News
March 29, 2007
Commission proposes ban on discard
On 28 March, the European Commission adopted a communication on reducing unwanted catches and eliminating discards in European fisheries. The proposed approach involves the adoption of a discard ban and the setting of standards for maximum acceptable by-catch. The idea is that this will provide an incentive for fishers to harvest only what can be … Continued
March 29, 2007
Press release from the BS RAC regarding the Conference on Control and Compliance, 28-29 March 2007
The Baltic Sea RAC concludes that the two-day conference on Control and Compliance in Copenhagen was successful, and among other things made Baltic sea Fisheries ministers commit to combat IUU fishing. All EU countries in the Baltic Sea area agree to combat illegal and unreported fishing A draft action plan for the sectors involved in … Continued
March 28, 2007
New report on IUU fishing of Baltic Sea cod
Today FISH published a report on IUU fishing of Baltic Sea cod. The report ‘A report on IUU fishing of Baltic Sea cod’ was commissioned by FISH from ORCA-EU, frollowing a study into IUU in 2005. The report is based on a review of the available literature on IUU fishing within the Baltic Sea region, … Continued
March 28, 2007
BS RAC Conference on Control and Compliance in the Baltic
A wide range of stakeholders are meeting in Copenhagen to discuss ways of dealing with illegal fishing in the Baltic Sea. The first day of the conference was set aside to discuss different perspectives on the problem, the drivers behind it, its consequences and possible steps forward. More than 140 stakeholders met in Copenhagen today … Continued
March 27, 2007
Conference on eel, European parlament 22-23 March
The Fisheries Secretariat arranged a two-day conference on the need for joint efforts to save the European eel population. The event took place in the European Parliament in Brussels on 22-23 March 2007. The aim of the conference was to inform the EU decision on management of the European eel later this Spring, as well … Continued
March 12, 2007
Nations in agreement over the need to strengthen landing control to combat IUU
FAO today reported that a large number of nations participating at the 27 FAO COFI – meeting in Rome 5 – 9 March, agreed to start working on an international protocol with the purpose of creating binding control measures in landing harbours, or harbours where fish products are redistributed or processed, in order to combat … Continued
March 12, 2007
Morocco ratifies Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the EU
Morocco ratified a Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) on 6 March with the EU. The former fisheries agreement between the EU and the Kingdom of Morocco expired in 1999. The agreement which will enter into force immediately will run for a period of 4 years. The FPA provides fishing opportunities on pelagic species and small pelagic … Continued
March 7, 2007
FAO report: Serious concern over situation of high-seas fish species
Rome, 5 March. Although the proportion of the world’s marine fish stocks rated by FAO as overexploited or depleted has remained stable over the past 15 years, the status of certain highly migratory and high-seas species is cause for serious concern, a new report from the UN agency warned today. The report is presented at … Continued
February 13, 2007
Illegal Baltic cod fishing a severe problem
An unpublished Commission evaluation of the Baltic Member States fisheries control points out Poland as the main culprit, but with severe problems in Sweden, Lithuania, Germany, Denmark and Latvia. The results are alarming, confirming the picture ICES already has pointed out, that illegal landings of cod is a major problem in the Baltic Sea. During … Continued
February 10, 2007
For Cod’s Sake?
The cod war in Poland is heated and the Polish government continues attempts to convince the European Commission that there is plenty of cod in the sea. Starting in October, counts of cod stocks in the Baltic will begin at the request of the Polish Fisheries Minister, Marek Gróbarczyk. According to a polish daily, Dziennik, … Continued