Strong opposition from Spain in the EU Council forced a decision to reopen the Bay of Biscay anchovy fisheries “temporarily”. The decision will take force on January 1. A Council press release after the prolonged deliberations said that the Bay of Biscay anchovy fisheries “will be subject to a later adjustment in accordance with a … Continued
The breakdown in negotiations EU-Norway will mean that 2010 TACs set at the upcoming December Council meeting will be for EU vessels only, while the total outtake will be subject to a likely agreement next year. Catch quotas for 2010 are to be set for a large number of stocks at the meeting, the last … Continued
A conflict over the interpretation of a 1994 mackerel agreement has caused a breakdown in the talks between the European Union and Norway on the 2010 TACs. Reporting on the breakdown, the European Voice news organisation said a new agreement is now unlikely until next year. The EU Commission declined to comment on the halted … Continued
DNA tracing may be a way to fight the sharkfin soup threat to that endangered species. The practice of “finning” – cutting off the fins of sharks to meet a dramatically growing Asian demand, then often throwing the fish back into the water, where it sinks to the bottom, unable to move and therefore to … Continued
Sonar scanning that is part of the so-called Census of Marine Life has been able to “see” schools of fish the size of Manhattan, the largest mass of life ever witnessed. The Census of Marine Life, due to be published in October 2010, will be the first of its kind. The €500+ million project is … Continued
The impartiality/neutrality of the RAC Chairmen needs to be improved, along with the structural balance between the industry and NGOs, WWF points out in a recent report on the functionings of the European Union’s seven Regional Advisory Councils. Heading towards a new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in 2012, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) … Continued
EU subsidies have enabled the Union’s tuna fishing fleets to grow to almost twice the capacity needed to catch the current quotas – to be cut drastically in 2010 – for the severely threatened species, Commissioner Joe Borg revealed in a reply to a parliamentary question. It should be noted that even those TACs are … Continued
The third briefing from FISH/Seas At Risk to EU Fisheries Ministers and other stakeholders has been sent out to prepare for the December 14-16 Council meeting. Catch quotas for 2010 are to be set for a large number of stocks at that meeting, and the briefing focuses in detail on some of those requiring particular … Continued
The MSC eco-labelling process has been the focus of renewed attacks from both scientists and environmentalists for its use of commercial consultants, paid by the industry, and a Danish similar organisation accuses MSC of “irresponsibility, bordering to swindle”. Since the London-based Marine Stewardship Council started its operations ten years ago, almost 60 fisheries have been … Continued
Setting socioeconomic considerations above the sustainability of fish stocks is like “building a house without caring about its foundations”, was one point made as members of the European Parliament and representatives for both NGOs and the industry, as well as scientific expertise, discussed the future CFP reform. The new EU Common Fisheries Policy is scheduled … Continued