Events

As part of the European Green Deal and the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Commission will be developing a Biodiversity Action Plan for fisheries and marine ecosystems. The action plan will bridge the fisheries and environmental competences of the Union, and is also linked to the reporting under the recently adopted Technical Measures Regulation. It will also be linked with the implementation of other EU environmental legislation, notably the Birds, Habitats and Marine Strategy Framework Directives. The overall objective of this initiative is to concretely exploit the synergies between the fisheries and environmental policies. In making fisheries more sustainable, protecting marine ecosystems and their biodiversity, it will directly contribute to one of the main objectives of the European Green Deal, and it is one of the deliverables announced in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Roadmap Biodiversity Action Plan for fisheries and ecosystems

Links:

• To the consultation
• About the EU Biodiversity Strategy
• About the European Green Deal

The 2021 IWC Scientific Committee meeting (SC68C) will be held virtually to reduce risk of COVID-19 exposure to SC members.

Links:

• Meeting information and registration

Online meeting

Links:

• Meeting details

The European Maritime Day (EMD) Conference is the annual two-day event during which Europe’s maritime community meet to network, discuss and forge joint action on maritime affairs and sustainable blue economy. This year, it will be a virtual event run from Den Helder, The Netherlands, co-organised with the City of Den Helder, the Province of Noord-Holland and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. EMD Conference programme 2021 Aside from the Conference, there are over 200 national events taking place across the EU.

Links:

• EMD Conference 2021
• For more information on national events

Remember the European eel, sharks, rays and other endangered fish species on the 16th Annual Endangered Species Day!  

Links:

• Endangered Species Day 2021

The United Nations has proclaimed 22 May the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. This day for biodiversity was created in 1993, but this year will be special. The 15th Conference of Parties under the Convention on Biological Diversity had to be post-poned last year, but is scheduled to take place in the second quarter of 2021 in Kunming, China. The monumental meeting will adopt a post-2020 global biodiversity framework, working towards the 2050 Vision of “Living in harmony with nature”.

Links:

• UN International Day for Biological Diversity

Online meeting.

Links:

• GFCM Meetings

In its annual meetings, the Steering Group for the ASCOBANS Recovery Plan for Baltic Harbour Porpoises (Jastarnia Plan) and the Conservation Plan for the Harbour Porpoise Population in the Western Baltic, the Belt Sea and the Kattegat (WBBK Plan) will review progress under the action plans, learn about complementary initiatives, and aim to move implementation forward. Online meeting. Register before 24 April.

Links:

• Meeting information and registration

The International Symposium on Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (SOFAS) was set to be held from 25 to 27 May in Trabzon, Turkey. However, it has officially been postponed to a later date considering the continuous Covid-19 situation all around the world.

Links:

• SOFAS 2021

Links:

• ICES Advice Release dates