News
March 27, 2007
Conference on eel, European parlament 22-23 March
The Fisheries Secretariat arranged a two-day conference on the need for joint efforts to save the European eel population. The event took place in the European Parliament in Brussels on 22-23 March 2007. The aim of the conference was to inform the EU decision on management of the European eel later this Spring, as well … Continued
March 12, 2007
Nations in agreement over the need to strengthen landing control to combat IUU
FAO today reported that a large number of nations participating at the 27 FAO COFI – meeting in Rome 5 – 9 March, agreed to start working on an international protocol with the purpose of creating binding control measures in landing harbours, or harbours where fish products are redistributed or processed, in order to combat … Continued
March 12, 2007
Morocco ratifies Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the EU
Morocco ratified a Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) on 6 March with the EU. The former fisheries agreement between the EU and the Kingdom of Morocco expired in 1999. The agreement which will enter into force immediately will run for a period of 4 years. The FPA provides fishing opportunities on pelagic species and small pelagic … Continued
March 7, 2007
FAO report: Serious concern over situation of high-seas fish species
Rome, 5 March. Although the proportion of the world’s marine fish stocks rated by FAO as overexploited or depleted has remained stable over the past 15 years, the status of certain highly migratory and high-seas species is cause for serious concern, a new report from the UN agency warned today. The report is presented at … Continued
February 13, 2007
Illegal Baltic cod fishing a severe problem
An unpublished Commission evaluation of the Baltic Member States fisheries control points out Poland as the main culprit, but with severe problems in Sweden, Lithuania, Germany, Denmark and Latvia. The results are alarming, confirming the picture ICES already has pointed out, that illegal landings of cod is a major problem in the Baltic Sea. During … Continued
February 10, 2007
For Cod’s Sake?
The cod war in Poland is heated and the Polish government continues attempts to convince the European Commission that there is plenty of cod in the sea. Starting in October, counts of cod stocks in the Baltic will begin at the request of the Polish Fisheries Minister, Marek Gróbarczyk. According to a polish daily, Dziennik, … Continued
February 5, 2007
Commission review of EC deep-water fisheries fails to deliver actions
The Commission published last week a highly critical review of deep-water fisheries management. Appropriate recommendations for actions are missing, as the review is only pointing out the need for improved monitoring, control and data collection. The review concludes that reductions of the current levels of exploitation are inevitable. A much needed step is restricting licenses … Continued
January 30, 2007
Conference on Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund, Seville, Spain 25 – 27 Jan 2007
The European Commission organised a three day conference on the implementation of Priority Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) – Sustainable Development of Fisheries Regions. The conference built on two previous events; in Tallin 2005, and Porto 2006. The conference had about 60 participants, mostly representing EU member states and regional authorities. Priority … Continued
January 16, 2007
US president Bush on Friday signed legislation aimed at preventing overfishing in US waters
From 2010 commercial fisheries in the US will have to set conservation plans within a two-year period. A 10-year permit system will be set, which would still allow some limited access in overfished waters. Bush urged an overhaul of provisions in existing legislation known as the Magnusson-Stevens Fish Management Act, after which the US Congress … Continued
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