Latest news

May 28, 2025

NGOs to EU decision makers: Commit to a Genuine Baltic Sea Recovery Plan

Press release. Copenhagen, 28 May 2025.   Key Baltic fish populations are in crisis, warn environmental NGOs. New scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, confirms the poor condition of key Baltic fish populations, several of which remain collapsed (1).  EU fisheries ministers must set 2026-catch limits well below ICES … Continued

May 23, 2025

The EU Ocean Pact: widely leaked draft show ambition but lack of concrete action

The European Commission is gearing up to launch its ambitious EU Ocean Pact, structured around seven pillars, which aim to balance ecological protection with economic growth in marine sectors. A widely leaked draft shows ambition but insufficient follow-through. While its holistic approach is commendable, there are significant gaps between its promises and concrete suggestions for … Continued

April 11, 2025

Baltic Coast Dialog Workshop: Ecosystem Based Management and fisheries in the Baltic Sea

The latest workshop of the Baltic Coast Dialog project was held on 3 April in Stockholm, Sweden, and was organised by FishSec. This event marked the final of four planned workshops in the Baltic Coast Dialog project, which aims to establish a network of international stakeholders dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Baltic … Continued

December 18, 2024

EU Fisheries Council Decision on TAC and Quotas for 2025: A Missed Opportunity for Sustainability

On December 11, 2024, EU fisheries ministers concluded negotiations on fishing quotas for 2025, covering stocks in the North Sea, Northeast Atlantic, and Mediterranean. Despite criticism from NGOs and a pending court case by Clean Coalition Baltic (CCB) concerning prior illegal quota decisions, the Council once again set quotas that disregard the EU’s multiannual plan (1). … Continued

Upcoming events

Jun
06
Feedback period: Sustainable fishing in the EU: state of play and orie...

Dates: 06 June - 02 September


Jun
09
2025 UN Ocean Conference

Location: Nice, France

Dates: 09 - 13 June


Jun
10
First International Cultural Significance of Fish Conference

Location: Ely, United Kingdom

Dates: 10 - 11 June

In recent years, many of our conferences have featured presentations highlighting the cultural importance of fish and the aquatic environment across diverse aspects of fisheries management. This event builds on that growing interest, offering a dedicated platform to explore the profound ways in which fish have shaped, influenced, and been represented in cultures across time and geography.

This unique two-day conference will bring together international speakers and delegates from the fisheries, heritage, academic, and cultural sectors. Sessions will feature a wide-ranging mix of themes from art, literature, and language to traditions, belief systems, social structures, architecture, and economic practices all centred around the enduring relationship between people and fish.

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Jun
12
It’s the (Blue) Economy, stupid! Marine Regeneration and prosper...

Location: Nice, France

Dates: 12 June

Marine regeneration and prosperity beyond growth Thematic event at the UNOC Ocean Basecamp 2025

  • Thursday 12 June 2025, 14:15-17:15
Meet leading thinkers and practitioners of an alternative blue economy based on the blue commons, regeneration, conviviality, ethics and system transformation. Marine ecosystems face unprecedented pressures from climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Coastal communities, often marginalized, suffer from environmental degradation that undermines key economic sectors like fisheries and tourism, leading to depopulation and social decline. These issues stem from how we produce, consume, and structure our economy. Despite its relevance, the current UNOC agenda largely overlooks critical reflection on the extractive nature of the blue economy, focusing instead on “blue growth” and investments. To address root causes, we must rethink the blue economy. Join us to explore systemic alternatives such as the Blue Commons (Guy Standing, SOAS), Regenerative Blue Economy (Raphaëla le Gouvello, IUCN), Convivial Conservation (Louise Carver, TBA21-Academy), Blue Moral Economy (Tariq Al-Olaimy, Faiths for UNOC3) and Transformations for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Jonathan Baines, WRI). In the second part of the session we will dive into practical examples (e.g., fisheries, tourism) using an inclusive “fishbowl” setup, where everyone can contribute. A "keynote listener" (Delilah Al-Khudhairy, director blue economy at the European Commission) will conclude the session by reflecting on key takeaways.

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