Polish members of the OCEAN2012 coalition are gearing up for a street performance “The story of the Golden Fish”, which will take place on May 20th during the European Maritime Day celebrations in Gdańsk, Poland. The performance, by acclaimed Klub Gaja, aims to increase awareness about the current overfishing practices and its negative consequences on the Baltic Sea fish species and their ecosystems. Street performance will be presented at 9:30 and 12:00 in front of the Polish Baltic Philharmonic.
On the eve of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the European Maritime Day is hoped to illuminate the most pressing issues plaguing European fisheries today. The street performance of “The story of the Golden fish”, orchestrated by OCEAN2012 member Klub Gaja, provides an innovative way of raising public awareness on the fishermen dependency on nature, and explains the importance of respecting the Baltic Sea ecosystems. “The History of the Golden Fish” captures the absurdity of the present EU fisheries management and currently destructive fishing practices; aspects, which have depleted fish resources and disturbed marine ecosystems.
The European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has failed to prevent overfishing. Decades of intensive fishing in European waters and the problem of overfishing have led to dramatic declines in once abundant fish populations. Currently, 72 percent of all assessed fish stocks are estimated to be overexploited, with over 20 percent being fished beyond safe biological limits. If current practices persist, considering both, the industry and consumer choices, European fisheries will not have a future. Today, fewer and smaller fish are being caught, with greater effort required to find them, which often results in the targeting of other, sometimes even more vulnerable, species.
The year 2012, therefore, is a chance for transforming the CFP into an effective legislation. The opportunity is timely for a new policy that could stop overfishing, end destructive fishing practices, and deliver fair and equitable use of abundant fish stocks.
With the Polish Presidency of the EU Council approaching, Gdańsk, Poland was chosen to host the 2011 European Maritime Day. Despite its name, The European Maritime Day celebration lasts several days (19-22 May) and will be attended by the European Commission Vice President, Siim Kallas, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, and the European Commission Member, Janusz Lewandowski. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, will be one of the speakers opening the event on 19 May.
The event schedule is very tight during the European Maritime Day. Some other events of note include: a film screening of ‘The End of the Line’, the first major feature documentary film revealing the impact of overfishing on our oceans, and a WWF Poland-lead discussion panel on ‘Ocean Governance- Integrated Planning for the future’. The film screening is prepared by Green Federation Gaja (Federacja Zielonych Gaja) and it will take place on 20 May at 12:00 at the Central Marine Museum (Centralne Muzeum Morskie) in Gdańsk. The WWF discussion panel will take place at the Gdańsk Polish Baltic Philharmonic also on 20 May from 15:30-17:00.