Category: Article

Ombudsman investigates EU Council’s lack of transparency around fishing quotas

European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly today presented a new inquiry into the lack of transparency about the basis for national ministers’ annual decisions on fishing quotas.

“The famous all night meetings of ministers in Brussels are completely behind closed doors and yet make important decisions for the sustainability of fishing stocks and of jobs in fishing communities around Europe,” said Ms O’Reilly, in a press release.

Danish Fishers open lobby office in Brussels

The Danish Fishermen Producer Organisation (DFPO) has “strengthened its presence on the international scene and runs now an office in the heart of Brussels”.

Code of conduct to address conflicts of interest in ICES

Science and scientists are given an increasing role in the development and implementation of European fisheries and environmental policy. As such, the International Council on the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) has an agreement with the European Commission to provide scientific advice.

TV Documentary: The cod – hope of the Baltic Sea

A new Swedish TV-documentary airing on Tuesday 16 April paints a depressing picture of the Eastern Baltic Cod stock. However, ‘The cod – hope of the Sea’, Torsken – havets hopp, also provides a glimmer of hope for the iconic species and the Baltic Sea ecosystem.

EU report: Europe risks missing legal deadline to end overfishing

“Many stocks remain overfished and/or outside safe biological limits, and … progress achieved until 2017 seems too slow to ensure that all stocks will be rebuilt and managed according to FMSY by 2020.”, which is the legal deadline set by the EU Common Fisheries Policy, CFP.

Eastern Baltic cod: Fisheries Ministers urged to implement emergency measures

Baltic NGOs have today written to all Baltic EU Members states urging them to introduce emergency measures to protect the eastern Baltic cod stock in accordance with Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) rules.

Adapt or die: Research indicates that management must change or Western Baltic cod fishery will collapse due to climate change

In the recent paper “Ecological-economic sustainability of the Baltic cod fisheries under ocean warming and acidification”, lead author Rudi Voss highlights the need to implement adaptive management and reduce fishing pressure in order to mitigate the impact of climate change and allow for a commercial fishery in the decades to come.

Norway announces spawning closure for Skagerrak cod

In order to help the coastal fishery in southern Norway, Norwegian Fisheries Minister, Harald T.Nesvik, has announced a package of measures. All fishing for cod will be prohibited close to shore and from 1 January until 30 April in 14 areas where the cod spawn. Measures also include that any bycatch of cod must be released and an increased seal quota.

NGOs call on Commission to meet 2020 deadline and end overfishing

In a letter to the Commission regarding their proposals for fishing opportunities in 2020, NGOs highlight that this is the last opportunity to meet the 2020 legal deadline to end overfishing.

MSC leads the way against mislabelling and fraud

A new study “DNA barcoding validates species labelling of certified seafood” shows that less than 1% of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified seafood products are incorrectly labelled against a global industry average of 30%.