London - The North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) this week agreed to close six new areas totalling around 11,000 square kilometres to bottom fishing to protect vulnerable deep-sea species ecosystems and extended its prohibition on the catch of several shark species.
Brussels - The EU’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council today agreed on deep sea fisheries quotas for 2015 and 2016 that will allow for the continuation of overfishing of these particularly fragile species.
Brussels - Seas At Risk has commemorated its 25th anniversary with a special marine litter policy event followed by a celebratory party at the Museum of Natural Sciences in Brussels.
Brussels - The Commission has released the first regional discard plans aimed at eliminating the practice of discarding unwanted fish back into the sea, as required under the recently reformed CFP. It is questionable, however, whether these plans will actually ensure that perfectly edible fish will no long be thrown overboard.
Belgium, 20-25th October 2014 - Seas At Risk members Project Aware and Sea First Foundation are supporting the Belgian tour of the Ocean Film Festival.
The Ocean Film Festival originated in Australia, but is this month touring in Belgium. The vision of the festival is to inspire one to explore, respect, enjoy, and protect our oceans. Film is at the heart of the Ocean Film Festival Australia and by introducing this tour of the Belgium they aim to share the best films from around the globe with their audiences.During October, the Ocean Film Festival Belgian Tour will screen over 2 hours of the most inspirational, educational and entertaining films related to the ocean from independent film makers from Belgium, the UK, Australia and across the globe.
The festival will include a unique selection of films of varying lengths and styles covering topics such as the oceanic environment, marine creatures, ocean related sports, coastal cultures and ocean lovers.
For more information and the programme of the event
Rome, 9th October - The European marine science community today adopted the ‘Rome Declaration’, reflecting its vision of a future marine science agenda.
Brussels, 6th October - Seas At Risk congratulates Swedish MEP Isabella Lövin, who will be leaving the European Parliament to become Minister of Foreign Aid and Development in the new Swedish government.
Brussels, 4th November 2014: A policy seminar on marine litter and the circular economy.
Brussels - The Commission has released its proposal for bi-annual deep sea quotas for 2015 and 2016.
Brussels - Karmenu Vella, candidate for Commissioner for Fisheries and Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, survived his hearing in the European Parliament relatively unscathed, but without convincing that the Juncker Commission will put sustainability at the heart of their agenda.
In a joint position paper with a wide coalition of environmental NGOs, Seas At Risk has proposed a number of priorities to ensure that European aquaculture develops in an environmentally responsible manner. This is the first time environmental NGOs have presented such a vision on aquaculture.
The European Commission has today issued a headline reduction target for marine litter in Europe as part of its Communication on a Circular Economy. We believe that this target is inadequate and will need to be significantly strengthened to really tackle the problem of waste entering our seas.
OSPAR today adopted its long-awaited Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter, designed to promote concerted action to reduce marine litter in the NE Atlantic. Seas At Risk regrets that the plan fails to set quantifiable reduction targets or to provide strong solutions to counter this increasingly worrying problem.
Today the European Commission released its Communication on fishing opportunities for 2015. It shows a clear willingness to implement the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), but also reveals a worrying deteriorating picture of the status of fish stocks in European waters.
The North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, or NEAFC, this week has adopted stronger regulations for the management of deep-sea fisheries and the conservation of deep-sea species and habitats in the North East Atlantic.
Surfrider Foundation has with over 20 other organisations launched a new network, the "Ocean and Climate platform", ahead of the Cop 21 climate negotiations due to take place next year in Paris.
The platform is made up of NGOs and research institutes and currently all members are France-based organisations of national, local or European scope, but the platform is eager to open up further to non-French based European and international members. You can find more information on the platform here (French)
Don't hesitate to contact Surfrider Europe at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want more information, or if you are planning on taking part in the Paris climate talks next year and wish to share information or observations.
Seas At Risk is proud to announce the election of its new chairperson at its AGM. Sam Fanshawe, Chief Executive Officer of UK-based marine protection charity the Marine Conservation Society, was unanimously elected by the delegates of Seas At Risk’s member organisations.
EEB, Seas At Risk and their Greek member organisations - MedSoS, Elliniki Etairia, and Ecocity - co-organised a conference in Athens on “Could Blue Growth turn into Green?” The conference addressed the link between Blue Growth and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD.
Seas At Risk’s Belgian member organisations Natuurpunt and Sea First Federation are helping to organise an anti-trammel net campaign in Belgium, with a major beach rally planned for 1st May.
Directives, regulations and laws: the EU is at the forefront of laws to protect our natural environment. Consequently, in advance of elections the European Parliament on 23-25th May, Surfrider Foundation Europe is launching the “Vote for the ocean” campaign.
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