Past Events

HELCOM FISH M Salmon, online, 30^th January 2024 09:00- 31^st January 2024 12:00 CET The focal item of the Session is to have a dedicated discussion on the need to update/revise HELCOM Recommendation 32-33/1, specifically targeting salmon as well as implementation of BSAP Action S50. Should you be interested in observing this meeting, please contact HELCOM Secretariat via email at: petra.kaaria@helcom.fi

We are excited to welcome delegates in-person and to offer the combination of a hybrid experience with a livestream to reach a large online audience, for the next edition of the UK's premier multi-disciplinary coastal and marine conference. This year we are in a new and exciting venue for Coastal Futures - the historic Royal Institution in Mayfair, London, the home of scientific discovery and with a rich tradition of innovation. The 2024 programme will include six sessions across two days, covering the major themes in the estuarine, coastal and marine sectors. With 400 delegates, speakers and chairs in attendance on each day of the event, and many hundreds online, this is a fantastic opportunity to interact with a wide range of practitioners and leaders in the field of coastal and marine management. See the Outline programme here. For more details see our website. Please note, in-person student tickets have now sold out, however there are plenty of student online places remaining for Livestream tickets Booking Conditions: Group booking discount of 10% available when 5 or more full-price in-person tickets are booked simultaneously; please contact diana.hunt@coastms.co.uk Rates include refreshments, food and the evening drinks reception Each place is for one named delegate only and may not be shared between delegates. Delegates will be required to register on each day they attend in person. Refunds for cancellations will only be issued up to midnight on Wednesday 13th December 2023 (less a £50 administration fee); named whole-ticket substitutes are permitted with notice to diana.hunt@coastms.co.uk by Friday 19th January 2024. Your name & contact details will be listed in the online conference page delegate lists, if you consented during registration. Details of our data protection policy are available here

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BSAC Executive Committee

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The 2024 Meeting between ICES and Advisory Councils and other observers (MIACO) will take place Thursday 18th (13:00) – Friday 19th (12:00) January 2024 in the ICES Secretariat in Copenhagen. The draft agenda for MIACO 2024 (hybrid meeting of physical and online participation) will be available in the beginning of December. Please inform the Secretariat (advice@ices.dk) about your participation in the MIACO meeting.

Agriculture and Fisheries Council is held 11-12 December 2023.

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Thursday, 7 December 2023, 10 am CET, Zoom  This special edition updates statistics and figures on the status and management of fisheries in the region and includes, for the first time, an overview of the aquaculture sector in Mediterranean and Black Sea countries. It provides useful and reliable data as an essential source of information on fisheries and aquaculture in the region and a key tool to support decision-making and monitor progress towards the goals set by the GFCM. The event will consist of a brief presentation of key data and findings, with comments from select speakers from the region, followed by a Q&A session open to all participants.   Interpretation will be provided in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.   Please share this invitation with anyone who may be interested and do not hesitate to contact the GFCM Secretariat for any further information or technical requests. We look forward to your participation. Best regards, The GFCM Secretariat

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Dec 5, 2023 04:00-05:30 PM CET ANP|WWF-Portugal and the WWF European Policy Office are delighted to invite you to a webinar: "From niche to norm: Setting sail for low-impact fisheries in the EU." Join us to discover WWF’s latest paper on the necessary transition towards environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially responsible EU fisheries, and how to measure success. Hear first hand from EU decision makers, fishers, scientists, industry representatives and civil society about the key next steps in this process. English-Portuguese interpretation available. Panel: - Sónia Olim, Director of the Fuzeta Fishermen's Association - Didier Gascuel, Professor of Marine Ecology, Institut Agro Rennes - Brian O’Riordan, Policy Advisor, Low Impact Fishers of Europe (TBC) - Evelien Ranshuysen, Common Fisheries Policy team leader, European Commission Concluding remarks by MEP Francisco Guerreiro.

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Our planet's health is inextricably linked to the well-being of marine ecosystems, which, in turn, are crucial for the livelihoods of communities depending on them. Among the various elements comprising the marine environment, seabed habitats play an indispensable role for nature and food supply. In order to harvest seafood from the bottom of the sea, fishers use a wide range of fishing gears carefully adapted to each fishery and area. Mobile bottom fishing remains widespread in EU waters delivering 25% of total European seafood landings. The EU has experienced a generalized recovery of demersal fish stocks due to the widespread reduction of fishing effort and the continued improvement of fishing techniques. Nonetheless, as part of the European Commission's action plan, active bottom fishing gears are branded as "the most damaging activity to the seabed", calling into question its use and sustainability, particularly in Natura 2000 sites and other Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). At the same time, 70 % of seafood consumed in Europe is imported and there is a need to produce more seafood products to feed the growing population in line with climate change requirements. This event will explore the key scientific research on bottom trawling sustainability and compatibility with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). It will also look at the trade-offs between the environmental impact of fisheries and seafood security / self-sufficiency. The event will bring together leading scientists on seabed habitats and bottom fishing, along with representatives from the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) and the Directorate-General for Environment (DG Environment), key stakeholders from the fishing sector and civil society. Panelists will articulate their unique perspectives on the optimal way to strike a balance between the priorities of environmental preservation, social well-being, economic prosperity, and the production of food resources. This event aims to foster a comprehensive dialogue and facilitate the formulation of sustainable policies that can address bottom fishing practices in European waters. DRAFT AGENDA 15:15 – 15:25:             Opening remarks by MEP Niclas Herbst   15:25 – 15:55:             First panel discussion:

• Dr. Michel J. Kaiser, Professor of Fisheries Conservation, Heriot Watt University
• Dr. Jan Geert Hiddink, Professor in marine ecology, Bangor University
• Dr. Hans Polet, Scientific Director, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO)

• Representative from the European Commission (DG ENV) (tbc)
• Vera Coelho, Deputy Vice President for Europe, Oceana (tbc)
• Iván López, Chair, European Bottom Fisheries Alliance (EBFA)

• MEP Isabel Carvalhais (tbc)
• MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen (tbc)
• MEP Asger Christensen (tbc)
• MEP Pietro Bartolo (tbc)
•  MEP Grace O’Sullivan (tbc)