News
October 22, 2013
Invasive species in focus at FishBase Symposium
FishBase held its annual Symposium in Stockholm yesterday focusing on invasive species. A number of invited researchers shared their expertise and knowledge of past, current and future invasive species in European waters and possible management actions.
October 17, 2013
Regionalisation results in fast decision on Baltic quotas
Today, an agreement on Baltic quotas for 2014 was quickly reached, following regional negotiations between the Baltic Member States in the new BALTFISH structure. Commissioner Damanaki highlighted the agreement as a success “for Baltic fish stocks and for EU regionalisation”.
October 14, 2013
Fisheries subsidies – you get what you pay for
On October 23, the European Parliament (EP) plenary vote on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), the subsidy package of the CFP, will take place. Several controversial amendments are on the table and voting is expected to be close, however, there are also many opportunities which can help the EU to invest in a healthier and more profitable fishing industry.
October 4, 2013
Russian representative to HELCOM receives public signatures
At the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in Copenhagen yesterday, the signatures from the Baltic public in support of swift actions to improve the health of the Baltic Sea were handed over to the Russian delegation.
October 3, 2013
HELCOM Ministerial Declaration agreed – Environmental ministers severely delay deadlines to restore the Baltic Sea
While the Baltic Sea Action Plan will be fully implemented, the good environmental status of the troubled sea will not be reached by 2021.
October 3, 2013
RFTB hands over public call for action to Poland
The Race for the Baltic campaign delegation also met with the Polish Government representative Mr Andrzej Jagusiewicz at the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting to hand over the signatures from the Baltic public collected this summer calling for more ambitious action to restore the health of the Baltic Sea.
October 3, 2013
RFTB hands over signatures to Sweden’s environment minister
A delegation representing the Race for the Baltic campaign handed over the more than 25,000 public signatures collected this summer, calling on Baltic environment ministers to take action to improve the health of the Baltic Sea, to the Swedish Minister Lena Ek.
October 3, 2013
HELCOM still debating key issues in Ministerial Declaration
Yesterday, the HELCOM Heads of Delegation meeting in Copenhagen made good progress on the outstanding issue on fisheries and actually strengthened the wording of the declaration, but several key issues remain for the ministers to resolve today.
September 25, 2013
Wavering commitments threaten the restoration of the Baltic Sea
Earlier this week governmental representatives from all Baltic Sea countries met in Copenhagen, Denmark to review current targets in the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) for the coming Ministerial Meeting on October 3rd. The Ministerial Declaration is still lacking in clear targets and deadlines for the coming years, and a number of issues remain unresolved.
September 5, 2013
Diverging views between governments put the future of the Baltic Sea in jeopardy
Baltic Sea Environment Ministers will put pen to paper and sign the review of the Baltic Sea Action Plan in less than a month. Surprisingly, Sweden seems to be blocking any real progress, changing positions on a number of key issues.