European Fisheries Ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss the Commission Communication on Fishing Opportunities 2011 and the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition today released a report at the United Nations which describes major shortcomings in the implementation of UN General Assembly resolutions designed to protect the deep-ocean from the destructive impact of fishing.
Ahead of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on June 28, Seas At Risk and the Fisheries Secretariat have submitted environmental guidance to ministers on issues relating to access, overcapacity and the use of subsidies.
A new report by Seas At Risk highlights a number of ways that fisheries across Europe can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously reducing their damaging impact on the marine environment.
A statement released by 9 NGOs regarding the European Commission’s communication on fishing opportunities for 2011 has called on the European Union to scale up its effort in order to protect and recover fish populations.
At the close of a major fisheries stakeholder conference on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy , 11 prominent NGOs called on European Fisheries Ministers to promote a shift to “appropriately-scaled, community-based fisheries, using ecologically responsible, selective fishing technology and practices” in the new policy.
Seas At Risk is disappointed to see that today’s European Commission’s Communication on fishing opportunities in EU waters in 2011 does not contain any reference to United Nations’ requirements for the management of deep-sea fisheries on the high seas.
Over 70 artisanal coastal fisheries organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including Seas At Risk, have signed a joint declaration calling for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to place sustainable artisanal coastal fisheries at the heart of the CFP.
In next week’s meeting between the European Union’s fisheries ministers in Vigo, Spain, Seas At Risk and the Fisheries Secretariat have urged the ministers involved to support a ‘root and branch” reform of the CFP.
The formal adoption by the Council of the European Union to support a trade ban on bluefin tuna was a positive move, but severly weakened by the conditions that came with it. The EU position is an important factor in negotiations next week on a global ban on the trade of this heavily endangered species.
A report published by the coalition group OCEAN2012 - of whom Seas At Risk are a founding member – has documented an array of case studies illustrating how Europe’s fisheries might be managed to become more environmentally and socially sustainable.
The European Commission has followed the European Parliament by agreeing to support the listing of bluefin tuna under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), but on several conditions.
With fish stocks plummeting and the fishing sector stumbling from one crisis to another, it could seem that European fisheries are beyond hope. And perhaps some are. But the ongoing process to reform the Common Fisheries Policy poses an opportunity not to be missed if Europeans want to have their fish... and eat them too.
The European Parliament has declared its official support for a listing of bluefin tuna under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), it was announced today.
A ban on fishing in certain European waters in order to replenish stocks has been called for by two leading fisheries scientists in a study published last month.
The call for responses on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy closed on 31st December 2009 and SAR contributed several submissions.
After lengthy and difficult discussions, the Council reached agreement on fishing opportunities for 2010 on 15 December.
In a press conference, Sweden's Minister for Agriculture Erlandsson and Fisheries Commissioner Borg welcomed the agreement declaring it as an important step towards sustainable fisheries within the EU. Erlandsson stressed that the Commission Proposal had been based on scientific advice, whilst Borg clarified that the proposal also tried to lessen the short-term burden on the catching sector.
The conclusions from Seas At Risk’s conference on capacity reduction and fleet restructuring can be downloaded from a link to this article in the form of a report.
The UN General Assembly calls upon all high seas fishing nations to intensify their efforts to protect vulnerable deep-sea life in the international waters of the world’s oceans.
Share This
Subscribe to our newsletter