News
June 16, 2009
Angered fishermen protest Irish eel ban
Claiming that up to 300 catchers could be affected, fishermen in Ireland’s biggest river consider raising legal challenge to the country’s eel fishing ban. The Shannon Eel Fishermen’s Association has found support from both MP’s and, surprisingly, the Green Party’s deputy leader Mary White. The EU Fisheries Ministers last year called for the Member States … Continued
June 11, 2009
Sweden stops some cod, sole fisheries for rest of 2009
All but exhausted national quotas has led to a Board of Fisheries ban of all Swedish fisheries of cod in the North Sea and common sole in the Skagerrak, the Kattegat and the Baltic. The closure, due on June 15, will be enforced for the remainder of this year in all Union waters in the … Continued
June 11, 2009
US angels on, despite economic sinkers
With nearly 40 million practitioners, angling remains one of America’s dominating outdoor recreational activities, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) reports. US Anglers generate over $45 billion annually in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy, creating employment for more than one million people, a press release from ASA, a trade association, … Continued
June 10, 2009
Strategy, and plan for action, proposed for Baltic Sea
Setting environment first, the European Commission has published its much-awaited “Baltic Strategy”. The strategy, expected by its proponents to act as an example for similar regional approaches elsewhere in the Union, had been called for by the European Parliament and the EU Council in a conclusions document in December 2007. The Strategy, published in Brussels … Continued
June 8, 2009
New coalition, including FISH, a warrior for CFP reform
As a response to Commissioner Joe Borg’s call for fundamental reform of the EU fisheries policy, an important NGO coalition has formed in Brussels to fight overfishing and “enhance human well-being”. OCEAN2012, coordinated by the Pew Environment Group, was founded by the Fisheries Secretariat, the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements, nef (new economics foundation), the Pew … Continued
June 4, 2009
Greenpeace make bureaucrats work
The mere plans for a Greenpeace campaign to protect two Natura 2000 sites off the Swedish west coast have inspired government bureaucrats to set off work on new regulations there, campaigners suggest. Earlier this spring, Greenpeace Nordic announced that they were planning to prevent bottom trawling in the two Natura 2000 areas, located in the … Continued
June 4, 2009
NGO strategies considered at Stockholm workshop
The Natura 2000 project, the upcoming EU control regulation, and the futures of the Baltic salmon and the Common Fisheries Policy, respectively, were the issues handled at an intensive two-day NGO “strategic workshop” in Stockholm in early June. The workshop, a part of the joint Eko-Unia/Our Earth Foundation/FISH project “The Baltic is in Poland; The … Continued
June 4, 2009
Advice for Dummies
SSB, Yield/R , or “Predation mortality” are not household words for everybody concerned with the present and future for our fish stocks. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has published a made-easy – and not un-funny – guide to how their Scientific Advice is produced.
June 1, 2009
Swedish agencies urge power transfer in the EU
Less power to the EU Council, and more power to the Commission and the Member States, two Swedish government agencies recommend in a joint report to the cabinet. The Board of Fisheries and the Environmental Protection Agency were asked by the government to evaluate the current Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and make recommendations as for … Continued
May 29, 2009
Ups and downs in next year’s Baltic TACs
For the first time in years, scientists have recommended increased catch quotas for both Baltic cod stocks in 2010. Increase for both cod stocks The advisory body, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), recommends a 15 per cent increase for the much larger eastern stock – the same as last year’s … Continued