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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Clean seas, plastic-free beaches and an end to overfishing by 2020? Not with these national measures, the Commission finds
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Brussels, Wednesday 1 August 2018 – The European Commission today 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.
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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