News
May 12, 2009
Climate change may shrink shrimp stocks
If ocean temperatures rise, stocks of northern shrimp could be seriously affected, a study published in the Science Magazine shows. The international team of scientists found that, on average, northern shrimp eggs hatched in time with the spring phytoplankton bloom, the main food source for its larvae. The mating time of the species in the … Continued
May 11, 2009
Polish stakeholders in round-table discussions
A group of Polish stakeholders has met for the second time to agree on the working methods of an expert group composed of different interests. The aim of the project is to improve dialogue but also to come up with joint, workable solutions for the future Polish fisheries policy. On 6 May, a meeting was … Continued
April 24, 2009
Swedish media still hot for Baltic cod
A new wave of media attention surrounding the situation of the still WWF-blacklisted Baltic cod has rolled over Sweden, a nation where consumers have been more eager than in any other European country to follow the WWF recommendations. The first round of debate followed the EU Council’s decision last October to raise TACs (Total Allowable … Continued
April 24, 2009
Greenpeace-Poland turns five
Successful actions to save Poland’s “Green lungs” and to stop that nation from becoming “the Trojan horse of genetic engineering” were highlighted as most memorable feats as the Greenpeace Polish branch recently celebrated its 5th anniversary. Much has changed within the scope of environmental work in Poland since Greenpeace’s official opening there on 19 April … Continued
April 24, 2009
Council nod of approval for Shark Plan
The EU Commission’s recent action plan for the threatened shark stocks was “welcomed” by the Union Fisheries ministers at Thursday’s Council meeting, the Council conclusions supporting the idea to implement some elements of the plan “without delay”. The Ministers commended the plan “particularly in the light of the need to urgently enhance further actions oriented … Continued
April 24, 2009
“Shall” becomes “may” as MPs vote on Control
In a plenary vote, The European Parliament has adopted the Fisheries Committee’s consultative report on the Control Regulation proposed by the Commission. No changes were made, meaning that amendments to strengthen that report proposed by the rapporteur, as well as amendments proposed by MPs to weaken it, were rejected. As for the hotly contested Article … Continued
April 23, 2009
Green Paper reactions
Wednesday’s publication of the EU Commission Green Paper on Union fisheries met with mixed reactions from Swedish and international environmental organisations. “A ban of destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling, and a huge commitment to marine protected areas that include fishing bans, would be an important solution towards achieving sustainable fisheries, and to make Europe … Continued
April 22, 2009
Green Paper identifies weaknesses and suggests much-needed changes
The Green Paper published today contains some wide-ranging, very positive suggestions for how to improve management of EU fisheries, while other areas are touched upon without enough detail to judge effectiveness, concludes Niki Sporrong, Director of the Fisheries Secretariat. At noon today, the European Commission published its Green Paper on Reform of the Common Fisheries … Continued
April 8, 2009
Commission sets out to lift EU aquaculture
Complaining that although ”our aquaculture industry leads the world in research and technological development” production has levelled off in the Union, the European Commission has published a communication to address that state of affairs and “give fresh impetus to sustainable growth to the EU’s aquaculture sector”. “Aquaculture has a bright future ahead of it in … Continued
April 8, 2009
Holland’s eel plan unenthusiastically received
A Dutch NGO says it is ”deeply disappointed” with its government’s recently approved national management plan for eel, and doubts that it will be “accepted in Brussels”. Compared to an earlier draft, a two-month fishing closure has been scrapped in the final plan. The remaining main measure to meet the EU goal of a 40 … Continued