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. New England was hit hard by the total collapse of the enormous cod stock off Eastern Canada and Northeastern USA in the early 1990s. Over the last 20 years, … Continued
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. Some other fish in those … Continued
“Integrated”, “cross-sectorial” and “overall approach” are key terms in a new Marine Policy the Swedish Riksdag (Parliament) has adopted. The bill for a new, comprehensive marine policy was introduced by the cabinet last spring. The focus of the new policy will be the sustainable exploitation of the resources of the sea and coastal areas, in … Continued
Little is known whether management schemes practiced around the world really help against overexploitation and improve sustainability. A new comprehensive study indicates meagre results. The study, published on the Public Library of Science website with Camilo Mora, a Colombian researcher at Dalhousie University and the University of California San Diego as lead author, had surveyed … Continued
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. The Commission welcomed the Council’s support for its strategy, which “will provide new political impetus for the sustainable development of the sector”. The conclusions, with the … Continued
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”. Only three paragraphs were devoted to fisheries in the 46-page work programme presented by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. The programme added in much general terms that, in view of … Continued
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. The study was made on the British Columbia halibut fishery, for many of the system’s advocates an ITQ showcase and great success story. ITQs have been widely accepted – … Continued
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. The directory and map have been worked out in collaboration between FISH Regional Support Officer Iwona Roman and Friends Society of the Ina and Gowienica Rivers Chairman Artur Furdyna. The Directory and … Continued
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. In April the Commission presented a plan to “give fresh impetus to sustainable growth to the EU’s aquaculture sector”. The Czech Presidency has now drafted conclusions to be … Continued
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. Naming a high-level Ocean Policy Task Force, Obama’s intention was to create a “comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-based” framework for sustainably using the resources of US oceans, coasts and the … Continued