Last week the European Commission announced several changes to the Advisory Councils. Changes necessary to move towards regionalised fisheries management giving the Advisory Councils a stronger voice and a more balanced representation within fishery policy.
As usual for this time of year, EU fisheries ministers are about to start haggling over fishing limits. Starting next week, the Fisheries Council will be deciding on the total allowable catches for most fish stocks in European waters for 2015/2016. This year’s decisions will be more important than ever before.
Today, the European Commission released their regulation for establishing a multispecies plan for the Baltic Sea.
When the new Swedish Government was announced earlier today, it became clear that Isabella Lövin will leave the European Parliament and her post as Vice-Chair in the Fisheries Committee to become Minister for International Development Coordination.
The Commission proposal for most deep sea TACs is balanced and largely in line with scientific advice, but fails to follow scientific advice to reduce TAC reductions for three key stocks.
Karmenu Vella was approved earlier today as commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries by MEPs in the environment and fisheries committees in the European Parliament, despite concerns about his poor hearing performance.
The hearing of Karmenu Vella, Commissioner-designate for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries took place today before the joint sitting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and Committee on Fisheries.
A new study jointly conducted by Oceana, Søndagsavisen a Danish newspaper and the TV program “Go’Aften Denmark” reveals 18% of cod sold in fishmongers is not actually cod, but haddock or saithe.
The Green 10 expresses grave concerns about direction of Commission reorganisation and priorities in an open letter to President Juncker today.
Juncker’s first step as President of the European Commission has been to announce a restructuring of the Commission, together with his proposals for new Commissioners. Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is set to become one portfolio under Commissioner Karmenu Vella.