News
November 19, 2012
Balanced Harvesting – an alternative interpretation of selectivity
At a workshop in the European Parliament organised by Struan Stevenson (ECR, UK), the theory of balanced harvesting was discussed. Its proponents argue that fishing across a range of species, stocks and sizes could increase yields, address food security better than selectively avoiding juvenile fish and bycatch. However, they warn that the state of fish stocks and scientific research would need to be greatly improved before such a management system could be implemented.
November 15, 2012
”Stop bankrupting our oceans” – WWF and 150,000 people demand sustainable CFP
At the European Parliament on 6-8 November, WWF handed over their peition to Ulrike Rodust (S&D, DE), rapporteur for the European Parliament on the basic regulation of the CFP reform.
November 7, 2012
Peru slashes anchovy quota
In what used to be the world’s largest fishery, Peru has cut its anchovy quota by 68 %, to 810,000 tonnes, due to warmer water temperatures and high levels of discarding. This is the smallest allowable catch for 25 years and a fraction of 12 million tonnes caught in the early 1970s.
November 7, 2012
MEPs ask, will the CFP deliver fish in the future?
Today, the Fish for the Future (FFF) Bureau, a cross-party group of MEPs in the European Parliament, released a “Beginner’s Guide on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.” Their message is simple “we must fish less now so we can fish more tomorrow”.
October 25, 2012
Seismic testing may impact spawning patterns of fish and mammals
Seismic testing involving loud airgun arrays, used to find deposits of oil and gas in the sea bed, may be used off the east coast of America next year. Environmental campaigners are trying to prevent this due to its effect on marine wildlife.
October 24, 2012
Council agrees to EMFF general approach
At 3.40 negotiations in Luxembourg concluded between EU ministers, who agreed to a compromise package on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by a qualified majority. The details of the agreement have yet to be published, but the Council agreement allows for 15% of the funds member states can access through the EMFF to be used for fleet restructuring until 2017. Significant increased funding for aquaculture has also been put forward, along with measures to improve control, data collection, selectivity and move toward low impact fishing techniques.
October 24, 2012
Quotas for Baltic stocks agreed for 2013
The agreed total allowable catches (TACs) for next year were broadly in line with proposals made by the Commission. At least three stocks will be managed at Fmsy next year, however, five of the ten agreed quotas exceeded scientific recommendations. For main basin salmon the quota will be more than double that suggested by ICES..The Council also moved away from the long-term management plan (LTMP) for western Baltic cod, cutting the TAC further than they were obliged, although well short of the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) transition target.
October 22, 2012
SARFISH Policy Briefing Delivered to EU Fisheries Decision makers
Last week the SARFISH briefing was distributed to EU fisheries decision makers, including some final recommendations for the possible agreement on the proposed European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) (COM(2011)804) and on the proposal for the 2013 fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea (COM(2013)548) has been sent to the EU Fisheries Ministers and their advisors.
October 17, 2012
The Limassol Declaration calls for “blue growth”
Under the Cypriot Presidency of the EU, the Council has agreed to the “Limassol Declaration” – purportedly to lay the foundations for a maritime agenda for growth and jobs, with a focus on the blue economy.
October 17, 2012
BS RAC seminar on ecosystem based management
The Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council (BS RAC) held a seminar on ecosystem based management (EBM) in Gdynia, Poland, at which a series of experts reflected on the integration of science and policy, to form the basis for improved implementation of EBM within the Baltic.