Past Events

The 2024 Meeting between ICES and Advisory Councils and other observers (MIACO) will take place Thursday 18th (13:00) – Friday 19th (12:00) January 2024 in the ICES Secretariat in Copenhagen. The draft agenda for MIACO 2024 (hybrid meeting of physical and online participation) will be available in the beginning of December. Please inform the Secretariat (advice@ices.dk) about your participation in the MIACO meeting.

Agriculture and Fisheries Council is held 11-12 December 2023.

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Thursday, 7 December 2023, 10 am CET, Zoom  This special edition updates statistics and figures on the status and management of fisheries in the region and includes, for the first time, an overview of the aquaculture sector in Mediterranean and Black Sea countries. It provides useful and reliable data as an essential source of information on fisheries and aquaculture in the region and a key tool to support decision-making and monitor progress towards the goals set by the GFCM. The event will consist of a brief presentation of key data and findings, with comments from select speakers from the region, followed by a Q&A session open to all participants.   Interpretation will be provided in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.   Please share this invitation with anyone who may be interested and do not hesitate to contact the GFCM Secretariat for any further information or technical requests. We look forward to your participation. Best regards, The GFCM Secretariat

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Dec 5, 2023 04:00-05:30 PM CET ANP|WWF-Portugal and the WWF European Policy Office are delighted to invite you to a webinar: "From niche to norm: Setting sail for low-impact fisheries in the EU." Join us to discover WWF’s latest paper on the necessary transition towards environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially responsible EU fisheries, and how to measure success. Hear first hand from EU decision makers, fishers, scientists, industry representatives and civil society about the key next steps in this process. English-Portuguese interpretation available. Panel: - Sónia Olim, Director of the Fuzeta Fishermen's Association - Didier Gascuel, Professor of Marine Ecology, Institut Agro Rennes - Brian O’Riordan, Policy Advisor, Low Impact Fishers of Europe (TBC) - Evelien Ranshuysen, Common Fisheries Policy team leader, European Commission Concluding remarks by MEP Francisco Guerreiro.

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Our planet's health is inextricably linked to the well-being of marine ecosystems, which, in turn, are crucial for the livelihoods of communities depending on them. Among the various elements comprising the marine environment, seabed habitats play an indispensable role for nature and food supply. In order to harvest seafood from the bottom of the sea, fishers use a wide range of fishing gears carefully adapted to each fishery and area. Mobile bottom fishing remains widespread in EU waters delivering 25% of total European seafood landings. The EU has experienced a generalized recovery of demersal fish stocks due to the widespread reduction of fishing effort and the continued improvement of fishing techniques. Nonetheless, as part of the European Commission's action plan, active bottom fishing gears are branded as "the most damaging activity to the seabed", calling into question its use and sustainability, particularly in Natura 2000 sites and other Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). At the same time, 70 % of seafood consumed in Europe is imported and there is a need to produce more seafood products to feed the growing population in line with climate change requirements. This event will explore the key scientific research on bottom trawling sustainability and compatibility with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). It will also look at the trade-offs between the environmental impact of fisheries and seafood security / self-sufficiency. The event will bring together leading scientists on seabed habitats and bottom fishing, along with representatives from the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) and the Directorate-General for Environment (DG Environment), key stakeholders from the fishing sector and civil society. Panelists will articulate their unique perspectives on the optimal way to strike a balance between the priorities of environmental preservation, social well-being, economic prosperity, and the production of food resources. This event aims to foster a comprehensive dialogue and facilitate the formulation of sustainable policies that can address bottom fishing practices in European waters. DRAFT AGENDA 15:15 – 15:25:             Opening remarks by MEP Niclas Herbst   15:25 – 15:55:             First panel discussion:

• Dr. Michel J. Kaiser, Professor of Fisheries Conservation, Heriot Watt University
• Dr. Jan Geert Hiddink, Professor in marine ecology, Bangor University
• Dr. Hans Polet, Scientific Director, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO)

• Representative from the European Commission (DG ENV) (tbc)
• Vera Coelho, Deputy Vice President for Europe, Oceana (tbc)
• Iván López, Chair, European Bottom Fisheries Alliance (EBFA)

• MEP Isabel Carvalhais (tbc)
• MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen (tbc)
• MEP Asger Christensen (tbc)
• MEP Pietro Bartolo (tbc)
•  MEP Grace O’Sullivan (tbc)

On this page you will soon find all the information related to this meeting:

• agenda highlights (a week before the meeting date)
• main results (after the meeting)
• press material
• photos, videos and live streaming
• related documentation

• https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/agrifish/2023/11/20-21/

Online press briefing on the upcoming decisions on 2024 catch limits Why overfishing is unlawful and exacerbates the climate crisis Monday 20 November 13:00-14:00 CET Interpretation will be available in French and Spanish   Northeast Atlantic countries will decide this Autumn on fishing limits for 2024. Contrary to legally binding management objectives, overfishing persists in European waters and numerous fish stocks have collapsed or are at risk of it. However, overfishing not only contributes to the depletion of fish populations, it also undermines the crucial role of fish in the marine ecosystem, including the ocean biological carbon pump, and so exacerbates the climate crisis. Speakers:

• Javier Lopez, Oceana - Cod in crisis and other fish stocks on the brink of collapse
• Rémi Cossetti, Seas at Risk - The Ocean-Climate nexus: overfishing impacts on climate change
• Arthur Meeus, ClientEarth - See you in court! - legal action against overfishing in the EU

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To celebrate #DeepDay 2023, the DSCC is hosting “Beneath the Waves: The Deep Sea, Climate Change and COP28”. This webinar aims to foster a deeper understanding of the deep sea’s critical role in climate regulation and mitigation, and the threats it faces. By bringing together experts and stakeholders, we hope to inspire action and cooperation to protect this unique and invaluable ecosystem. Join us in this enlightening discussion as we embark on the road to COP28 to ensure a sustainable and resilient future for our planet.

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