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News Archive

UK, Holland, Germany go TAC for TAC

Following a wide-ranging set of quota swaps with other nations, the British sole fishery in the North Sea has reopened after an almost two-month close-down.

Big salmon escape a deadly threat in Scotland

A British game fish association has warned that “genetic spill” from fish farms is threatening with collapse the whole salmon fishing industry in Scotland.

Many saying it loud and clear

28,500 people have signed a call for greater sustainability in fisheries that will be handed to Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki as she meets an OCEAN2012 delegation on 13 September.

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.

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.

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.

“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”.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Proof of "systematic" Danish IUU, Greenpeace says

Greenpeace Sweden claims to have documented ”systematic” ,“intensive” and “continuous” illegal fishing by Danish vessels in a protected, closed-for-fishing area of the Kattegat.

Big Award to ICES VIP

Danish scientist Poul Degnbol has been presented with the WWF Baltic Leadership Award in 2010 for his “endeavours to achieve sustainable fisheries within the frame of the EU Common Fisheries Policy”.

Sweden takes strong stance for regionalisation of tougher CFP

With a strong emphasis on area-based management, the Swedish government has published a complimentary “in-depth” response to the Commission Green Paper on a future Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

Shareholders force sustainability on US giant wholesaler

Under pressure from concerned shareholders, one of North America’s biggest wholesale food distributors has promised to stop selling seven threatened fish species.

MSC greencards sockeye salmon, biologist resigns

Over protests from environmentalists and the resignation of a prominent panel member, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has finalised certification of the Fraser River sockey salmon in Canada.

Deepening dispute over moving mackerel

A conciliatory mood over fisheries issues as Iceland entered memberships talks with the EU in late July was dispersed just two weeks later in a conflict over moving mackerel stocks.

Politician behind US fisheries management dies in plane crash

The former Alaska US Senator Ted Stevens who died in an airplane crash on 9 August was one of the pair the gave the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act its name, in some respects held forth as an example to follow for the EU.

Fish feel global warming, too

An increasing awareness of the effects of climate change on fish stocks – some of them dramatic, and occurring in our lifetime – was expressed by scientists at a conference in Belfast in July.

Next stage in WWF trout dialogue

Draft standards have now been published in the WWF-led process to minimise environmental effects of freshwater trout aquaculture.

Swedish Government agency goes for Asian invader

Swedish Board of Fisheries scientists are eagerly fishing for a Black Sea invader that has already conquered Poland, posing a threat to ecosystem balance, however eatable, preferably pickled.

New study: What we can learn from the Americans

Hoping to draw conclusions from the American experience when the EU forms a new Common Fisheries Policy, a comprehensive study looks into the US management system, partly much more ambitious and successful in fighting overfishing and rebuilding depleted stocks.

Scottish ingenuity to save fishermen’s lives

A Scottish engineer has developed a potentially life-saving device that warns fishermen if their vessel is about to capsize.

Japan launching the world’s first investment fund for fish

With a €1.25 billion purse, a major Japanese brokerage house is setting up what it claims to be the world’s first fisheries investment fund.

For fish, the EU owes to the world

If EU citizens had consumed fish from EU waters only, they would have run out of fish the first week in July, a report shows.

US restaurants to start conserving fish

Several huge American fast food/restaurant chains, including McDonald’s, seem to be jumping on the train to save the world’s dwindling fish stocks.

Eating fish may save women’s sanity

A recent Nordic study indicates that psychotic conditions are much more common among women who do not eat fish, as compared to those who do.

Caging cod just as good as netting it, project shows

Catching cod in cages has been found well comparable in efficiency to using nets, trials in Sweden have shown.

Belgian Presidency stakes out the Council autumn

Few political decisions beside the usual TAC and quota haggling are foreseen in the work programme of the Belgian EU Presidency for the second half of 2010.

Producers want money for mergers

As part of its preparations in drafting legislation for the new CFP, the Commission recently organised a seminar and stakeholder dialogue on the “Reform of the Market Policy on Fishery and Aquaculture Products”.

Polish elections: Small step for fisheries, bigger step for Presidency planning

The outcome of the recent Polish presidential elections is not predicted to impact the country’s position on the Common Fisheries Policy, although the winner Bronis³aw Komorowski is expected to play an important role in the preparations for the Polish EU Presidency, which starts on July 1, 2011.

Future for Swedish Fisheries, Now in English

A strategic Government report on future Swedish fisheries urging “radical change”, has now been released in English.

Baltic States invited to take part in Clean up the Baltic event

The 4th annual International Clean up the Baltic 2010 event has been scheduled for 9 September in Poland, just when the tourist season nears its end.

American, Costa Rican, share huge Swedish Environmental Award

An American biologist/oceanographer who has ”made it his life’s work to promote a coordinated and sustainable administration of marine resources and marine environments”, and a Costa Rican environmentalist who has successfully fought shark finning are sharing this year’s one million kronor (€105,000) Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development.

North Sea cod slowly recovering, but in Kattegat it’s still do or die

Some positive signs for the North Sea/Skagerrak cod stocks were suggested when ICES published its scientific advice for the 2011 TACs in that region, but the situation for their Kattegat cousins remains at a critical level.

EU Council writes off COM TAC cuts

“Most delegations” were said to contend that the Commission was going too far with some proposed TAC cuts for 2011, and the retiring Spanish Presidency chair Elena Espinosa underlined that they were only “at the very beginning” as the EU June Council meeting opened formal discussions of the upcoming CFP reform.

Not seeing too well, male fish gets pregnant with the wrong female

Temporarily impaired vision may have the same potentially disastrous effects for fish as for humans in picking a partner for mating, new research shows.

CFP Reform, 2011 TAC-setting, on agenda for June Council

No decisions are expected on fisheries issues at the June EU Council meeting in Luxembourg, but CFP reform and future TACs will be up for debate.

ITQs may be straw that broke the camel’s back for Danish fishing hamlet

A whole Danish fishing community that went for ITQs now risks to be wiped out after the local bank collapsed.

Fishers follow the money, not the big fish, report says

Contrary to earlier beliefs, a new study indicates that professional fisheries do not go for what is left at the top of the food chain, but rather focuses on what is most profitable: shrimp pays better than cod.

Both environment and fishers could profit from new gears, study shows

Changed fishing gears could reduce both harmful effects on the marine ecosystems and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as lower the fishermen’s fuel costs, a new report towards low impact fisheries shows.

Illegal fishing plunders West African waters

Ivory Coast officials say its own seafood catches went down 30 percent last year, and some experts estimate that illegal catches along West African coasts, mostly by European or Asian vessels, amount to as much as one billion dollars annually.

Anglers an emerging force in CFP reform work

A strong representation of anglers in general and NGOs from Estonia, Latvia and Estonia in particular marked a recent FISH-led strategy workshop in Poland.

COM clamps down hard on Mediterranean States

Feeling ”truly disappointed”, Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki has urged Mediterranean member states to finally apply the 2006 fisheries regulation. “The transition period is over”, she added grimly.

Lowri Evans new head of DG MARE

A British chartered accountant has been appointed new Director-General for fisheries under the EU Commission.

“MSY is just an upper limit”, say NGOs

Welcoming the EU Commission’s ”clear commitment” to bring in the MSY approach by 2015, a statement from nine important NGOs points out that Maxim Sustainable Yield is not “the ultimate target”.

"Agreement with Morocco - no problem", says EU Ambassador

Contrary to what the European Parliament’s legal experts have found, the EU Ambassador to Morocco contends there is “no problem” with the legalities in the EU-Morocco agreement on fisheries in occupied Western Sahara.

Danes give red light to red-listed freights

The Danish Maersk Company, the world’s largest container-shipping firm, has included in its environment policy to not carry red-listed seafood species.

Report outlines future Swedish fisheries

A strategic Government report on future Swedish fisheries urges “radical change”, including better distribution of fishing rights between the fishing sector, fishing tourism and leisure fishing, giving priority to what has “the greatest value to society”.

Baltic Cod is still going stronger

A continued rather remarkable comeback for the once troubled Eastern cod stock, and another slight improvement for its Western cousins, stood out as positive highlights as the ICES Advice for the 2011 Baltic Sea TACs were made public on May 28.

1. Moving over to MSY
2. “Eastern Cod TAC could be almost doubled”
3. Western stock still hovering, at PA
4. Baltic Herring: Mixed blessings
5. Fishermen and cod compete for sprat
6. Salmon still scarce, specifically smolt

Reactions: “Goes to show we were right …”

”Long-term management based on science will produce results - as opposed to the quota haggling of before”, was WWF-Sweden’s reaction to the improved situation for the Baltic cod, highlighted in today’s ICES advice for next year’s TACs in the Baltic Sea.

Report finds no trawling is productive

Thanks to a 70-year old trawling ban, cod fishing in the sound between Sweden and Denmark could now be counted as 100 times more productive than in neighbouring Kattegat, a new Swedish study shows.

IUU fishing: Crime still pays, study shows

Fish worth almost 19 billion euros is landed illegally each year, and efforts to clamp down on it are futile, a new study shows.

Finland has to do more for threatened seals, EU warns

Concerned about one of the world’s most threatened seal populations, the EU Commission has sent a formal notice to the Finnish government calling for better protection of the waning Lake Saimaa seals.

Sweden wants another exception

Even though no improvement has been seen, Sweden will ask the Commission to prolong the dispensation from EU limits on the dioxin content in herring and salmon, the minister says.

Oil spill may strike huge Florida angling sector

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Mexican Gulf may, if it hits Florida beaches, threaten a sport fishing industry worth almost 1 billion euros.

Not many fish in the sea by 2050, experts warn

Unless fleets are slashed, the world may face fishless oceans in 40 years, UN experts say. In such a needful action, they add, 22 million jobs could disappear and 13 million fishing boats be scrapped.

COM stakes out road to 2011 TACs

As the EU Commission released its policy paper on the setting of next year’s catch quotas, Commissioner Maria Damanaki said she wanted to see “a tougher method” applied.

Swedish fisheries have an age class problem

Although the greying stock of Swedish professional fishermen is in serious need of rejuvenation, the Board of Fisheries approves only a handful of new licenses each year, a newsletter from the authority reports.

Baltic NGOs discuss Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Many Member States around the Baltic have just started on the road to implementation of the two-year old EU directive, an NGO meeting in Lithuania was told.

EU Ministers clear throats, raise voices on new CFP

The first informal talks among EU fisheries ministers on the upcoming CFP reform ended in the Spanish Presidency reporting “unanimous agreement” on a set of priorities, including the need to separate small-scale and industrialised fishing.

ICES advice to shift into MSY approach

As a result of ICES clients now subscribing to the Maximum Sustainable Yield approach, ICES is currently developing a strategy for the transition of the current precautionary-based advice to an MSY framework.

Scottish fishers in dire straits

The Scottish fishing sector says it is facing massive close-downs after fishermen have used up their allotted days-at-sea quotas much sooner than expected.

UK Study shows today’s fishermen must work much harder than yore

Comparing statistics going back to the 1880s, British researchers found that four times more fish were landed in UK ports 100 years ago than today.

Earthquake in fishmeal prices

The forces of Nature have caused the price of fishmeal to skyrocket more than 85 percent in a year.

Swedish plans to lift small-scale efforts

A report from the Swedish Board of Fisheries suggests that small-scale fisheries should be under separate management.

That’s how THEY do it:

A report on how fleet capacity is managed in six important non-EU fishing nations has been published, to the benefit of the European Parliament Fisheries Committee.

Singing Sensation: 10 Fishermen No.7 on British charts

Not exactly a boy band, more of a “buoy band”, 10 rugged Cornwall fishermen have launched a singing group career that has only just started with a one million pound recording contract.

NGO statement told EU to scale down

Describing the upcoming CFP reform as an “once-in-a-decade opportunity”, close to a dozen NGOs told the EU Fisheries ministers to promote a shift to “appropriately-scaled, community-based fisheries” when the new policy is taking shape.

“La Coruña Declaration” says small is very good

More than 70 NGOs, fishermen’s organisations and other stakeholders have signed a declaration calling for the European Union to put small-scale coastal fisheries “at the heart of the CFP reform”.

Declaration is followed by promising meeting

The first, possibly ground-breaking, steps in a future hand-in-hand walk between NGOs and small-scale fishermen were taken at a meeting in Spain in late April.

Sinking fisheries in Eastern Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador, a Canadian province already hit hard by the cod stock collapse in the early 1990s, has reported a sharp decline in the value of its seafood industry last year.

Norwegian institute stakes out ”fishing of the future”

Capture-based aquaculture – saving the catches in cages to be butchered and sold when most advantageous market-wise – is hailed by a Norwegian scientist as “the fishing method of the future”.

Fungi may make healthfood for fish

Farmed fungi fed on biproducts from a pulp mill will make aquaculture more sustainable, Swedish scientists hope.

COM summarises CFP responses

The EU Commission has published a compilation of 382 responses received to its Green Paper on CFP reform, originally scheduled to be presented at the cancelled April Council meeting.

Nothing Holy, no more

Submitting to the fact that fisheries have gone down in sustainability since Jesus and his disciples were around, the Israeli government has imposed a two-year ban on all fishing in the Sea of Galilee.

CFP responses to be presented, discussed in Council meeting

A preliminary compilation of 382 responses to the CFP Green Paper will be presented by the Commission at the upcoming April Council meeting.

Not so PC petcare

At the same times as the British branch of the Whiskas cat food maker has announced grand plans for going sustainable, its US mother company is selling gourmet Whiskas flavoured with bluefin tuna.

Small-scale fisheries do not equal small-scale management problems

While better management of industrial fisheries has been the focus from international institutions such as the FAO of late, this cannot be at the expense of dealing with overcapacity in small-scale fleets, a leading academic said at a recent Stockholm seminar.

MSC to open Stockholm office

Proclaiming new Swedish partnerships, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) announced that it will open a local office in Stockholm. In an unrelated development, a producers organisation declared that they are seeking MSC certification for their North Atlantic mackerel fishery.

Damanaki expecting/hopeful on Western Sahara

The EU Commission still awaits more detailed information from Morocco on where proceeds go from fisheries off occupied Western Sahara, but Commissioner Maria Damanaki underlines that, according to the Commission, some activities do benefit the people there.

UK creating the world’s largest MPA

Banning industrial fishing in an area twice the size of the UK, Great Britain is creating the world’s largest marine reserve in the Indian Ocean.

Fish for Thought: ‘The End of the Line’ screened in Warsaw

FISH, along with OCEAN2012 and WWF, recently organised and hosted a screening of the fisheries documentary, “The End of the Line”, followed by a panel discussion between representatives from different sectors of the fishing debate.

£450 windfall for UK fisherwomen

British women in fisheries management can now benefit from a €500-plus training program aimed at supporting women in male-dominated industries.

We won’t go seismic, Norwegian fishers say

Some fishermen in Norway’s dominating fishing district of Lofoten are threatening to block an upcoming seismic survey they claim is threatening their fisheries.

EU subsidises overfishing, new study shows

A new report shows a clear link between overfishing and EU subsidies.

No slow track for Italy

EU’s fisheries ministers turned down Italy’s request to their March Council meeting for more time to implement technical measures prescribed by a regulation from 2006.

If you thought THAT tuna bid was bad …

After the rejection of a proposal to ban international trade in the Atlantic bluefin tuna, some experts now say that its southern cousin is even closer to extinction.

First link found between fish stocks/climate change

American scientists have developed a model that may be used to forecast the impact of climate change on different fish stocks: good for some, bad for others.

Japan, 40 Marine World, 0

Observers drew parallels to the failed UN Climate meeting in Copenhagen and environmentalists declared the outcome a “tragedy of the oceans” as the CITES meeting in Doha ended with not one marine species proposed for protection being granted it.

Commission may withdraw proposed management plans

It appears a heated discussion between the European Parliament and the European Commission on co-decision procedures may result in the Commission withdrawing the proposed management plans for horse mackerel and anchovy.

Damanaki on blue integration in European Parliament

At a meeting in the European Parliament, Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki emphasized the need for a radical reform of the CFP, continued efforts to reduce discards and the importance of the small-scale fisheries sector and “blue growth”.

“On the right track”, says Sweden

The recent recovery of the Eastern Baltic cod stock was held forth as a success story, while fleet overcapacity was mentioned as a fundamental problem, as the Swedish Government handed over a major report on the windfalls of fisheries policy to the Riksdag (Parliament).

No felt-soles in Alaskan streams and rivers

The Alaska Board of Fisheries has come out in support of a state-wide ban on felt-soled wading boots, seen as a potential threat to the environment.

CITES doesn’t go for sharks, either

Only one out of eight purportedly endangered shark species won protection at the ongoing UN CITES meeting in Doha, Qatar.

No more pills from occupied waters

Several Swedish health store chains have halted sales of omega-3 pills after a TV magazine has showed that fish used for the capsules originates in occupied Western Sahara.

Sweden withdraws from Norwegian shrimp

Since the Swedish allotted 2010 catch quota for shrimp in the Norwegian economic zone has all but been exhausted already, the Swedish Board of Fisheries has decided to stop those Fisheries from March 29.

Diversity in nature getting thinner every day

For the first time since the era of the dinosaurs, there are now more species becoming extinct than new ones evolving, according to a British leading biodiversity expert.

No tuna trade ban, probably

The UN meeting in Doha, Qatar, has voted down the proposal to ban international trade in bluefin tuna.

EU bureaucrats save pregnant cod

It does happen that bureaucracy works in favour of the fish: a sector request to open closed cod fisheries in the western Baltic because of the extreme winter conditions has been rejected, since the EU consultation route, including the new co-decision process with the Parliament, would “take too much time”.

Better fish than farm, US Prof says

Land based agriculture has a far greater effect on biodiversity than fisheries, a prominent American professor says. To replace the protein from global fisheries, grazing land would be needed that equals the world’s rain forests 22 times over.

First French MSC thumbs-up

A saithe fishery comprising five huge vessels has become the first French fishery to receive MSC certification.

Contraceptives have side-effects for fish

New Swedish research has confirmed earlier reports that residues from human contraceptives in lakes, rivers and sea water may threaten fish reproduction.

Gene-modified monster trout to haunt the depths

The controversial Belgian Blue is getting its fishy counterpart in an enhanced trout with 15-20 percent bigger "six-pack" muscle mass than its puny comrades.

Same boat, new flag, fishing off occupied coast

In a recent edition of a Swedish television magazine, investigative reporters have shown how a member of the country’s dominating fishing family sold his Swedish transferable quota, then registered his vessel under convenience flag and went on fishing off occupied Western Sahara.

New FISH money for Polish NGOs

The Fisheries Secretariat’s financial support to Polish NGOs has been widened to include new areas where granting may be possible.

Swedish export boom is mostly Norwegian

A 25 percent hike in fish exports made agriculture and food products all but the only Swedish export sector that expanded in 2009. However, farmed salmon from Norway, repacked and then re-exported, accounted for most of that increase, otherwise dominated by herring sold in IKEA stores.

EU in line for tuna decision

In the build-up for the CITES meeting in Doha on Saturday, EU member nations have agreed on supporting a bluefin tuna trade ban – with reservations.

Crime still pays for fishing crooks

Thirty-six French and Spanish vessels found guilty of breaking CFP rules still received a total of €13.5 million in subsidies between 1994 and 2006, a report shows.

Sushi gone bad

In a sting operation under the auspices of the maker of Oscar-winning “The Cove”, a sushi chef in California has been charged with serving illegal whale meat.

More TAC to the good guys, new report suggests

Fishermen with more selective gear and a history of compliance with EU rules are among those highlighted in a new report on who should be given priority access to limited fishing resources in the future.

USA endorses tuna trade ban

The US Government has announced that it will support a trade ban on bluefin tuna at the CITES meeting in Doha, Qatar.

No eel at all

For the third straight year, a Swedish research vessel trawling the Skagerrak and the Kattegat has found no glass eel at all.

Top UK Science Councellor carries many hats

According to The Times, the British Government’s top science advisor and his wife owns a consulting firm which manages fisheries that zoologists say is catching tens of thousands threatened fish in the Indian Ocean.

No peak for pike

Swedish anglers in the Baltic are facing sharp restrictions in their favourite catch from April 1, the Board of Fisheries has decided.

US takes on alien fish

Following a White House summit meeting, the US Government has decided to hit the threat of an alien carp species “with all of the tools in the toolbox”.

EP comes up short on CFP, environmentalists say

Regionalisation instead of ”top-down approach”, subsidarity and widened stakeholder involvement were key notions as the European Parliament has its saying on the upcoming CFP reform.

EU-Iceland talks may start in dire straits

Fisheries may be one of the biggest stumbling blocks, as the EU Commission has now given green light for membership talks with Iceland.

PECH ponders pros and cons of farming fish

Aquaculture can be green, a Spanish industry representative claimed to somewhat sceptical MEPs at a hearing in the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee (PECH).

Japan says ”clear no” to tuna ban

The Japanese Fisheries minister, representing three quarters of the global bluefin tuna consumption, has come out strongly against a trade ban on the threatened species, common in sushi.

Sardines Made in USA no more

Reduced herring quotas are forcing the last US remaining sardine cannery to close down, its parent company has announced.

COM comes out for tuna ban

The EU Commission has followed suite after the European Parliament decision to support a trade ban on bluefin tuna, saying that it will now search out Member States to reach a common EU position for the CITES meeting in March.

Norway having hard time at Winter Olympics

Adding insult to injury – Canada won 8-0 – North American environmentalists staged a protest demonstration outside the Olympic Canada-Norway hockey game – against Norwegian aquaculture.

New Swedish Agency to combine fish and environment

A Swedish Public investigation on how best to manage fish resources and the marine environment proposes a new, integrated Government agency and it looks set to end up in Gothenburg. It remains unclear, however, whether the Agriculture or Environment Minister will be representing Sweden in the Fisheries Council.

WWF-US Retailer to work together on seafood sustainability

The WWF has announced a new collaboration with one of America’s largest food retailers towards sustainably sourcing the retailer’s wild-caught seafood.

Borg and Namibian Minister share Swedish Seafood Award

In Gothenburg, it was a week of fish and fisheries. For three days everything from capture fisheries and control to cooking for kids was covered. It concluded with the Swedish Seafood Award presented, at the Gothenburg Opera, to ex-commissioner Joe Borg and the Namibian Fisheries Minister.

EP backs trade ban on bluefin tuna

The European Parliament has voted in favour of adopting a resolution in support of a ban on the trading blue fin tuna. Support from the European institutions of a ban will likely further pressure the inclusion CITES, the largest global wildlife conservation agreement.

Close the TAC Circus, says Swedish MEP

Ministers should not be the ones to set quotas, says a Swedish bestseller-writer-turned-member of the EP Fisheries Committee.

Now on film: The 17-metre King of Herrings

The fish that may have inspired the Old-Mariner myth of the Sea Serpent has been caught on film for probably the first time, swimming, literally, back and forth.

New beginning for blind turtle

A turtle that was intentionally blinded by Greek fishermen has been flown to start a new life in England. His name is Homer.

Poland on CFP: Ecological objectives must be prioritised, ITQs considered

The next EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) should focus on ecological objectives over social and economic, the Polish government says in its official response to the Commission's Green Paper on the future CFP.

Icelandic trawler protest

Protesting a Government plan to revoke an old ”tax rebate”, most trawlers in the Westman Islands region of Iceland have been returning to port prematurely lately.

Carp threat still on, White House to listen

The U.S. Supreme court decision to reject a proposal to cut off the Illinois river from Lake Michigan, a move to prevent a fugitive carp species from invading and shifting the eco-balance in the world’s largest freshwater lake system, has triggered initiatives to both introduce the issue in the US Congress and gather a White House Great Lakes Summit.

Two large countries fight over one small shrimp

A dispute between Canada and Denmark over just a symbolic shrimp catch may be a sign of what to expect as warming waters and receding icecaps loom in the future for the northern Atlantic and Arctic.

Rebooted EU-Norway talks result in deal

The EU and Norway have finally struck a deal on 2010 TACs after lengthy negotiations, with Scotland, seeing itself as hardest-pressed EU member, expressing mixed reactions.

OCEAN2012 on PECH report: “Not enough”

The European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee has adopted a report on CFP reform that admits that “ecological sustainability is the basic premise also for the economic and social future”, the report however immediately quashed by a key NGO as a “missed opportunity”.

That’s how much more fish could have been caught …

Had fisheries management been sustainable, EU catches could have been 80 percent higher, scientists behind a new study say.

New challenge to MSC certification

A step towards certifying the Canadian sockeye salmon fishery has been another target for criticism of the MSC eco-labelling process.

Glum future for miserable fish

The sad-looking blobfish has good reason for it: it swims about on great Australian depths on the verge of extinction.

Revamping Baltic Sea decision-making system

A new platform, working-name ”Baltfish”, is emerging in the EU decision-making process.

Plain talk from Damanaki in EP Hearing

With a commitment to ”stick to” the Baltic cod management plan, and praising the Baltic Sea RAC cooperation as “excellent”, Fisheries Commissioner designate Maria Damanaki made an overall headstrong and competent impression in her European Parliament hearing.

Coming up, Fish Week

Pencil the date in your diaries: The week of June 8th will see the first European Fish Week, with events being held all across the continent.

MSC best in test

Despite a recent storm of criticism from environmentalists and scientists, the WWF has found the MSC label better than any other certification system.

First six Swedish trawlers to go down

A total €1.78 millions have been granted to six Swedish West Coast trawlers to be scrapped, the first in a campaign aimed at a 50-percent reduction of the nation’s cod fleet in western waters by 2015.

Damanaki hearing: Live on video link

The hearing of the Fisheries Commissioner-nominee Maria Damanaki in the European Parliament will take place on January 19, which is the last day of hearings.

Pressure is rising to end fish poaching in Poland

In Poland fish poaching is occurring at staggering rates, experts warn.

1. Growing Problem
2. Measures to end poaching take a stronghold in Goleniow

Irish scientists to listen to fishermen

A scientific study to take advantage of knowledge amassed by fishermen, not always on par with scientists’ outlook, is underway in Ireland.

Used Christmas tree meaningful donation to fish

Obsolete Christmas trees may make excellent habitats for fish, according to a government fisheries biologist in Florida.

UK on CFP: ... not just yet …

In its official response to the Commission’s Green Paper, The British Government stresses regionalisation and “greater flexibility” on its wish list for the 2012 CFP.

Fish eat soybeans at farms

An experiment in Ohio may point to a solution of aquaculture’s biggest sustainability problem, the fact that farmed fish need a much bigger quantity of fish for food.

Scotland on CFP: Let it sink

The Scottish Government, administering the lion’s share of UK fisheries, says the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union should be scrapped, not reformed.

Catch shares help – to a degree, US study finds

The most comprehensive US study so far on the pros and cons of catch shares finds that the system leads to more consistent fisheries, but does not necessarily imply healthier or more abundant fish stocks.

Bad fishing threatens centruries-old liberties

Overfishing and destructive fishing methods may be forcing an end to the 400-year-old freedom of the high seas.

US stakes on ITQs

The US government agency responsible for fisheries is speeding up efforts to halt overfishing to fill demands set up by Congress, goals generally much more ambitious than EU policy.

Best practices spun in Warsaw workshop

Strategies for improving the next Common Fisheries policy were drawn up at Warsaw workshop in December arranged by FISH.

EU Council reopens anchovy, rejects cod closures

Strong opposition from Spain in the EU Council forced a decision to reopen the Bay of Biscay anchovy fisheries “temporarily”.

December Council forgets about Norway

The breakdown in negotiations EU-Norway will mean that 2010 TACs set at the upcoming December Council meeting will be for EU vessels only, while the total outtake will be subject to a likely agreement next year.

Collapsed talks EU-Norway

A conflict over the interpretation of a 1994 mackerel agreement has caused a breakdown in the talks between the European Union and Norway on the 2010 TACs.

CSI: Sharks

DNA tracing may be a way to fight the sharkfin soup threat to that endangered species.

Seeing through our waters more clearly

Sonar scanning that is part of the so-called Census of Marine Life has been able to “see” schools of fish the size of Manhattan, the largest mass of life ever witnessed.

WWF studies RACs, finds great deal to improve

The impartiality/neutrality of the RAC Chairmen needs to be improved, along with the structural balance between the industry and NGOs, WWF points out in a recent report on the functionings of the European Union’s seven Regional Advisory Councils.

Giant subsidies build giant fleets to go after shrinking fish

EU subsidies have enabled the Union’s tuna fishing fleets to grow to almost twice the capacity needed to catch the current quotas – to be cut drastically in 2010 - for the severely threatened species, Commissioner Joe Borg revealed in a reply to a parliamentary question.

New SARFISH briefing with focus on TACs

The third briefing from FISH/Seas At Risk to EU Fisheries Ministers and other stakeholders has been sent out to prepare for the December 14-16 Council meeting.

More stormy weather for MSC

The MSC eco-labelling process has been the focus of renewed attacks from both scientists and environmentalists for its use of commercial consultants, paid by the industry, and a Danish similar organisation accuses MSC of “irresponsibility, bordering to swindle”.

No building CFP on slippery ground, MEP warns

Setting socioeconomic considerations above the sustainability of fish stocks is like “building a house without caring about its foundations”, was one point made as members of the European Parliament and representatives for both NGOs and the industry, as well as scientific expertise, discussed the future CFP reform.

New Fisheries Commissioner nominated

A Greek former freedom fighter and political prisoner, tortured by the Junta in the 1970s, presently a socialist member of the Greek Parliament, has been nominated as the next EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Alaska tops US fishing league

With more than one third of the total worth of US catches in 2008, Alaska remained the nation’s dominating fishing state, a position held since 1975.

Not in my backyard – New port laws to deter IUU

At the recent FAO conference in Madagascar, the new international port state agreement was adopted and is now open for signatures.

Baltic 21 has only seconds to go

As of 1 January 2010, the Baltic 21 inter-state organisation will become formally integrated into a similar network grouping, the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), and its secretariat will be incorporated into that of the CBSS.

No more Borg for Fisheries, Malta decides

Malta’s prime minister has nominated the country’s social policy minister for the next Commission, meaning there will be a new Fisheries Commissioner after Joe Borg.

EU experts squash consultants’ report

The STECF, an expert body under the EU Commission, has sharply rejected an official assessment of the social and economic impacts of a future management plan for pelagic fisheries in the Baltic Sea, as lacking in both method and transparency.

Escaped carp threaten world’s biggest lakes

An Asian carp that escaped American fish farms into the Mississippi in the 1990s now threatens the ecosystems of the Great Lakes, the world’s biggest freshwater lake system.

No agreement on Technical Measures Regulation

The EU Fisheries Ministers failed to reach any agreement on a new technical measures regulation at their November meeting, and a visibly subdued Swedish Minister Eskil Erlandsson, the present Council President, said "it is now for Spain to take over … this very pressing issue”.

Questioned MSC label is sought for Baltic cod

The EU Council’s October decision to raise the 2010 TACs for the Baltic cod, has now been followed by a move by German fishermen to have their fisheries in both Baltic stocks MSC certified.

Nordic Ministers sink current CFP

In an article ahead of Friday’s EU Fisheries Council meeting, the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers calls the current Union fisheries regime a “dismal failure”.

Just one day in Brussels for Fisheries Ministers

Due to the Thursday extra EU summit to discuss candidates for new top official offices, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting has been limited to just one day, Friday. According to the Swedish Presidency, however, all fisheries issues will remain on the agenda.

Chickens, pigs and cows nibble dwindling fish stocks, while people starve, study says

Rather than aiming at consumers’ conscience about what they put on their dinner tables, finding alternative feed sources for chickens, pigs and cows may be a more fruitful path to choose when it comes to saving dwindling fish stocks, researchers behind a new global study say.

Bluefin tuna decision meets mixed reactions

The EU Commission welcomes the ”decisive action” by ICCAT to reduce bluefin tuna TACs, while fuming environmentalists call it a “sell-out”.

Renewed jellyfish threat

Scientists’ warnings of Japanese jellyfish growing big as sumo wrestlers as a consequence of overfishing, have become terrifying reality: a 200-kilo monster recently sunk a big trawler off Chiba on the central East coast.

Management does save fish, study shows

Stock management really does work in rebuilding depleted fisheries, a new study shows.

SARFISH briefing on Ministers’ desks

The second briefing from FISH/Seas At Risk to EU Fisheries Ministers and other stakeholders has been sent out for the November 19-20 Council meeting.

Selecting the right catch

The Scottish Government is funding a test of five Scottish trawlers’ use of selective fishing gear to the tune of €280,000.

Fish are going north for the cool, study shows

Many fish stocks are fleeing warming waters, moving northward and off-shore, some of them now all but extinct in US waters, a new American study shows.

“MSC label not always so certain”

Concern is rising among some environmentalist groups over the MSC eco-label turning lax.

FISH to stage Warsaw workshop

For NGOs in the Baltic area in general, and those in Poland in particular, FISH will host a best practice workshop on the upcoming CFP reform in Warsaw on December 16.

Polish Anglers protest hydropower plant investments

Three angler groups have joined in a day of action in eleven Polish cities in support of a moratorium on the construction of small hydropower plants on the nation’s rivers.

Dragging Doha talks save subsidies for fisheries

Attempts to reduce global fisheries subsidies are suffering from the slow, or non-existent, progress in world trade talks, environmentalists fear.

Nordic Parliamentarians dissing discards

The European Union should do more to prevent discards in fisheries, a statement from a Nordic Council committee says.

Big regional differences in environmental impact from salmon farms, study shows

A study of some aspects of farmed salmon’s impact on the environment shows Norway as best in class, while the UK industry received the worst grades.

No more whiting this year

The 2009 Swedish quota for whiting has been all but exhausted, and all commercial fishing for the species in the Kattegat and the Skagerrak has been banned for the rest of the year, the Board of Fisheries announced.

Spanish threat to South Pacific sharks

Two Spanish vessels using gillnets in waters between Australia and New Zealand threaten endangered deepwater sharp stocks, according to those nations, and the practice will be discussed with the European Union.

Green Federation Gaja scales up wild salmon protection

A 50,000 zloty grant to provide volunteer fish guards with radio-telephones, rubber boots and insulated underwear will make life tougher for Polish salmon poachers.

Baltic regionalisation officially underway

The Baltic Strategy has been endorsed and adopted by the heads of government in the European Council and responsibility has now been passed to “all relevant actors to act speedily and ensure full implementation of the Strategy.”

Commissioner Borg shares sustainability prize

EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg and Abraham Iyambo, Namibia’s Minister for Fisheries and Natural Resources, share this year’s Kungsfenan The Swedish Seafood Award in the Sustainable Fishing category.

EU adopts IUU rules, but environmentalists see loopholes

The EU Commission has adopted rules for the implementation of last year’s IUU regulation, but environmentalists voiced concern that some salmon stocks have been excluded.

IMP has been “key achievement”, Barroso says

Looking back at two years of Integrated Maritime Policy at work, the Commission reports that, out of 65 actions in the action Plan, 56 have been completed or launched.

Stakeholders in RAC not always in harmony, study shows

Not surprisingly, a study of communications between stakeholders in the Baltic RAC found “distrust” and “different levels of communicative skills”, as well as “different understandings of scientific concepts and language”.

NGO letter quoted in EU Council conclusions

The main demand in a joint letter on harmful subsidies from three environment NGOs was included all but verbatim in the conclusions from the October Council meeting of the EU Environment ministers.

Swedish move to ITQs

Sweden will introduce an ITQ system for pelagic fisheries on November 1, the Board of Fisheries has announced.

EU fisheries industry blasts Commission’s Green Paper

Two of the main industry organisations in EU fisheries have presented a positioning document on the Commission’s CFP reform Green Paper, calling it “provocative” although “interesting”, but “painting too bleak a picture of the situation, in a pessimistic or even alarmist manner”.

Dire straits for European Fisheries, workshoppers say

These are challenging times for the European fleet: Depleted stocks, increased regulation, and declining profits mean that management faces tough decisions, and overcapacity cannot be ignored. Those were the main points made at a recent Brussels conference on sustainable fisheries.

Fishbase Symposium : Sharks demystified, protection challenges exposed

Sharks had already lived on this planet for 200 million years when dinosaurs appeared. And now, due to a heavy impact of human predation, sharks are slowly disappearing, the audience was told at a recent symposium in Stockholm.

CONTROL PROPOSAL FINALLY ADOPTED

After ”20 or 21” tri-lateral negotiations, EU fisheries ministers finally agreed on a new Control system in the early Tuesday morning hours, including a penalty point system that may result in revoked fishing licenses and widened possibilities for the Commission to punish financially overfishing member states. The Council also agreed on a high-grading ban for the entire Baltic Sea.

1. Unclear implementation
2. The New Control System

No time to waste with IUU

Many loose-ends still to be tied up, FISH Staffer Christian Tsangarides reports from Chatham House conference in London on illegal-unreported-unregulated fishing.

Fishermen “culture” should be considered more, US Professor says

Theories on the use of fisheries resources that bordered to those that won this year’s Nobel Prize for Economics were vented at a recent Stockholm seminar.

Control Proposal still hot potato to EU Ministers

The Control Regulation, still subject to last-minute revisions, and the 2010 Baltic catch quotas will top the Fisheries agenda as EU ministers gather for their October 19-20 Council meeting in Luxembourg.

Fisheries contributed to 2009 Nobel Prize

The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for 2009 was shared by two American political scientists, rather than economists, one of whom was not only the first woman winner in the 41-year history of that Nobel Prize family “step-brother”, but also a student of fishing communities.

Baltic Sea Strategy may mark start of EU regionalisation

Sweden has been named responsible for coordinating fisheries after the new EU Baltic Strategy is expected to be formally endorsed later in October.

“Blue Book” takes wide approach, strong grip, on global fisheries

Free to download from the Internet, a new 478-page book on “Fisheries, sustainability and development” is recommended by a Swedish professor as both “encyclopaedia and student literature”.

Ministers, Commissioner set sight on discard ban

In a joint declaration in Stockholm, eight Baltic Sea fisheries ministers and Commissioner Joe Borg have announced plans to develop a road map for a ban on discards.

EP Fisheries Committee reacts to Guinea violence

Reacting to renewed violence in the African state of Guinea, the EU Parliament Fisheries Committee has rejected a draft fisheries agreement between the Union and Guinea.

Transparency made opaque

An EU initiative to create more transparency in the handing out of fisheries subsidies has rather resulted in more obscurity, a new report says.

No October, November eel on Dutch sandwiches

A two-month moratorium on eel fishing in Holland took force on October 1, making Dutch professional fishermen publicly predict their soon demise.

Regionalisation – but how?

Some 150 stakeholders, civil servants, scientists and politicians listened, learned and debated regionalisation – one of the perhaps most popular, but complex aspects of the upcoming CFP reform.

WWF protests possible weakening of Control Proposal

The proposed EU Control Regulation, still subject to last-minute debate and last-second changes, has led the WWF to issue an angry letter to both ministers and attachés.

ITQs, VQSs making Danish fishery float

Just a few years ago, Danish fishermen faced the situation of being the biggest EU exporter of fish and seafood, and still running a far from profitable business. Overcapacity was the biggest problem, and transferable rights have been the solution, Danish experts now say, looking at a balanced situation.

Unprecedented global industry summit on marine environment

For the first time in history, cross-sectorial private industry interests will gather next year for a World Summit on how to address ocean environmental challenges.

UK outlines priorities for CFP reform

At a breakfast meeting this morning, the environment secretary Hilary Benn and the fisheries minister Huw Irranca-Davies outlined UK priorities for the upcoming reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

Small-scale website

A new website has been launched to put the lights on small-scale fisheries in view of the upcoming EU Common Fisheries Policy reform.

Fish on film

Within the framework of the “Baltic is in Poland. Baltic is in Europe” project, The Polish Eko Unia organisation has released a series of 10 educational short films on the various Baltic Sea fish species considered significant within the Baltic Sea ecosystem.

France expands in the Mediterranean

In a bid to prevent overfishing by excluding non-EU fishermen, France has announced plans to declare a 70-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Mediterranean.

Half of fish we eat is farmed

Aquaculture will reach a landmark 50 percent of all human consumption of fish this year, a new scientific study predicts.

First Russian MSC

For the first time ever, a Russian fishery has received MSC certification as sustainable.

Swedish Fisheries to be re-organised

Announcing plans to dismantle the present Board of Fisheries, the Swedish Government has appointed an inquiry group to see which parts to transfer to a new joint Marine Agency to be formed by 2011.

Sweden gets its first National Marine Park

Sweden’s first National Marine Park, close to the border to Norway, was inaugurated royally on September 9 by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon.

CITES possible way in saving of sharks

In a new report, a leading marine conservation organisation has recommended that two European shark species should be listed among endangered species.

Commissioner speaks up for scrapping TACs, regulating effort

In a speech to the Fisheries Committee of the newly elected European Parliament, Commissioner Joe Borg has come out strongly for doing away with the present quota system, to substitute it with effort management.

Professor’s pessimism about new EU fisheries policy

Considering the many shortcomings of the present CFP, a Danish Professor and EU fisheries expert told a gathering of Nordic ministers that “it’s hard not to be pessimistic” about the next Common Fisheries Policy in 2012.

Fishermen sinking on Swedish West Coast

The number of fishermen on the Swedish West Coast has been reduced by 25 percent in just the last ten years, a new report from the Swedish Board of Fisheries shows.

Polish campaigners took to the streets

In July, when fish consumption soars on the Polish coast, Klub Gaja organized a series of consumer targeted, awareness raising street performances titled “The history of the Golden Fish”.

Next Year’s Baltic Cod TACs: Like ICES, like Commission

Walking fully in step with this spring’s scientific advice, the EU Commission proposes a 15 percent raise in the 2010 TACs for the Eastern Baltic cod and a 9 percent raise for the smaller Western stock.

“B” for Germany, “D” for Russia in Baltic Sea Conservation Class

Germany emerged as best in class, while Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia were named and shamed as classroom dunces as the WWF published this year’s “Baltic Sea Scorecard”.

US foresees climate change, bans Arctic fishing

In an unprecedented move, US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke has approved a plan to ban fishing in more than a half million square kilometres of American waters in the Arctic – not because of overfishing, bur anticipating changing climate.

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.

CFP debate still same old song, study shows

The debate still centres around the same ”crisis in EU fisheries” as it did ten years ago, an important European research organisation says in a “health check” on the current Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which also includes prescriptions for a better and more sound future.

HELCOM wins big prize

The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) has been awarded the prestigious 2009 Swedish Baltic Sea Water Award.

West Coast fishermen rush to sink their boats

Forty-five vessels, equalling one third of the total Swedish capacity for fishing cod in the western waters, have applied for subsidies to scrap the boats.

No more cod for Drogba, Lampard, Deco

Chelsea Football Club is one of 6,500 customers to face removed Atlantic cod and swordfish from their lunchroom menus, as the world’s largest contract caterer decides to follow conservationists' recommendations.

ITQs no success story, Canadian study claims

A study released by a Canadian NGO implies that the unregulated ITQ market in British Columbia favours “armchair” fishermen and investors, rather than actual, sea-faring entrepreneurs.

MSY not good enough, says “CSI for Overfishing”

A global study holds forth the US, New Zealand and Iceland as good fish stock managers, but adds that more than half of the assessed stocks worldwide still need rebuilding.

FISH looking for new staff member

Because of new project funding and a shifting of responsibilities within the Fisheries Secretariat, we are now searching for a new member of staff.

Advice process, Commission “generalisations” questioned at Brussels seminar

Many doubts were vented over the process leading to the setting of TACs as the Commission arranged a one-day July seminar for scientists, bureaucrats, stakeholders and politicians in Brussels.

Trade union says more could be taken from recovering cod stock

A Canadian fisheries workers trade union is protesting that their government is not answering to hopeful signs of recovery for the earlier collapsed cod stock off Labrador and Newfoundland.

Returning Spanish Chair

Carmen Fraga Estévez of Spain returned as chairperson of the Fisheries Committee in the European Parliament for the next two-and-a-half years.

Still too little done about EU overcapacity, study shows

EU member states are not fulfilling their obligations to report on the reduction of fleet overcapacity in fisheries, and the Commission is not doing enough to enforce those obligations, a recent study shows.

Better control will not mean expensive imported fish

A study commissioned by the EU Commission shows that the financial impact on exports from developing nations to the Union from stricter IUU control will be very light indeed – a 0.26 percent price increase.

WWF, Fishermen and Minister in joint appeal for change

In an unusual move, the Swedish WWF Secretary-General, the president of the Swedish Fishermen’s Federation and the country’s Minister of Fisheries have published a joint letter calling for “regionalisation” of EU decision-making.

Bottom trawling condemned in new report

A new report from the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SNF) compares bottom trawling to “cutting down the forest in order to hunt for deer”.

End of the line for politicians and bureaucrats

Although not yet premiered in movie houses, Greenpeace arranged a private pre-screening at this years’ Almedalen Week for an audience of political and government decision-makers.

UK stakeholders meet to discuss CFP reform

During a conference in the UK on 30 June, a lot of support emerged for a substantial change in the way decisions are made under the Common Fisheries Policy.

Cod on stage puts Man on trial

The Baltic cod and eel has had enough, they’re mad as hell, and they’re not going to take it anymore in a “science theatre” piece premiered among thousands of politicians, lobbyists and media pundits at the 2009 Almedalen week on the island of Gotland.

Cash flows the Spanish way

After two years’ hard work, two NGOs have been able to obtain figures that show that almost half of all EU subsidies to fisheries have gone to one nation – Spain – and that tens of millions of Euros by en large have been spent subsidising vessels and practices worsening illegal fishing, increasing EU fleet overcapacity, and compounding overfishing in European waters.

Energy efficiency comparable on new EU website

Decisions from a conference in 2006 arranged by DG MARE, the EU Commission’s office for fisheries and other maritime issues, included the setting up a website on energy efficiency in fisheries. That website is now operative.

Nordic cooperation to show what works

Dismissing the current EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) as ”a fiasco, according to many”, a gathering of Nordic politicians has said that their own “working” solutions could set an example for the next CFP.

Scotland looks into fisheries slump

In order to “support our fishing industry during these difficult times", the Scottish government has commissioned a detailed study of the recession hitting that business.

New England to try transferable quotas

US fisheries managers in New England, beleaguered by overfishing and an infamously collapsed cod stock, are trying a system of transferable quotas within cooperatives of fishermen.

ICES on Kattegat Cod: Let it be

No catches at all in the Kattegat and a recovery plan not making the grade. A small TAC increase in the North Sea and the Skagerrak – given that tough restrictions are really imposed and enforced, which many doubt. The scientific advice for next year’s catch quotas remain guardedly pessimistic.

Sweden gets new Marine Policy

“Integrated”, “cross-sectorial” and “overall approach” are key terms in a new Marine Policy the Swedish Riksdag (Parliament) has adopted.

Study shows: Transparency and participation key to sustainable management

Little is known whether management schemes practiced around the world really help against overexploitation and improve sustainability. A new comprehensive study indicates meagre results.

Aquaculture and Control reform up for gabs in EU Council

A need to simplify the ”administrative burden” of the European aquaculture industry was highlighted in conclusions adopted by the EU Fisheries Ministers at their June Council meeting in Luxembourg.

Little said about fisheries in Swedish Work Programme

Under the headline ”Using resources without using them up”, the upcoming Swedish EU Presidency recognises that the current Common Fisheries Policy “has not achieved its goals”.

ITQs not always profitable, study shows

A new study by two Canadian scientists shows surprisingly negative economic impacts of the Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQ) system, at least when those shares are leased.

Great means to find Polish friends

Some 70 anglers’ and fishermen’s organisations have been listed and marked on a new Polish National Angling Directory and Map published on this website.

One day of fisheries for EU Ministers

Aquaculture, the control system and the future setting of TACs will be up for debate as the EU Council devotes most of its Tuesday sessions to fisheries.

Obama names task force to forge US national oceans policy

With currently 140 laws and 20 agencies managing its oceans, US President Barack Obama has set out to draft a first comprehensive national policy within this area.

Sweden to introduce tradable quotas

The Swedish Riksdag (Parliament) has adopted a new law entitling fishermen to buy or sell individual fishing quotas.

Greens send bestseller writer to EU Parliament

A prize-winning journalist/author and novice politician behind a bestseller on the disastrous state of global fisheries has been elected to the European Parliament.

Sustainable Old-timers

Active fisheries management for long-term sustainability, as a principle, is nothing new. It may be at least 12,000 years old.

Thanks to overfishing: 200-kilo Japanese jellyfish threatens the world,

Researchers are pointing to a new, problematic, consequence of overfishing in the world’s oceans – jellyfish domination.

Angered fishermen protest Irish eel ban

Claiming that up to 300 catchers could be affected, fishermen in Ireland’s biggest river consider raising legal challenge to the country’s eel fishing ban.

Sweden stops some cod, sole fisheries for rest of 2009

All but exhausted national quotas has led to a Board of Fisheries ban of all Swedish fisheries of cod in the North Sea and common sole in the Skagerrak, the Kattegat and the Baltic.

US angels on, despite economic sinkers

With nearly 40 million practitioners, angling remains one of America’s dominating outdoor recreational activities, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) reports.

Strategy, and plan for action, proposed for Baltic Sea

Setting environment first, the European Commission has published its much-awaited “Baltic Strategy”.

New coalition, including FISH, a warrior for CFP reform

As a response to Commissioner Joe Borg’s call for fundamental reform of the EU fisheries policy, an important NGO coalition has formed in Brussels to fight overfishing and “enhance human well-being”.

Greenpeace make bureaucrats work

The mere plans for a Greenpeace campaign to protect two Natura 2000 sites off the Swedish west coast have inspired government bureaucrats to set off work on new regulations there, campaigners suggest.

NGO strategies considered at Stockholm workshop

The Natura 2000 project, the upcoming EU control regulation, and the futures of the Baltic salmon and the Common Fisheries Policy, respectively, were the issues handled at an intensive two-day NGO “strategic workshop” in Stockholm in early June.

Advice for Dummies

SSB, Yield/R , or “Predation mortality” are not household words for everybody concerned with the present and future for our fish stocks.

Swedish agencies urge power transfer in the EU

Less power to the EU Council, and more power to the Commission and the Member States, two Swedish government agencies recommend in a joint report to the cabinet.

Ups and downs in next year’s Baltic TACs

For the first time in years, scientists have recommended increased catch quotas for both Baltic cod stocks in 2010.

1. Increase for both cod stocks
2. Western stock uncertainties
3. Eastern stock “overfished” no more
4. Decrease for central Herring fishery
5. Cods and fishermen compete for sprat
6. Salmon recommendation in line with real catches

Reactions: Encouraging, but still cause for caution

Swedish reactions to the ICES TAC advice for 2010 were guardedly positive, from NGOs as well as from the government administration.

Commissioner urges ministers to act “head-on” on discards

In a sharp attack on the “wasteful” practice of discards, Commissioner Jorge Borg told the Union Ministers that “there is absolutely no excuse not to tackle this problem head-on now”.

FISH gets younger

The Fisheries Secretariat has admitted Youth and Nature Sweden (Fältbiologerna) as a new member organisation.

EU Ministers in for new, deeper discussions on CFP Reform

The EU Council meeting on Monday, May 25, will provide Union ministers with a first opportunity to dig deeper into the Green Paper on CFP reform introduced a month ago.

Heat is on, fisheries sweat

Sixty-one of the world’s 64 Large Marine Ecosystems (LME) show a significant increase in surface temperature, a new UN report says. LMEs with the sharpest increase included the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the Mediterranean.

WWF eco-labelling plan meets angry NGO protest

In a letter to leading WWF members, more than 70 environmental and human right groups are protesting the World Wildlife Fund’s plans to launch a certification label for aquaculture products.

Control Reform urgent, says EU Body

The EESC, a consultative body within the EU structure, has urged the Commission to press for reform of the fisheries control system without waiting for the debate on a new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in 2010.

How to use the CFP – Download it here!

In an information drive accompanying the debate leading up to a new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in 2012, the European Commission has published a free User’s guide to the CFP.

Yellow Light for most Baltic cod

”OK – but caution!”, is the new WWF advise to Scandinavian customers lusting for cod from the East Baltic stock.

Worries – and some hope – in Commission paper on 2010

Catch quotas have consistently been set at levels too high for the fish stocks to sustain, the European Commission noted as it released a consultation document outlining its views on how to set fishing possibilities in EU waters for 2010.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

"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.

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.

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.

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”.

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”.

Fried and Certified cod offered to Swedish shoppers

The Swedish KRAV eco-labelling organisation has launched a campaign in western Sweden to raise awareness among consumers about sustainably produced seafood.

A fish named Colin

A British supermarket chain has renamed Pollack (Pollachius pollachius), because customers are too embarrassed to ask for it by its given name, the Daily Telegraph reports. The new name launched by the Sainbury’s giant is “Colin”.

More Power to the RACs, Parliament says

Actual management of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) should be progressively devolved to the Regional Advisory Councils (RACs), the European Parliament Fisheries Committee says in a new report.

Increased fish migration on the Internet

A Dutch ecologist/water consult, Herman Wanningen, has started an Internet group on the fish migration theme, with the intention “to bring people and knowledge together”

Swedish DNA research pinpoints European eel

Determining whether even processed eel is from European or other, less threatened, stock will be possible after scientists at the Swedish Museum of Natural History have found the unique mitochondrial DNA of the Anguilla anguilla (European eel).

Unique Polish Anglers protest

On 19 March, marking the national Polish Anglers Day, some 200 anglers joined forces in Nowy Targ to protest the plans to build electricity generating dams on the Dunajec River.

White Paper on climate change includes threats to fisheries

Impacts of climate change will be even swifter and more severe than indicated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in their 2007 report, the European Commission said in its White Paper on the subject published on April 1.

High profits for all parties as Irish salmon fishermen hang up their nets

The Irish government has paid 20 fishermen more than €2.6m to hang up their nets in a bid to avoid the extinction of wild salmon in Irish rivers, the British news site Timesonline reported

EU MPs set aim at recreational fisheries

The EU Parliament Fisheries Committee wishes to see a revision of the much-debated recreational fisheries article of the Commission’s proposed Control Regulation.

Hobby fisheries mean a lot to society, too, new report shows

Recreational fishing adds great benefits to society as a whole, beside the individual rewards, a report by the Swedish Board of Fisheries says.

ITQs seen as way to deal with EU overcapacity

At a seminar in Brussel on Monday, it became clear that the Commission considers rights-based management in the form of Individual Tradable Quotas (ITQs) as a possible way to achieve fleet capacity reduction in the EU.

NGOs looking at ways to improve the regional aspect of the CFP

With increased regionalisation a possible element of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy in 2012, NGOs involved in the Regional Advisory Councils last week agreed that the US provides an interesting example of how EU regional structures can be developed further

US Professor strongly critical of ITQs

Unimpressed by the debate on Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs), an American Economics professor calls conventional economic theories of rights-based management of fisheries both “dishonest” and “false”.

Swedish-Danish harmony on Kattegat gear

After agreeing last November on a no-fishing zone in the Kattegat, Sweden and Denmark will now harmonise the rules for gear to be used.

New step on Recovery Road for northern hake

A long-term plan to improve the stock of northern hake has been adopted by the EU Commission.

Deeper than we thought

Deep-sea commercial fishing may have much deeper effects than previously thought, harming fish populations a kilometre below the deepest reach of fishing trawlers, a new British study shows.

Swedish aquaculture could well grow, report says

Conditions are good for a growth in aquaculture in Sweden, a Government report says. At present, the aquaculture industry in Sweden is smaller than in most neighbouring nations, the study shows.

Polish stakeholders meet Swedish colleagues

Challenging meetings with Swedish fishermen and administrators and 700 kilometres of bus travel marked three intensive days as FISH went on tour in southern and western Sweden with 18 Polish fishery stakeholders last week.

Hard times ahead for Swedish anglers

Swedish anglers in the Baltic may face sharp restrictions in their quest for pike this summer. The Board of Fisheries has proposed a three-units-a-day limit for anglers with hand gear, and only those fish between 40-75 centimetres may be kept.

Big cuts in Swedish trawler fleet

A 40 per cent reduction of the Swedish trawler fleet in western waters by 2015 has been proposed by the Swedish Board of Fisheries.

Swedish government bill adopts the eco-system approach

In a comprehensive maritime policy bill, to be introduced to the Riksdag by March 17, the Swedish Government has proposed the establishment of a new agency responsible for the marine environment as a whole.

FAO urges fisheries to observe climate change

Current management plans and practises for responsible fisheries should be expanded to take into consideration climate change, the FAO said in its annual "State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture" (SOFIA) report.

Moving day for MSC

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-labelling organisation has moved its Asia-Pacific headquarters from Sydney to Tokyo.

New Department head at DG MARE

Carla Montesi has been appointed new Director for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea in the Maritime affairs and fisheries department of the European Commission (DG MARE).

Greenpeace to sink boulders against bottom trawling

The Greenpeace organisation plans to prevent bottom trawling in two Natura 2000 areas in the Kattegat between Sweden and Denmark by placing out stone boulders.

Fish nets are killing Saimen seals

The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (FANC) has proposed restrictions for fish nets to save the critically endangered Saimen seal.

Big money for smart ideas

A 30,000 dollar first prize will lure fishers and environmentalists alike to the fourth annual WWF Smart Gear Competition.

“Ja” or “Nein” to North Sea cod? Depends on whom you ask

A controversial decision last December to raise quotas for cod in the North Sea has lead to mixed messages from the German government.

Fisheries subsidies “artificial respiration”, says Sweden’s National Auditor

In a highly critical report last November, Sweden’s Auditor General described her government’s support to the fishing industry as all but totally inefficient.

“Roving Bandits” study, now in English

A report by two researchers at the Stockholm University-based Stockholm Resilience Centre, now available in English, describes how increasingly complex chains of trade in fisheries products provide for increasingly questionable practices

EU Commission mistakes West for North

Following complaints from Scottish fishermen, the European Ombudsman has asked the Commission to correct “an administrative error”, mistaking waters west of Scotland for the North Sea, and allocate more fishing days there for some vessels.

Sweden considers quotas for poisonous, but good, fish

In the wake of dwindling cod stocks in the Kattegat and the Skagerrak, the quest for the poisonous but tasty Greater weever has intensified so much that the Swedish Board of Fisheries considers restrictions.

Fishermen, not processors, leave deepest carbon footprint, study says

The fishing itself is still the dominant part of the chain when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, with processing and packaging typically leaving less than 10 per cent of the carbon footprint, a new British study shows.

Rising importance of aquaculture, WWF scientist predicts

A WWF scientist recently hailed the controversial aquaculture industry as “the future”, predicting doubled production over the next two decades.

Climate change will move fish, too

Climate change may soon shift the world sea fish stocks dramatically, a new scientific study shows.

Ground-breaking US Arctic fisheries ban

A unanimous decision by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) has banned all future industrial fisheries in US waters north of the Bering Strait.

Some say “Good”, some say “Not good enough” about EU Shark Plan

The new European Union Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, released by the Commission last week, has met mixed reactions from conservationist NGO’s.

Sweden to implement transferable quotas

As a part of a plan with the goal of reducing the nation’s trawler feet by a third, the Swedish Government today introduced a proposal for transferable fishing rights in pelagic fishing.

Multi-dimensional approach in new study of Canadian fisheries

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for fisheries in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia is almost back to the level before the groundfish collapse of the early 1990’s, but a new study suggests that it may mask great underlying problems, as it did two decades ago.

American lobster threat to Sweden

American lobsters on the lam may constitute an ecological threat to its European cousins, experts say

Google Earth for Conscientious Consumers

As a special feature in the new "Ocean on Google Earth" Internet program, users can check the sustainability of fish stocks.

A first for the Kilowatt-days system in Sweden

The fishing capacity for Swedish cod fishers in the Kattegat and Skagerrak and the North Sea, will be reduced by up to 25 per cent, after a new effort-management system was introduced on Feb.1.

Slow progress in national reporting on balance in fisheries, Commission says

Steadily improving, but still far from perfect – that is how the EU Commission marks the member states’ annual reports on their efforts to balance fleet capacity and available fishing opportunities.

New rules for remaining eel fisheries in Sweden

Aiming at a 20 per cent reduction in catches, Sweden implemented new rules for eel fishing on Feb.1.

Joint audit report stakes out fields for improvement in Baltic fisheries control

Much remains to be done as regards management and control of fisheries in the Baltic, national audit institutions in the concerned states conclude in a joint report.

Commission issues thoughts on new approach to some TACs

In a draft ”non-paper” the EU Commission has outlined possible new approaches to stock management/TACs when there is scientific uncertainty in the stock assessment process.

Eco-labels should include carbon footprint, scientists say

A wider scope for eco-labelling should include the carbon footprint of fishing practices and the use of toxic pollutants, a new study shows.

Green light for Barents cod

A more than 75 per cent decrease in illegal fishing has contributed to the number of cod ready to spawn in the Barents Sea now being the most favourable in decades, estimates from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) show.

U.S. Agency names six nations for illegal fishing

A U.S. government agency has identified six nations, including France and Italy, as practising IUU fishing, a process that may finally lead to denied entry into U.S. ports and prohibited imports of fish products from that nation.

Successful Swedish scrapping campaign

Six Swedish trawler owners have been granted 4.9 million euros in subsidies for scrapping their vessels, enabling Sweden almost at once to live up to its national goal of reducing the fleet trawling for cod in the Baltic by ten percent by 2010.

Study says fisheries may alter ecosystem dramatically, and for the worst

The decline in the top predator cod, mainly caused by overfishing, may have triggered a huge ecosystem shift in the Baltic Sea, a new study implies.

TAC’s no good, says EU Parliament

In a new report, The EU Parliament urges the Commission to reconsider the present system of TAC’s and quotas, adding that it is "insufficient to measure fishing effort in a uniform way".

Sweden/France to take over EU Fisheries

The Czech EU Presidency has delegated many of the fisheries issues to Sweden and France, the Union’s next and former Presidency, respectively, a Swedish daily reports.

Closing of nuclear plant good for some fish

Surveys in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant that now is closed show large and long-time variations in stock indices of various species, among them cod and eel.

A Report from Hel

Polish fisheries stakeholders, reaching from environmentalists to government and industry interests, have met to bring new life to the “Partnership for the Baltic” project.

EU Ministers defy scientific advice, raise TAC’s

Acting against an ICES call for a total ban, the EU Council has allowed cod quotas for the North Sea to be raised by 30 per cent.

Council to set 2009 TAC’s

Fisheries issues will dominate as the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers meet in Brussels Thursday and Friday.

EU agrees on unique high-grading ban

As part of a fishing opportunities agreement with Norway, the EU has for the first time included a high-grading ban.

Restricted daily catches for Swedish fishermen

A new proposal from the Swedish Board of Fisheries sets roofs for daily landings of cod, saithe and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) along the West Coast.

Former UN bigwig connects illegal fishing to decline in respect for International Law

A basic condition for dealing with the problem of global illegal fishing is to “restore respect for international law”, the former UN Under-Secretary-General and Legal Counsel said at a seminar in Stockholm.

Green Paper on CFP to be expected in April

The much-awaited Green Paper on the Common Fisheries Policy will be presented next April, the EU Commission reveals in its work programme for 2009.

New route for controversial pipeline

Following heated protests from shipping and fisheries interests, the Nord Stream company has proposed a new route for the planned offshore gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany.

Sweden and Denmark to launch no-fishing zone to save cod

In a ”historic” move, Sweden’s and Denmark’s Ministers for Fisheries have decided on a no-fishing zone in the Kattegat.

Critical subsidies report summarised in English

In a highly critical report earlier in November, Sweden’s Auditor General described her government’s support to the fishing industry as “artificial breathing”.

EU Parliament highlights discards

Responding to the EU Commission's latest cod recovery plan, debated in the Council earlier in November, the European Parliament chose to emphasise the issue of discards.

Commission launches roadmap on spatial planning

Calling it ”a new tool to address the challenges emerging from the growth in competing uses of the sea”, the EU Commission has adopted a “roadmap on maritime spatial planning”.

New round of consultations on aquaculture certification

Renewed consultations with EU stakeholders will follow the recent tentative rejection of a FAO draft of technical guidelines on aquaculture certification.

Cod recovery plan adopted

A new recovery plan for the cod stocks of the North Sea and surrounding waters was agreed on as the EU Fisheries Ministers met in Brussels on December 18-19.

New Report on MPA’s in Europe/USA

A European environmentalist group and its US partner hope a joint report on marine protected areas will have impact on the EU review of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) next year.

NE Atlantic fisheries still a threat, NGO’s say

”Too little, too late” was the Seas At Risk network’s comment on the outcome of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission’s (NEAFC) recent annual meeting.

Certification of Baltic herring moves on

The assessment of the Western Baltic spring spawning herring fishery for a future MSC certification is now entering the information gathering phase, and meetings to that end will be held in Rostock, Germany, December 9-10.

Extinction threats on the rise, comparison says

A comparison of the IUCN Red Lists of 1996 and 2007 show a considerable rise in the number of threatened fish species, a lecturer at a recent FishBase symposium in Stockholm said.

Swedish National Auditor attacks fishing subsidies

Terming it ”artificial respiration”, Sweden’s Auditor General criticises her government’s support to the fishing industry.

Controls to be discussed at upcoming Council meeting

There are no decisions expected at the EU Fisheries Ministers’ Council meeting on November 18, but the member states will continue discussions on the modernisation of the control system applicable to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

European Commission proposes new CFP control regulation

The European Commission today proposed a new Council Regulation for the EU fisheries control system.

New study estimates gigantic costs of illegal fishing

The cost of illegal fishing to EU Member States by 2020 will be 10 billion Euros of lost catches, 8 billion Euros of lost stock value and 27,000 jobs in the fishing and processing industries, a new report says.

Swedish authority proposes halved eel catches over five years

In view of a remaining acute threat to the species, the Swedish Board of Fisheries proposes a 50 per cent reduction in eel catches by 2013.

Except for Sole and Hake hike, all decreases in EU proposal for 2009 quotas

Most stocks continue to be overfished, and quotas need to be reduced, the EU Commission said as the proposal for next year’s quotas for the North-East Atlantic was presented on November 10.

Better control called for in EU infringement report

There has been no real decrease in the number of serious infringements to the rules of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the Commission said in its seventh annual report on the subject, published on November 4.

1. Infringement report
2. Infringements by Baltic States

Fines for Swedish Cod Poachers

In one of Sweden’s largest fish poaching trials ever, nine fishermen have been fined between 340-7,000 euros for passing off cod as pollack to circumvent EU quotas. Seven others were acquitted, the court finding the ships’ commanders bearing the full responsibility for some 140 illegal landings of 109 tonnes of cod in 2005.

Decreases dominate Baltic quotas for 2009

Following the Commission proposal, but neglecting part of ICES recommendations, the EU Fishing ministers decided on a 15 per cent increase for the Eastern cod stock and a 15 per cent decrease for the Western stock, as they set next year’s catch quotas for the Baltic at their recent Council meeting.

Next Year's Quotas

These are the new 2009 catch quotas for some species in the Baltic, as set by the EU Fisheries Ministers on October 27.

Baltic NGOs discuss upcoming salmon management plan

On 15-16 October Coalition Clean Baltic arranged a seminar in Riga/Salacgriva, Latvia, to discuss the upcoming European Commission salmon management plan. The seminar also discussed national salmon management efforts and actions needed in those two areas.

Catch reductions and environment in synergy behind Baltic cod growth

Politics – reduced quotas – and environment – survival rate – have been equally important in rebuilding the Baltic cod stocks, a new report shows.

Optimism for future of Baltic salmon

Successful implementation of an action plan to save Baltic salmon has lead to a suggested fivefold increase in juvenile salmon over the past decade, a scientific report says.

Danish fishing sector to embrace MSC

As part of a “survival strategy”, Denmark’s fisheries will move toward Marine Stewardship Council(MSC) eco-label assessments, the Danish Fishermen’s Association told the Fishing News International newsletter, adding that the industrial sandeel fishery will be the next in line for pre-assessment.

Canadian Fisheries ex-minister speaks at Baltic cod seminar

”I can bear witness to what may happen – because I saw it happen”, Canada’s former Minister of Fisheries Brian Tobin said recently at a Stockholm seminar on the future of the threatened Baltic Cod stocks. Tobin, who served on that post in 1993-96, took over in the aftermath of the total collapse of the cod stocks off the Canadian and northern U.S. East coasts and the subsequent 1992 fishing moratorium.

NGO’s request regional cod fishing bans in the Kattegat

The Swedish and Danish Societies for Nature Conservation have written a joint letter to their respective ministers for fisheries, demanding zones with total fishing bans in the Kattegat part of the North Sea.

Fisheries an underperforming asset, World Bank says

A recent World Bank report concludes that marine capture fisheries are an underperforming global asset and that better management could raise net benefits with up to $50 billion per year. The cumulative economic loss to the global economy over the last three decades is estimated to be in the order of two trillion dollars, according to the report.

Greenpeace to offer money award for unveiled illegal fishing

A new Greenpeace blacklist database of ”irresponsible fishing operators” has encouraged the organization’s Stockholm office to offer an award of up to EUR 1,000 for anyone whose tip-off leads to a guilty verdict or the scrapping of the ship.

CFP Reform preparations to “kick-start”

At an informal EU Fisheries Council Meeting in Brussels on September 29, Commissioner Joe Borg and member state ministers agreed to “kick-start” immediate preparations for the proposed reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), due for completion in 2012, the Commission announced.

Workshop on Great Barrier Reef management – lessons to be learned

Lessons to be learned and inspiration to be gained for states around the Baltic from successful management work at the Australian Great Barrier Reef - that was the object of a WWF-sponsored workshop/seminar in Stockholm on September 22.

International conference on aquaculture

The international growth of aquaculture activities, and its effect on sustainability, was discussed at the International Aquaculture Conference 10-11 September in Brussels. The key objective of the conference was to examine ways that aquaculture can be compatible with other policies such as development and trade, while keeping to the objectives of sustainability.

Important illegal fishing trial underway in Sweden

Sixteen fishermen are on trial for illegally landing 109 tonnes of cod in 2005, to a total value of almost €186,110, and passing it off as pollack in order to circumvent EU quotas limiting cod fishing. So far, only three fishermen have admitted unlawful activity in one of Sweden’s largest ever fish poaching cases.

European Commission tables proposal on 2009 fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea

Yesterday the European Commission tabled its proposal on 2009 fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea. The proposal states that most stocks in the Baltic Sea should be subject to reduced catches in 2009. This is especially true for the Western cod stock, which requires serious attention to prevent further decline.

Good conditions may be behind good salmon year

Earlier reports from a tackle trade association of a dramatic rise this year in Swedish upriver migration of Baltic salmon, arguably a direct consequence of the driftnet ban in the Baltic in effect since 1 January 2008, are being questioned by government experts as “premature”.

Overfishing influences the evolution of Baltic cod

A study published today suggests that Baltic cod caught near shore in the Stone Age were much larger than those harvested by trawlers in 21 century.

Discarding of fish caught on film

The Guardian recently published the footage of a vessel sighted while openly discarding more than 5,000 kg of cod and other dead white fish, or nearly 80% of its catch. Discarding of unwanted catch of is one of the most serious threats to sustainable management of fish stocks.

Story of the Gold Fish - Raising public awareness through street performances

Klub Gaja presents the story of the Gold Fish, a creative happening which illustrates the problems associated with overfishing. The event, which can be seen on the Internet, is part of a larger project which focuses on the protection of threatened fish species, such as cod and salmon.

Cod population important factor in reducing algal blooms in the Baltic Sea

A recently published study by researchers at the Swedish Board of Fisheries among others, suggests a link between the reduced size of the cod population and the increase in algal blooms in the Baltic Sea.

Educational exhibition travels the coast of Poland

An educational exhibition showing the environmental problems associated with cod fishing in the Baltic Sea, the management of fish resources and the issue of illegal fishing, is touring the coast of Poland.

Vacancy

The Fisheries Secretariat (FISH) is looking to recruit a new staff member; a Policy Officer.

Clean Up the Baltic

The second International "Clean Up the Baltic" initiative was organized in Poland on 16 August by Our Earth Foundation (Fundacja Nasza Ziemia).

Adopted fuel emergency measures contradicts long-term policies

On 15 July, the Fisheries Council adopted an emergency package to tackle the fuel crisis in the fisheries sector, providing an extra €600 million in support of the European fishing industry.

Mixed outcome at Fisheries Council

Environmental groups welcome the Fisheries Council’s decision on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fisheries, but regret that no precautionary measures to freeze the footprint of deep water fisheries have been adopted. The much debated increase in fuel subsidies was regrettably not discussed at the Fisheries Council’s meeting 23-24 June 2008.

The Kattegat cod stock probably even lower than calculated

The Kattegat cod stock is estimated to be at its lowest level since 1971. The biomass of reproducing fish has been reduced by as much as 95%. There are no signs of recovery and since the year 2000 this stock has been considered by ICES to be outside of safe biological limits. This is concluded by Francesca Vitale in her doctoral thesis "Reproductive aspects of Kattegatt cod: implications for stock assessment and management".

Situation for cod still troublesome

Scientists from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) announced today that the situation for the cod stock continues to be problematic. The advice from ICES shows that the cod stock is overfished in almost all EU waters due to high levels of discards and overexploitation.

European Commission open for harmful fuel subsidies

Fishermen in several Member States are pressing their governments for additional public aid to help with rising fuel costs. Fuel for the fisheries sector is already heavily subsidized and this is a controversial issue. To tackle the fuel crisis the European Commission has agreed in principle on the contents of an emergency package of measures. The measures are currently under discussion and the Commission plans to adopt a formal proposal in early July.

ICES advice

Today, ICES’ Advisory Committee (ACOM) published their advice regarding the exploitation of the Baltic Sea fish stocks in 2009.

Polish Ministry of Agriculture announces cod fishing ban for Polish fishermen, starting 22 May

Polish fishing vessels larger than 12 meters will not be fishing for cod in the Baltic Sea this summer. The Minister of Agriculture, Marek Sawicki, signed a legally binding order which limits cod fishing activities from 22 May until 30 September.

NGO fisheries Workshop in Warsaw

On 8-9 May, FISH organised a workshop in Warsaw, Poland, to address current NGO work efforts with fisheries in the Baltic Sea.

Swedish Board of Fisheries suggests ban on high grading

In the struggle against high grading the Swedish Board of Fisheries has put forward a proposal to ban the discarding of fish that is suitable for landing.

Parsêta River Clean-Up 2008

On May 10, 2008, FISH was invited to the Parsêta River Clean-Up 2008 event in Zabrowie near the coastal city of Kolobrzeg. Parsêta River flows into the Baltic Sea and is one of the most important habitats for salmon in Poland.

The Polish World Water Day - Baltic Day will raise awareness about the importance of water resources, rivers and the Baltic Sea

The Polish NGO Klub Gaja, in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Heritage of Upper Silesia and Mr. Stanislaw Rozycki, a local environmental consultant, has planned a series of educational workshops to celebrate World Water Day - Baltic Day in Raciborz, southern Poland on 22 March.

Attempt to strengthen collaboration between Sweden and Denmark in order to create sustainable fisheries

On 10 March the Swedish and Danish Ministers of Fisheries, Eskil Erlandsson and Eva Kjer Hansen met to discuss collective actions in order to safeguard the Kattegat cod stocks. Within a year the cod fisheries can be temporarily closed during the spawning season.

Community financial contribution of Member States fisheries control programmes

Too much community funding towards Member States fisheries control programmes is spent on hard investments such as the purchase of aircrafts and vessels, rather than for training and recruitment of control staff according to the EU Commission.

Illegal fishing promts Polish NGO to investigate practices

News coverage in Poland in January shows that misreporting and overfishing continues despite last year’s clamp down by the EU. While the Polish Government is striving to implement tougher fishery inspection standards, new cases of severe underreporting of catches were seen in Polish ports. The fishing sector and inspectorates will come under additional scrutiny this year from the Polish Green Federation Gaja setting out to map practices and inform the public.

Swedish municipalities and consumers refuse consumption of cod in order to save the threatened species

Swedish private consumers as well as municipalities have decided to stop buying cod. A recent survey reveals that out of 1000 persons asked, one third does not buy cod at all.

Swedish environmental NGOs delivered protest list to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries

Today the environmental NGOs Greenpeace, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and WWF left a protest list to the Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Eskil Erlandsson, containing 15000 signatures against the cod fishing in the Kattegat. The call is a protest against the EU cod quotas for the Kattegat hammered out in the December EU Council.

Sweden introduces new law to combat illegal fishing

From 1 July fisheries officers from the Swedish Board of fisheries will be able to directly hand out fines and withdraw fishing licences from fishermen misreporting their catches, or not handling their log books correctly. The action is another step towards improving fish stocks, says the Swedish government in a recent Press Release.

“Europe is having its fish and eating it too”

In a new series of articles on the relationship between Europe’s demand for fish and the world’s supply, the New York Times links EU fisheries agreements to increased illegal immigration. Trying their luck, either transporting immigrants or paying to be shipped themselves, may be the only solution that remains when there is no fish left in the sea, argues fishermen from West Africa.

NGO response to proposals to protect sharks and deep sea ecosystems

Last year, the European Commission came forward with a proposal to protect vulnerable ecosystems in the high seas from bottom-trawling as well as a consultation paper on a Community Plan of Action for Sharks. According to European environmental organisations, both are steps in the right direction but do not go far enough to create effective protection for vulnerable ecosystems and species.

The Swedish Board of Fisheries suggests 50% down sizing of the Swedish fishing fleet

In the Sunday issue of Sweden’s major daily news paper “Dagens Nyheter”, the General Director of the Swedish board of fisheries, Axel Wenblad, along with his colleagues Johan Löwenander-Davidsson and Bengt Strömblom, suggest national actions such as downsizing of the fishing fleet and stronger control efforts in order to recover dwindling fish stocks.

Sweden sets aside part of cod quota for coastal vessels

The Swedish Board of Fisheries recently decided on a national management plan for Baltic Sea cod. A main component is the allocation of a part of the quota for each of the Baltic stocks to the coastal fishing vessels using nets rather than trawls.

No Christmas for fish in the sea

At the end of this year’s negotiations on fishing possibilities for 2008, Scottish fish processor may be jubilant but environmental NGOs and the public are not. In Sweden, people are signing a petition to save the cod in Kattegat. While writing this article, another 289 people added their names to the list.

1. Short-term interests prevail again
2. Public demands cod closure in Kattegat

Pope calls for greater care for the environment

In a recent message to the public celebrating the world day of peace on 1 January 2008, Pope Benedict XVI calls for environmental consciousness. Can the Vatican’s interest in sustainable development lead to better management of European fish stocks?

Greenpeace blocked EU council building

Yesterday, in a protest against the failures of the Fisheries Council, Greenpeace blocked the entrance of the EU building where the EU ministers of agriculture and fisheries were to have their two-day meeting negotiating 2008 fishing quotas in EU waters, the Baltic Sea excepted.

Alarming report on Kattegat cod stocks

Unless action is taken, the cod in the Kattegat will vanish completely, according to the Marine Laboratory in Lysekil, Sweden. Multiple surveys performed by the laboratory during this year have not discovered any new cod recruits.

New Polish Government keen to collaborate with the EU

After the October elections, a coalition government is now in power in Poland. Contrary to the previous leaders, the new government will promote a better relationship with the EU. For example, closer collaboration on environmental issues, such as the designation of Natura 2000 areas, renewable energy sources and water management initiatives, can be expected.

Damning European Court of Auditors report on CFP and control

Unreliable catch data, inspections of limited effectiveness, systems for following up infringements and imposing sanctions that are often inappropriate, in a context of overcapacity jeopardising compliance with the rules, are identified as the causes of the failure of the Common Fisheries Policy to maintain the sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources.

Cuts dominate 2008 quota proposals

Yesterday, the European Commission published its proposals for EU fishing opportunities in 2008. The proposal provides grim reading for sector representatives and reflects the general state of EU fish stocks, with around 80 per cent being overfished.

1. EU fish stocks in a poor state
2. Improvements or business as usual?

Polish fishermen protest in Brussels

Yesterday, a group of Polish fishermen staged another protest in Brussels against the European Commission ban of their cod fishing in the eastern Baltic Sea. The previous Polish Government tried to negotiate with the Commission in order to lift the ban, but finally agreed at the Council meeting in October to obey and implement an action plan for improved control and compliance.

Eko Unia seminar on the Polish Operational Programme for the fisheries sector reveals challenges

On 26 October Radek Gawlik of the Polish environmental NGO Eko Unia, gathered stakeholders to discuss the Polish Operational Programme (OP) for the fisheries sector, which specifies how Poland will spend its allocated funding from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) for the period of 2007-2013.

Baltic Sea Action Plan adopted

On November 15, a Baltic Sea Action Plan to improve the environmental status of the Baltic Sea was finally adopted at a HELCOM ministerial meeting in Krakow, Poland. Despite progress in some areas, such as eutrophication, the plan is judged by many to be a failure.

BS RAC makes statement on compliance and sustainability of Baltic cod

On 25 October, the BS RAC met to discuss the situation of the Baltic cod fishery and the recent closures. The meeting resulted in a statement on the issue of non-compliance, highlighting the need for rapid action, as well as a more harmonised and harsher system for punishing those that break the law.

Polish change of Government – good for the environment?

Many claim the Polish election this year to be one of the most dramatic since the end of Communism in 1989. There was – by Polish standards – a very high voter turnout at about 55 per cent.

Damning report on EU fisheries policy

A review commissioned by DG Fisheries & Maritime Affairs assessing the performance of the Common Fisheries Policy has been leaked. The report highlights the lack of political will in the Council to put national interests aside and the resulting poor state of EU fish stocks.

EU Ministers decide on Baltic quotas

Earlier this evening, a compromise was struck on next year’s quotas for the Baltic Sea. In 2008 there will be reduced catches of cod, but not enough to give real respite for the overfished eastern stock. Salmon quotas are unchanged despite warnings of very low smolt survival in the north. On a more positive note, Ministers agreed on a resolution to tackle the high levels of illegal fishing through improved control and enforcement.

EU proposal to protect high seas ecosystems

Last week, the European Commission released a proposal to protect vulnerable ecosystems in the high seas. Following the EU position at UN General Assembly negotiations on the prohibition of deep-sea bottom-trawling on the high seas, the Commission now proposes to give Member States the responsibility to assess vulnerability and fishing plans when issuing fishing licenses for areas of the high seas not under any sort of regional management.

NGOs meet with Polish Minister on cod

At a meeting in Warsaw yesterday, WWF-Poland and Greenpeace Poland discussed Polish plans for Baltic cod with Marek Gróbarczyk, the Minister of Maritime Economy, and his Vice-Minister Grzegorz Ha³ubek. It is clear that Poland’s current Government wants to go its own way and change the entire management system.

EU Ministers to decide on Baltic fish quotas and management

Next week, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the EU will attempt a decision on next years fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea. The Commission proposal contains a mixed bag, dominated by cuts in quotas. Cod is likely to be the main focus – again.

Polish fishermen divided over cod fishing ban

The Association of Fishermen of the Sea-Organization of Producers (AFS-OP), in a written statement, appealed to all Polish fishermen on October 2 to respect the European Union ban on fishing cod in the Eastern Baltic and to stay in ports.

European Union cracks down on illegal fisheries in Europe

EU is starting to show a responsible and consequent approach to fisheries management. The cod struggle in Poland is only one example of EU crackdown on illegal fishing. Seven other European Union Member states are facing bluefin tuna catch ban until the end of 2007 in addition to possible penalties for excessive exploitation and misreporting of bluefin tuna catches in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

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.

Polish Deputy Director of the Sea Fisheries Institute (MIR), Dr Karnicki, resigns in protest against the Polish government

After pressure from the Polish Ministry of Maritime Economy on the Polish scientific community to present results indicating that “there is plenty of cod in the sea”, science and deputy director of MIR, PhD Zbigniew Karnicki, resigns from his duties in protest against the Polish government.

Polish Fishermen break the EU Commission ban on cod fishing

Last Friday Polish fishermen broke the law by opposing the EU Commission ban on cod trawling in the Eastern Baltic.

Poland tries to convince the EU Commission to lift ban on cod trawling

As a response to the EU ban on cod trawling in the Eastern Baltic Sea, Polish fishermen staged a determined protest on Monday, 17 September.

1. Polish fishermen ready to start fishing for cod
2. Severe EU sanctions

Give Baltic Cod a Chance!

Today seven Polish NGOs forwarded a joint position on cod fishing in the Baltic Sea. The position is addressed at Polish officials and fishermen, referring to the threat imposed by Polish fishermen to oppose the EU Commission ban on Polish cod fishing in the Eastern Baltic on 15 September when the summer closure ends.

Polish NGOs strengthen work on Baltic fisheries and marine environment

On the 28-29 of August FISH arranged a workshop together with the Polish NGOs Eko Unia and Klub Gaja. The workshop gathered NGO:s from all over Poland, as well as from Sweden and Finland.

NGO STRATEGIC WORKSHOP - NGO WORK WITH FISHERIES IN THE BALTIC SEA

FISH is organising a workshop together with the Polish NGOs Klub GAJA and Eko Unia. The workshop will take part during 28-29 August at the marine research station in Hel peninsula, Poland.

New fisheries minister in Poland

Earlier this week Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski fired ministers from the ruling Law & Justice's (PiS) coalition partners, Samoobrona and the League of Polish Families (LPR), among them the Fisheries Minister Rafal Wiechecki.

Poland opposes EU Commission order to halt trawling for cod

The Polish Fisheries Minister Rafal Wiechecki recommends the Polish government to take the European Commission to the European court of justice, after it ordered Poland to halt trawling for cod in the eastern Baltic Sea.

European Commission wants to see higher fines for violation of EU fishing laws

Yesterday The European Commission announced that fishermen should face higher fines for infringements of fisheries rules under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). At present the violators are being punished to lightly in most EU member states, the Commission said.

European Commission adopts hazardous subsidy regime

Joint comment by BirdLife International, the Fisheries Secretariat, Seas At Risk, the North Sea Foundation, Oceana and WWF on the adoption of the regulation on “de minimis” aid for the fishing sector by the European Commission.

Poland misreports catch figures for cod in the eastern Baltic Sea

On Monday the European Commission ordered Polish fishermen to stop trawling for cod in the eastern Baltic Sea. According to the commission, Poland has misreported its catch and exceeded its quota for 2007.

Environmental NGOs oppose proposed de minimis regulation

By the end of July the European Commission intends to adopt a regulation on de minimis aid in the fisheries sector. While allegedly intended to cut down on unnecessary bureaucracy, the proposed regulation would allow EU fishing enterprises to receive significant and potentially harmful subsidies.

Stricter control of eel trade ahead

Last week, the European Council agreed on joint management measures for European eel; now the world is also offering further protection through stricter regulation of international trade.

EU decision on Baltic cod puts focus on illegal fishing

This morning, EU Fisheries Ministers agreed on a long-term management plan for Baltic Sea cod. This is a welcome development, but the state of the cod stocks calls for stronger measures.

Management Plan for eel finally agreed

With only a few per cent left of the European eel population, EU Ministers finally agreed on a joint management plan today.

Eel is the hot topic all around

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has been drawing attention to the serious state of eel stocks for almost ten years and calling for measures to improve the situation, but without major effect. This week a listing of eel under CITES Appendix II is being negotiated and next week the European Council is likely to decide on a long-term management plan.

Sargasso eels still elusive

The Danish Galathea 3 expedition spent nine days fishing for eels in the Sargasso Sea, hoping to solve the mystery of their reproduction. But the mystery remains. The area is like a biological desert according to ICES scientist Henrik Sparholt.

FAO to develop aquaculture certification guidelines

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Friday it is working with certification bodies, producer groups, processors and consumer organizations to draft guidelines on how aquaculture certifications should be established and applied.

Still no decision on the European Eel

No decision on the proposed Regulation establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel (COM(2005)472) was made at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 16-17 April in Luxembourg.

Commission proposes ban on discard

On 28 March, the European Commission adopted a communication on reducing unwanted catches and eliminating discards in European fisheries.

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.

New report on IUU fishing of Baltic Sea cod

Today FISH published a report on IUU fishing of Baltic Sea cod.

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.

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.

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 IUU fishing.

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.

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 the FAO COFI meeting in Rome.

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.

Commission review of EC deep-water fisheries fails to deliver actions

The Commission published last week a highly critical review of deep-water fisheries management. Appropriate recommendations for actions are missing, as the review is only pointing out the need for improved monitoring, control and data collection. The review concludes that reductions of the current levels of exploitation are inevitable. A much needed step is restricting licenses to those deep-water fisheries that are shown to be sustainable.

Conference on Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund, Seville, Spain 25 – 27 Jan 2007

The European Commission organised a three day conference on the implementation of Priority Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) – Sustainable Development of Fisheries Regions. The conference built on two previous events; in Tallin 2005, and Porto 2006. The conference had about 60 participants, mostly representing EU member states and regional authorities.

US president Bush on Friday signed legislation aimed at preventing overfishing in US waters

From 2010 commercial fisheries in the US will have to set conservation plans within a two-year period. A 10-year permit system will be set, which would still allow some limited access in overfished waters.

U.N. Lifts Ban on Caviar Exports from the Caspian Sea

On Tuesday the United Nations lifted a year-old embargo on exports of most types of caviar from the Caspian Sea, which is the main source of the delicacy, regardless of the fact that Sturgeon stocks are continuing to decline.

December Council decision on 2007 fishing levels: Too little, too late

Brussels, Belgium. European Union fisheries ministers agreed after difficulty on fishing levels for 2007, still ignoring scientific advice by setting levels so high that recovery of depleted stocks are at risk.

Environment Ministers fail to adopt a strong Marine Strategy Directive

Comment on the Council agreement on the Marine Strategy Directive (Environment Council 18th December 2006)

Exceptional commercial fishermen receive conservation award

MARATHON, Florida - December 12 - The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) presented the third annual Gladding Memorial Award for commercial fishing conservation leadership to Mr. Carlton Young of Placencia, Belize and Mr. Ceylon Clayton of Little Bay, Jamaica, during its 59th Annual Meeting in November in Belize City, Belize.

Proposal for secure funding for the RACs

Today,the European Commission further acknowledged the important contribution of the recently established Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) to the application of the Common Fisheries Policy by proposing to increase the amount of EU financial support that they currently receive.

Iceland blocks protection for deep sea biodiversity

Iceland blocked consensus for swift action to curtail the destruction of high seas ecosystems at the United Nations in New York. After it was clear that a moratorium for deep sea bottom trawling could not be reached, UN fisheries negotiators tried to find a compromise. They were looking at text which would have offered immediate protection for vulnerable areas in the absence of agreement on a global moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. Even this compromise was derailed by Iceland.

Deep-sea stocks still at risk after divided Council decision

In spite of scientific advice from ICES that deep water fish such as orange roughy, blue ling and deep water shark fisheries should be closed immediately, EU Ministers in the Council agreed on 21 November on relatively modest reductions in TACs (Total Allowable Catches) for 2007 and 2008, aiming at a final phase-out by 2010/11.

North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission fails to sufficiently protect deep-sea stocks and biodiversity

NEAFC, the intergovernmental commission responsible for managing deep-water fishing in the North East Atlantic, made some progress on improving the protection of deep-water fish and corals last week. However it failed to deliver some much needed tougher decisions to protect deep-sea biodiversity.

New Report on the impacts of Deep Sea Bottom Trawling on Seamounts to be presented at the UN General Assembly this Friday

On Wednesday scientists warned that deep-sea bottom trawling is destroying seamounts teeming with marine life, causing irreparable damage to ecosystems. The report will be presented at the UN General Assembly on Friday where negotiations will resume on the issue of a high seas bottom trawling moratorium.

MSC decides not to take on farmed seafood

According to The Wave Newsletter, the Board of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has decided not to expand the current MSC ecolabel to include farmed seafood.

European Parliament votes in favour of greater protection for Europe’s seas

Joint comment by Greenpeace , BirdLife International, the European Environment Bureau, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Fisheries Secretariat, Seas At Risk and WWF on the European Parliament Plenary Vote on the Marine Strategy Directive:

Baltic Anglers: Restore the Baltic Sea and recognize angling interests now!

November 7, angling representatives from the Baltic countries met in Visby, Sweden. The meeting agreed on the joint statement: "The Baltic Sea in focus".

Science report on the Ecosystem Effects of Fishing

According to a report published in the current edition of Science, there is a risk of collapse of the world’s seafood populations by 2048 if current trends in destruction and overfishing continue.

Baltic TACs and quotas for 2007: Cod stocks at risk of depletion

The Council decided on the 24th October on the levels of TACs (Total Allowable Catch), the level of agreed fishing in the Baltic for 2007. The decision is a 10% reduction of the TAC for the eastern Cod stock (from 45 339 in 2006 to 40 805 tonnes in 2007) and a 5% reduction of the western stock (from 28 400 in 2006 to 26 696 tonnes in 2007).

Baltic Sea RAC to arrange a conference on IUU in late March

The Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council (RAC) is planning a conference on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Copenhagen in March 2007. The focus of the conference is to identify the actions needed to minimize IUU in the Baltic Sea.

Scientists proposes to close all cod fisheries south of Iceland except for the western Baltic stock

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) released a report on October 20 on the status and perspectives of some of the most important Northeast Atlantic fish stocks.

EU Commission Statement on High Seas bottom trawling too weak

The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC), of which the Fisheries Secretariat is a member, accused the European Commission of greenwashing a set of proposals designed to undermine the growing support for a high seas moratorium on bottom trawling, and noted that it did not seem to reflect the will of all EU Member States. This approach puts the US and President Bush in a more progressive position than the European Commission.

Successful workshop on the EFF

NGO's from a wide range of Member States were represented at the workshop "Implementing the European Fisheries Fund - Opportunities at Member State level".

Workshop - Implementing the EFF - Opportunities at Member State level

WWF, FISH, and BirdLife International will host a workshop on the implementation of the EFF and the opportunities for NGO's to influence the fund at the Member State Level.

NGO's call on governments to oppose the proposed de minimis regulation

In June, the European Commission proposed to decouple the de minimis aid in the fisheries sector from that in the agricultural sector and to increase it tenfold. Under the new regulation, up to € 30.000 of state aid would not need to be notified to the European Commission if given to an enterprise over a three-year period. Importantly, this aid could be used to finance operating costs of fishing vessels that may result in an increase in fishing effort.

The European Commission's multi-annual plan for the Cod stocks and fisheries in the Baltic Sea

On 24 July the European Commission published its proposal for a Council Regulation to establish a multi-annual plan for the Baltic Sea cod stocks and their fisheries.

The European Commission publish their 5th Annual Report on Serious Infringements

On 14 July 2006, the European Commission published their 5th annual report on serious infringements to the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

1. Difficult to compare Member States
2. Low levels of sanctions

The European Commission advocate fisheries management based on Maximum Sustainable Yield

“…it is time to manage European fisheries in a different way, looking for success rather than to seek merely to avoid failure”, these words are used in the introduction of the European Commission’s Communication on, “Implementing sustainability in EU fisheries through maximum sustainable yield”, published on the 5th July 2006.

1. Maximum Sustainable Yield
2. Comment

European Fisheries Fund - adopted 19 June

On Monday 19 June, EU Fisheries Ministers finally agreed on the new European Fisheries Fund (EFF) at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. EUR 3.8 billion will be set aside to provide support for the fisheries sector.

ICES' advice for Baltic Cod 2007

On the 9th June 2006 the ICES’ Advisory Committee on Fishery Management (ACFM) published their advice to the European Commission on the two Baltic Sea cod stocks for 2007. The following provides a summary and comment on their assessments and advice.

1. Baltic Sea cod in subdivisions 22-24 (Western Baltic)
2. Baltic Sea cod subdivisions 25-32 (Eastern Baltic)
3. What next?

EU Maritime Green Paper focus on economic growth

On June 7th the Commission published a Green Paper named "Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and seas". The aim is to boost economic growth in maritime sectors in accordance with the Lisbon Strategy while protecting the marine environment. Environmental groups are skeptical, saying the focus is too growth-oriented. One year of consultation with EU's citizens will follow.

1. Focus on economic growth
2. Our opinion

European Fisheries Fund - EU Council meeting 22 May

The highly debated European Fisheries Fund (EFF) was on the agenda again at the 22 May European Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting. However, the 25 Member States were unable to agree on how to spend the €3.8 Billion. The major sticking point was whether or not to make EFF eligible for vessel modernisation. The issue will therefore need to be resolved during the 6 month Finnish EU Presidency, which begins July 1st.

1. EFF - proposal
2. Compromise

New EU - Morocco fisheries agreement in breach of international law

The European fisheries ministers concluded a fisheries partnership agreement at the Council meeting May 22nd. The agreement provides for the EU to pay Morocco €144.4 million under four years in return for giving 119 European vessels (100 Spanish, 14 Portuguese, 4 French and 1 Italian) opportunities to fish in Morocco's Atlantic coastal waters, including the disputed territory of Western Sahara, the former Spanish colony that was invaded by Moroccan forces in 1975.

1. No benefit for the people of Western Sahara
2. Subsidies and joint ventures

Baltic Sea to become pilot area for EU marine efforts

Environmental Ministers take first steps to make the Baltic Sea a pilot area for implementation of the EU Marine strategy.

Forum on the New European Maritime Policy: a wake-up call to stakeholders?

Conference in Brussels to discuss the developing European Maritime Policy leaves little doubt that maritime stakeholders are not always treated equally.

Baltic Environment Ministers meet to discuss future actions

Later this week Baltic Environmental Ministers will meet to discuss the future of our shared sea. Lena Sommestad has consulted Swedish NGOs on priority areas for action.

Baltic Sea RAC prepares its formal establishment

In late October, the interim Executive Committee of the Baltic Sea RAC met to discuss issues related to its formal establishment.

Swedish seminar on Individual Fishing Rights

On 9 November, the Swedish Institute for Food and Agricultural Economics (SLI) in Lund hosted a seminar to discuss different management options for Swedish fisheries, with a focus on individual fishing rights and quotas. It was aimed at an audience concerned with fisheries management in Sweden, but presentations were given by Swedish as well as international experts.

1. Seminar hosted by SLI
2. Presentations

North Sea Regional Advisory Council: a model 1st year?

The North Sea Regional Advisory Council (NS RAC) held its second General Assembly in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 20, marking a busy and successful year.

Nordic & Baltic Perspectives on the European Marine Strategy

Frustration expressed at failure to build new EU Marine Strategy and Framework Directive on past and ongoing efforts and concepts at recent Copenhagen workshop.

EU eel management seminar

On 20 October 2005, the Fisheries Secretariat, the Swedish Board of Fisheries and the Swedish Fishermen's Federation hosted a seminar about the problems facing the eel stock, its management and eel fisheries. The seminar was held at the Observatory Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.

Hearing on Fisheries Partnership Agreements disappointed

A recent EU Parliament hearing on Fisheries Partnership Agreement was disappointing from a sustainability perspective.

Nordic conference on environmental effects on fish stocks

Calls for more efforts to mitigate a range of environmental effects on marine resources as well as new studies made at Nordic conference.

ICES on new course to address conservation challenges

Participants at ICES Annual Conference hear about the EU’s new agenda, reactions from the fishing sector, as well as scientific progress in a number of important areas.

NAFO heads for reform

At this year’s annual meeting of NAFO a working group was established to come up with suggestions to reform the organisation, making it more fit to deal with integrated oceans management.

A New Way to Manage North Sea Fisheries

A plan to manage North Sea fisheries as a whole ecosystem and encourage greater stakeholder participation was unveiled at the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) science conference in Aberdeen, 20-24 September.

Summit explores African fish supply crisis

African leaders, development organizations and fisheries experts are meeting in Nigeria this week to discuss the importance of fisheries and aquaculture for Africa's development and explore ways of improving fish supplies.

Steady stream of interest in MSC certification

Despite controversy over some high profile fisheries, the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) environmental standard for sustainable fisheries has seen a steady flow of interest in the past few years and plans to extend its global reach.

1. Steady stream of interest in MSC certification
2. Further information

Commission delays draft Marine Directive

As part of a wider EU Marine Strategy, a proposal for a directive to protect the marine environment has been prepared by DG Environment and was discussed by the Commission in June.

First meeting to establish a Baltic Sea RAC

On June 22, interested stakeholders met for the first time to discuss the establishment of a Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council (RAC).

Closure of North Sea sandeel fishery expected

The European Commission is expected to announce the closure of the North Sea sandeel fishery this month.

UNICPOLOS fails to recommend a moratorium on bottom trawling

The United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS) again failed to recommend a moratorium on bottom trawling at their sixth meeting, held in New York, 6-11 June.

Removing cod has major repercussions for marine ecosystems

The collapse of cod stocks in the northwest Atlantic during the 1980s and 1990s has had a major impact on the entire ecosystem of the Scotian Shelf, off Nova Scotia in Canada.

Fisk är gott och nyttigt

Fisk är gott och nyttigt har man nyligen kommit fram till...

First proposal for Marine Bill to be discussed in the UK

A draft Marine Bill is to be discussed in the new session of the UK Parliament, which opened on 17 May. Environmental groups have welcomed the move and are urging the government to press ahead so that a full bill can be introduced quickly.

North Sea fish moving to colder waters

A study of demersal fish species in the North Sea over a 25 year period has shown that most fish are moving deeper and further north to escape rising sea temperatures.

North Sea RAC discuss spatial planning

This week, the North Sea Regional Advisory Council (NSRAC) Spatial Planning Working Group held its first meeting in London.

Polish stakeholders discuss sustainable fisheries

On 10-11 May, a range of Polish stakeholders interested in Baltic Sea fisheries management came together in Gdynia to discuss sustainability.

Swedish Fishermen's Federation elect new Chairman

On 28 April, the Swedish Fishermen's Federation elected Henrik Svenberg to be their new Chairman.

Training offered to avoid albatross bycatch

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has launched a new initiative to combat bycatch of albatrosses and other seabirds in global longline fisheries.

Fishermen help identify future research into their fishery

Marine scientists and fishermen rarely agree on the status of fish stocks and the science behind it. In a recent project, ESRC set out to find ways to improve cooperation.

COFI adopts ecolabelling guideline

The FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) adopted international guidelines on the ecolabelling of marine fisheries products, aimed at promoting sustainable and ecologically responsible fisheries, at their meeting in Rome, 7-11 March.

Tsunami victims, deepsea fisheries and MPAs discussed at COFI

The FAO's Committee on Fisheries met in Rome to discuss pressing issues, including progress towards responsible fisheries, deep sea fisheries and rehabilitating fisheries affected by the December tsunami.

EU Fisheries Council give go-ahead to new Fisheries Control Agency

When EU Fisheries and Agricultural Ministers met on 26 April, a regulation to set up the new EU Fisheries Control Agency was adopted.

Fisheries managers failing to protect marine wildlife

In a recent study BirdLife International reports that Regional Fisheries Management Organisations are largely failing in their obligation to reduce seabird bycatch.

Stakeholder conference on European Marine Strategy

A conference in Rotterdam on 10-11 November 2004 marked the end of the stakeholder consultation process on the development of a European Marine Strategy.

Conference on sustainable EU fisheries

On 8-9 November, the Fisheries Secretariat and the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) held a conference in the European Parliament on Sustainable EU fisheries - facing the environmental challenges.

New Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs

The new European Commissioner for Fisheries is likely to be Dr Joe Borg from Malta, a previous Minister of Foreign Affairs. According to himself, he is committed to promoting sustainable fisheries as well as improving the living conditions of fishing communities.

New EU Parliament in place after elections

After the elections in all EU Member States in June, the new European Parliament opened again in July. The new Chair of the Committee on Fisheries is Philippe Morillon from France, a member of the ALDE group.

Review of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy

The EU Sustainable Development Strategy, adopted by the Heads of State in Gothenburg in 2001, will be reviewed by the new Commission. The review will assess where the strategy has worked and where it has not, as well as what needs to be done in order to achieve further progress towards long-term sustainable development.

Marine focus at Flora- & Fauna Conference

The theme for 2004 was the Swedish environmental quality objectives, with a special focus on the objectives for the marine environment and for forests.

1. Marine focus at Flora- & Fauna Conference
2. Status of marine species

Special protection awarded to the Baltic Sea

On 2 April, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) meeting decided to designate the Baltic Sea as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA).

Fisheries Council agree on measures to minimise bycatch of dolphins

On 22-23 March, the EU Fisheries Ministers agreed on a range of measures to minimise bycatch of dolphins and harbour porpoises in fisheries around Europe.

UK Strategy unit report on Fisheries

The report proposes a possible long-term strategy for creating a more competitive and profitable UK fleet...

International Secretariat for sustainable fisheries opens in Stockholm

Today, a new non-profit organisation committed to work towards more sustainable fisheries is officially launched by the Swedish Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries. The Stockholm-based Fisheries Secretariat is hoping to change fisheries policy in the EU and internationally through co-operation, information and lobbying. It has a particular mission to support and help other organisations, as well as the public, with information and knowledge.