In a letter to the European institutions, the European Anglers Alliance (EAA) and the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) have requested explicit mention of recreational fisheries in the CFP.
Today, Greenpeace UK and sustainable British fishermen have launched a campaign to push for a real reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy which will support local fishing.
Ulrika Rodust (S+D, Germany) recently published her draft report on the Basic Regulation for the Fisheries Committee (PECH). The report is the most significant text from the European Parliament on the CFP reform and aims to provide a framework ahead of the November plenary. In response to this, a joint NGO reaction has been developed.
OCEAN2012 is launching European Fish Weeks today with a brand new animation ‘Ending Overfishing’, which explores the need to end overfishing and repopulate our seas and oceans! We can all be involved in turning the tide. Lets end overfishing, or fishing will be over!
In spite of overwhelming evidence demonstrating the benefits of rebuilding European fish stocks by applying the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) model to fisheries management, a large majority of Ministers in yesterday’s Council meeting spoke out against the 2015 target proposed by the Commission.
On Friday, April 23, Fish Fight launched its Europe-wide discards ban campaign in Poland. The event took place in front of the Polish Parliament (Sejm), and was led by a Polish celebrity chef, Robert Makłowicz. Polish decision-makers had disappointed by not attending the main event, however the launch was enjoyed by a healthy crowd including environmental organizations, youth, scientists, and the public. Despite the lack of political representation, a fruitful debate with Polish NGOs was featured and sustainable fish dishes were served, including sustainable sprat sushi.
Today, the Environment committee (ENVI) in the European Parliament voted in favour of the opinion report for the CFP Basic Regulation, which had been drafted by Chris Davies (ALDE, UK).
Discussions at the April Council of Ministers meeting seemingly dealt a final blow to the Commission’s proposal for mandatory transferable fishing concessions (TFCs) to be used by Member States to allocate quotas and regulate access to fish resources. At their launch, the proposals were denounced as “a compulsory near-privatisation of marine resources” by a coalition of environmental organisations.
As part of a tour of the Eastern Baltic region, the Commissioner undertook a mission to Latvia in which she met with the Minister, visited a fish processing factory and participated in a stakeholder roundtable.
According to Chris Davies (ALDE, UK), the rapporteur on the Environment committee (ENVI) for the CFP basic regulation, an overwhelming groundswell of opinion has emerged against the Commission proposals for mandatory TFCs (transferable fishing concessions).