single use plastics.

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