On Friday, April 23, Fish Fight launched its Europe-wide discards ban campaign in Poland. The event took place in front of the Polish Parliament (Sejm), and was led by a Polish celebrity chef, Robert Makłowicz. Polish decision-makers had disappointed by not attending the main event, however the launch was enjoyed by a healthy crowd including environmental organizations, youth, scientists, and the public. Despite the lack of political representation, a fruitful debate with Polish NGOs was featured and sustainable fish dishes were served, including sustainable sprat sushi.
The main purpose of the event was to raise public awareness about the wasteful and unselective fishing practices taking place in the Baltic Sea—and generally in the European Union waters—and to garner support to ban discards under the currently reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). According to latest scientific assessments, the current rate of discarding in the Baltic Sea is estimated to be between 6 to 8%.
Prior to the event, OCEAN2012 Poland, Greenpeace Poland and WWF Poland published a press release calling for the application of selective fishing practices in order to avoid unwanted catches in the first place. ‘If these measures (of selective fishing practices) are unsuccessful in reducing bycatch levels’, said Piotr Predki of WWF Poland,’ a complete discard ban should be introduced’. Justyna Niewolewska of OCEAN2012 added that ‘our goal should be to decrease bycatch so that juvenile fish and unwanted catches are left alone to grow and reproduce, so that there is an overall increase in the resource pool’. She added that ‘a decrease in discards, therefore, should be treated as an investment in the future’.
Discarding of unwanted catches (or bycatch) leaves 1.3 million tonnes of perfectly good fish thrown back to the sea each year – often dead or badly damaged. Bycatch is defined as fish (commercial or non-commerical species) caught unintentionally while trying to catch other fish. Bycatch includes untargeted catch, which means catching undersized/ juvenile individuals or protected species.
The focus on the wasteful practice of discarding was tabled by the European Commission already under the previous Commissioner for Maritime Affairs & Fisheries, Joe Borg. Since then the issue has been influenced by the Fish Fight campaign, which has helped the current Commissioner, Maria Damanaki, highlight the problem of discarding among the general public across Europe. So far more than 800 000 people in the European Union and beyond actively support the cause through Fish Fight.
The lack of political representation at the Fish Fight launch provided some food for thought. Political engagement at the public level is not only desirable but necessary in Poland. We should all work together to protect our resources, and political decisions should reflect the voices of its electorate. This means showing up, and stepping up to the challenge!
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