News
January 3, 2007
U.N. Lifts Ban on Caviar Exports from the Caspian Sea
On Tuesday the United Nations lifted a year-old embargo on exports of most types of caviar from the Caspian Sea, which is the main source of the delicacy, regardless of the fact that Sturgeon stocks are continuing to decline. Caviar exports, with the value of as much as US$9,500 a kilo, were banned in 2006 … Continued
December 22, 2006
December Council decision on 2007 fishing levels: Too little, too late
Brussels, Belgium. European Union fisheries ministers agreed after difficulty on fishing levels for 2007, still ignoring scientific advice by setting levels so high that recovery of depleted stocks are at risk. Landings of cod in the North Sea will decrease with 14 % compared with the level of 2006. ICES, the scientific body assessing and … Continued
December 18, 2006
Environment Ministers fail to adopt a strong Marine Strategy Directive
Comment on the Council agreement on the Marine Strategy Directive (Environment Council 18th December 2006). The Fisheries Secretariat joined with BirdLife International, the European Environment Bureau, Greenpeace, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Oceana, Seas At Risk, the European Coastal Union and WWF, in criticising today’s Council agreement on the Marine Strategy Directive as lacking … Continued
December 14, 2006
Exceptional commercial fishermen receive conservation award
MARATHON, Florida – December 12 – The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) presented the third annual Gladding Memorial Award for commercial fishing conservation leadership to Mr. Carlton Young of Placencia, Belize and Mr. Ceylon Clayton of Little Bay, Jamaica, during its 59th Annual Meeting in November in Belize City, Belize. The Gladding Memorial Award, … Continued
November 28, 2006
Proposal for secure funding for the RACs
Today,the European Commission further acknowledged the important contribution of the recently established Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) to the application of the Common Fisheries Policy by proposing to increase the amount of EU financial support that they currently receive. The Commission proposes to amend the legal base of the RACs (1) and to define them as … Continued
November 28, 2006
Iceland blocks protection for deep sea biodiversity
Iceland blocked consensus for swift action to curtail the destruction of high seas ecosystems at the United Nations in New York. After it was clear that a moratorium for deep sea bottom trawling could not be reached, UN fisheries negotiators tried to find a compromise. They were looking at text which would have offered immediate … Continued
November 23, 2006
Deep-sea stocks still at risk after divided Council decision
In spite of scientific advice from ICES that deep water fish such as orange roughy, blue ling and deep water shark fisheries should be closed immediately, EU Ministers in the Council agreed on 21 November on relatively modest reductions in TACs (Total Allowable Catches) for 2007 and 2008, aiming at a final phase-out by 2010/11. … Continued
November 21, 2006
North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission fails to sufficiently protect deep-sea stocks and biodiversity
NEAFC, the intergovernmental commission responsible for managing deep-water fishing in the North East Atlantic, made some progress on improving the protection of deep-water fish and corals last week. However it failed to deliver some much needed tougher decisions to protect deep-sea biodiversity. The proposal to close the fishery on the highly vulnerable stocks of Orange … Continued
November 16, 2006
New Report on the impacts of Deep Sea Bottom Trawling on Seamounts to be presented at the UN General Assembly this Friday
On Wednesday scientists warned that deep-sea bottom trawling is destroying seamounts teeming with marine life, causing irreparable damage to ecosystems. The report will be presented at the UN General Assembly on Friday where negotiations will resume on the issue of a high seas bottom trawling moratorium. Over-exploitation of commercial species like cod and hake has … Continued
November 16, 2006
MSC decides not to take on farmed seafood
According to The Wave Newsletter, the Board of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has decided not to expand the current MSC ecolabel to include farmed seafood. At this week’s MSC Board meeting in Thailand, it was agreed that the MSC would not develop its current certification and ecolabelling scheme to cover farmed fish and shellfish … Continued