News
September 9, 2009
CITES possible way in saving of sharks
In a new report, a leading marine conservation organisation has recommended that two European shark species should be listed among endangered species. Oceana supported an earlier proposal from Germany to include porbeagle and spurdog in the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The convention aims to regulate … Continued
September 8, 2009
Commissioner speaks up for scrapping TACs, regulating effort
In a speech to the Fisheries Committee of the newly elected European Parliament, Commissioner Joe Borg has come out strongly for doing away with the present quota system, to substitute it with effort management. “Replacing TACs and quotas by effort can be a very effective way of reducing the environmental impact of fisheries, and in … Continued
September 8, 2009
Professor’s pessimism about new EU fisheries policy
Considering the many shortcomings of the present CFP, a Danish Professor and EU fisheries expert told a gathering of Nordic ministers that “it’s hard not to be pessimistic” about the next Common Fisheries Policy in 2012. Revision of the CFP was high on the agenda for the summer meeting of the Nordic ministers responsible for … Continued
September 8, 2009
Fishermen sinking on Swedish West Coast
The number of fishermen on the Swedish West Coast has been reduced by 25 percent in just the last ten years, a new report from the Swedish Board of Fisheries shows. At the same time, the medium age of the remaining few has risen from 47 to 49. Tore Gustavsson of the Board of Fisheries, … Continued
September 8, 2009
Polish campaigners took to the streets
In July, when fish consumption soars on the Polish coast, Klub Gaja organized a series of consumer targeted, awareness raising street performances titled “The history of the Golden Fish”. Also dubbed as ‘happenings’ by Klub Gaja, the theatrical street performances in three coastal towns – Miedzyzdroje, Kolobrzeg and Hel – targeted fish consumers and aimed … Continued
September 3, 2009
Next Year’s Baltic Cod TACs: Like ICES, like Commission
Walking fully in step with this spring’s scientific advice, the EU Commission proposes a 15 percent raise in the 2010 TACs for the Eastern Baltic cod and a 9 percent raise for the smaller Western stock. That recommendation was the first time in years that International Council for the Sea (ICES) experts had suggested increases … Continued
September 3, 2009
“B” for Germany, “D” for Russia in Baltic Sea Conservation Class
Germany emerged as best in class, while Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia were named and shamed as classroom dunces as the WWF published this year’s “Baltic Sea Scorecard”. Still graded “B” – no A’s were handed out – Germany was primarily lauded for being a leader – “by far” – in practical planning of both … Continued
August 30, 2009
US foresees climate change, bans Arctic fishing
In an unprecedented move, US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke has approved a plan to ban fishing in more than a half million square kilometres of American waters in the Arctic – not because of overfishing, bur anticipating changing climate. The plan, the first of its kind, has been worked out in previously scarcely seen … Continued
August 26, 2009
STECF advices reduced effort for Baltic cod
The EU Commission’s main scientific advisory body has generally agreed with earlier scientific advice on next year’s Baltic catch quotas, but adds that fishing effort should be reduced for the dominant eastern cod stock. In its review of advice published in May by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the Scientific, … Continued
August 26, 2009
CFP debate still same old song, study shows
The debate still centres around the same ”crisis in EU fisheries” as it did ten years ago, an important European research organisation says in a “health check” on the current Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which also includes prescriptions for a better and more sound future. “Of all the European policies that govern the exploitation of … Continued