News
September 8, 2010
COM asking for input on biodiversity, Atlantic sea basin
A new consultation – involving all sorts of stakeholders – on a post-2010 biodiversity policy for the European Union has started, to be concluded on 22 October. The new consultation, following a “first round” in June, includes sub-targets in six areas: agriculture and forestry fisheries nature protection green infrastructure invasive species the EU’s contribution to … Continued
September 8, 2010
New Treaty can work either way, lawyers find
A study from a group of legal experts finds it “crucial” how the shared competence between the EU and its member states implied in the new Lisbon Treaty is sorted out in practice. ClientEarth, a London-based group of activist lawyers committed to environmental issues, notes that while the “old” community treaty did not explicitly mention … Continued
September 7, 2010
US managers leaving TACs, embracing ITQs
The use of catch shares in fisheries management, instead of all-embracing TACs, is spreading over the USA, with a program proposed by one of eight regional management councils now winning formal federal approval. The federal body, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Fisheries Service (NMFS), recently approved a plan governing West Coast trawl groundfish … Continued
September 2, 2010
“Seafood stewardship in crisis”, experts say
In an opinion piece in the current issue of Nature magazine, six leading scientists claim that the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the world’s most established eco-labelling system for seafood, is “rapidly failing on its promise”. “We believe that, as the MSC increasingly risks its credibility, the planet risks losing more wild fish and healthy marine … Continued
September 2, 2010
Sweden testing chips’n fish
A new technique for making seafood traceable down to the where-when-and-what of every individual catch is being tested in Swedish stores. The project run jointly by the Board of Fisheries, scientists at the University of Lund and the sector, is based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) where data is read from a computer chip on … Continued
September 1, 2010
STECF advices reduced effort for Baltic cod
The EU Commission’s main scientific advisory body has generally agreed with earlier scientific advice on next year’s Baltic catch quotas, but adds that fishing effort should be reduced for the dominant eastern cod stock. In its review of advice published in May by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the Scientific, … Continued
September 1, 2010
NGO letter on deep-sea matters
In a letter to DG MARE, the EU Commissions “Fisheries Ministry”, eight environmental organisations call for taking the precautionary approach to setting catch quotas for deep-sea species in 2011 and 2012. The letter, signed by Birdlife International, the Bloom Association, the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, Pew Environment Group, Seas At Risk, the European Anglers Alliance, WWF … Continued
September 1, 2010
Scottish rift in mackerel war
The solid Scottish united front against Faroese and Icelandic mackerel scavengers is showing signs of wilting, with an Aberdeen producer praising the Faroe way of managing their stocks – as opposed to the way the EU has done it. The conflict surrounding mackerel stocks that have migrated from EU to Faroe and Icelandic waters in … Continued
August 31, 2010
The bell tolls for Baltic salmon, Finnish letter warns
In a letter to Commissioner Maria Damanaki, the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (FANC) rings the alarm on the dire situation of the Baltic salmon. Recent research has shown that spawn migration to the rivers of the Gulf of Bothnia has decreased dramatically from last year, the letter says, pointing to the fact that the … Continued
August 31, 2010
The dangers of fishing in the USA
Despite what Discovery may tell you about the deadly quest for Bering Sound king crabs, statistics show that it is much more dangerous to go for sole, flounder and the terrible codfish in the Northeast. Commercial fishing is statistically the most dangerous profession in America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a … Continued