News
March 12, 2009
Deeper than we thought
Deep-sea commercial fishing may have much deeper effects than previously thought, harming fish populations a kilometre below the deepest reach of fishing trawlers, a new British study shows. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B., compared data from the Northeast Atlantic from two different periods, before and after the commercial … Continued
March 12, 2009
Swedish aquaculture could well grow, report says
Conditions are good for a growth in aquaculture in Sweden, a Government report says. At present, the aquaculture industry in Sweden is smaller than in most neighbouring nations, the study shows. With an abundance of lakes, stemmed rivers and power dams, Sweden has a strong basis for expanding aquaculture activities, according to the report, mentioning … Continued
March 10, 2009
Polish stakeholders meet Swedish colleagues
Challenging meetings with Swedish fishermen and administrators and 700 kilometres of bus travel marked three intensive days as FISH went on tour in southern and western Sweden with 18 Polish fishery stakeholders last week. The study trip was part of the joint Eko-Unia/Our Earth Foundation/FISH project “The Baltic is in Poland; The Baltic is in … Continued
March 10, 2009
Hard times ahead for Swedish anglers
Swedish anglers in the Baltic may face sharp restrictions in their quest for pike this summer. The Board of Fisheries has proposed a three-units-a-day limit for anglers with hand gear, and only those fish between 40-75 centimetres may be kept. The background to the proposal is the dwindling Baltic stocks of pike, a classic for … Continued
March 9, 2009
Big cuts in Swedish trawler fleet
A 40 per cent reduction of the Swedish trawler fleet in western waters by 2015 has been proposed by the Swedish Board of Fisheries. That reduction of the fleet in the Skagerrak, the Kattegat and the North Sea would equal some 60 vessels. The process would be carried out through subsidies for scrapping boats and … Continued
March 9, 2009
Swedish government bill adopts the eco-system approach
In a comprehensive maritime policy bill, to be introduced to the Riksdag by March 17, the Swedish Government has proposed the establishment of a new agency responsible for the marine environment as a whole. The policy bill, which also included measures against eutrophication and coordinated efforts in the fields of fisheries, agriculture and shipping, said … Continued
March 9, 2009
FAO urges fisheries to observe climate change
Current management plans and practises for responsible fisheries should be expanded to take into consideration climate change, the FAO said in its annual “State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture” (SOFIA) report. “Best practices that are already on the books but not always implemented offer clear, established tools towards making fisheries more resilient to climate change,” … Continued
March 9, 2009
Moving day for MSC
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-labelling organisation has moved its Asia-Pacific headquarters from Sydney to Tokyo. The background of the strategic decision was the growing interest in the region for participation in the MSC programme. Japan is the second largest seafood producer and consumer market in the world. Several Japanese fisheries are engaged at different … Continued
March 9, 2009
New Department head at DG MARE
Carla Montesi has been appointed new Director for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea in the Maritime affairs and fisheries department of the European Commission (DG MARE). Ms. Montesi, an Italian, is presently Head of Unit in charge of Regional Programmes and Neighbourhood at EuropeAid.
March 2, 2009
Greenpeace to sink boulders against bottom trawling
The Greenpeace organisation plans to prevent bottom trawling in two Natura 2000 areas in the Kattegat between Sweden and Denmark by placing out stone boulders. Although the practice needs no licence, according to Greenpeace, the organisation has notified authorities, including the Swedish Ministry of the Environment. The notification included an environmental impact assessment, and Greenpeace … Continued