In its adoption of an overarching communication on the CFP reform, the Parliament’s Fisheries Committee has encouragingly supported the objective of keeping EU fish stocks above levels that are capable of producing MSY, again signalling the Parliament’s intent to achieve a more sustainable CFP.
In his new book Ocean of Life, the renowned marine biologist Callum Roberts has made the case for urgent action to protect and restore the global marine environment – painting a gloomy picture but one, that he argues, can be corrected.
After an 18 hour negotiation marathon a scandalous lack of ambition has led ministers to backtrack on previous commitments and sanction another decade of overfishing, environmental destruction, and the loss of fisher jobs and livelihoods.
European Fish Weeks will provide the opportunity to get involved in events across Europe and tell politicians to “End overfishing or fishing will be over!”.
In a letter sent to EU Ministers ahead of the June Fisheries Council meeting, SAR and Fish have highlighted a list of key issues needing attention in order to repopulate European seas and enable a viable fishing sector through the reform of the CFP.
The 2012 European Fish Weeks will take place between June 8 and August 31. A new video by 0CEAN2012 underlines the message that you can help to convey in these weeks: “End overfishing or fishing will be over!” Politicians are responsible for making the decisions that will end overfishing; citizens have the responsibility to encourage and support them in making these decisions. European Fish Weeks will run between June 8 and August 31 and will provide the opportunity to make your voice heard by getting involved in Fish Week activities near you or by organising your own event.
European fisheries ministers expressed their opposition to the Commission’s proposals to improve the dire situation of fisheries in Europe and to pave a path towards a sustainable exploitation of marine resources.
The members of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee have voted to significantly strengthen the Commission’s proposal for a new Common Fisheries Policy. The final opinion as approved is a clear sign that MEPs want to put sustainability at the heart of the reform.
In an open letter to EU Fisheries Ministers ahead of their Council meeting 14-15 May, Seas At Risk and the Fisheries Secretariat are urging Ministers to manage harvested species at Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and are advising them to use a greater share of the fisheries subsidy package to improve data collection and controls.
An article published by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera earlier this year has highlighted how the system of Transferable Fishing Concessions has decimated fishing communities on the Danish island of Bornholm – a shocking state of affairs which may also be replicated across Europe.
In an open letter sent to EU Ministers last month, SAR and FISH welcome the Commission proposal for regulation on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products as well as for a new Maritime and Fisheries Fund. However, the groups point out several caveats that need attention in the on-going reform of the CFP and that need urgent attention before the end of 2012.
A new study has found that €3 billion is lost in potential annual revenue from EU fisheries because of overfishing - funds that could support a further 100,000 jobs in the industry.
The six European Parliament rapporteurs in charge of the CFP reform package have exchanged views with Commissioner Damanaki, Seas At Risk and other stakeholders on the future of European fisheries. Recovery targets, access to fish resources and a ban on discards were among the most debated issues at the event.
Ahead of a major EU Parliament vote on the reform of the CFP, people from all over Europe are being encouraged to paint a fish and to send them on to MEPs! The Paint a Fish campaign wants to make it clear to Parliamentarians: Fish stocks need to recover and now is the opportunity for action.
Fisheries Ministers have once again missed their opportunity to place European fisheries on the path to sustainability. Fisheries Council negotiations on fishing limits for 2012 have resulted in a decision to set Total Allowable Catches (TACs) at a level which exceeds scientifically recommended limits.
In advance of the Fisheries Council meeting this week at which fishing limits for 2012 will be set, Seas At Risk is calling on EU Fisheries Ministers to follow the best available scientific advice and set limits that enable the EU to achieve its target of rebuilding fish stocks to sustainable levels by 2015.
Today the European Court of Auditors has released a report which severely condemns the way in which EU fisheries subsidies aimed at reducing fleet overcapacity have been used so far. The Court has found that billions of Euros of public expenditure have done little to align fleet capacity with available fishing opportunities.
The European Commission has presented its proposal for a new subsidies framework for the fisheries and maritime sectors. While the proposal contains significant improvements in relation to the current Fisheries Fund, some measures will continue to pump taxpayers’ money into fleets operating at overcapacity.
At an event organised by Seas At Risk in the European Parliament, broad support was given by participants, including Commissioner Damanaki, for the inclusion of policy measures to encourage low impact fisheries in the new CFP. It is now up to MEPs and Fisheries Ministers to seize this once-in-a-decade opportunity of the reform of the CFP to give low impact fisheries the attention they deserve.
In the context of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) SAR is hosting a lunch time event at the European Parliament in Brussels. Join us to hear the views of Commissioner Maria Damanaki, Members of the European Parliament and other key stakeholders on how Low Impact Fisheries can be promoted through the reform of the CFP.
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