News
November 25, 2019
It’s there for a reason: Why Ministers must not exceed scientific advice on fishing quota
In a briefing by Griffin Carpenter of the New Economics Foundation the reasons and benefits for Ministers not exceeding scientific advice are laid out and provide a timely reminder ahead of the December Council meeting at which quotas for the Northeast Atlantic and North Sea will be set.
November 20, 2019
Meeting between NGOs and Finnish EU Presidency officials re December Council
The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation and the Fisheries Secretariat invited the European campaign directors of The Pew Trusts (Mr Andrew Clayton) and Oceana (Mr Javier Lopez) to come to Helsinki to meet with Mr Risto Lampinen the Director of Fisheries and with Mr Teppo Säkkinen special advisor to Minister Leppä to discuss their concerns about overfishing in the North East Atlantic and North Sea and the total fish catch levels which are due to be decided in the EU Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels on 16-17 December 2019.
November 15, 2019
Sweden wants to tighten fisheries controls
The control of fishing should be improved and made more effective, according to the Swedish government. They have now instructed the Coast Guard and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SWAM) to investigate how.
November 15, 2019
Joint NGO priorities on the revision of the EU Fisheries Control System
A broad coalition of NGOs have together drawn up a series of recommendations based on the EU Commission proposal for the revision of the Fisheries Control System, this includes both an analysis of the proposal as well as a detailed 12 point plan for reform.
November 5, 2019
The 20 year Baltic Sea scandal
False reporting of pelagic catches in the Baltic for herring and sprat by the industrial trawl segment and their falsification of logbook entries have been going on for over 20 years, according to research.
November 1, 2019
Commission proposes financial aid for fishermen affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery
Press release from the Commission Brussels, 31.10.2019 COM(2019) 564 final 2019/0246 (COD) Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Regulation (EU) 2016/1139 as regards the introduction of capacity limits for Eastern Baltic cod, data collection and control measures in the Baltic Sea, and Regulation … Continued
October 24, 2019
Northeast Atlantic fishing opportunities 2020 – Joint NGO recommendations for EU Fisheries Council 16-17 December
In our joint recommendations to the EU Fisheries Council, The Fisheries Secretariat along with The Pew Charitable Trusts, Seas At Risk, Oceana, ClientEarth, and Our Fish have provided concrete policy proposals ahead of the December Council at which fishing limits or TACs will be set for over 100 stocks in the North Sea and Northeast Atlantic.
October 15, 2019
Baltic Sea Fishing Opportunities 2020 – Council agreement
Council agreement and other related statements and commentary. Text and table of the Council agreement are available below and on the EU Council website here. Council agreement on 2020 catch limits in the Baltic Sea COMMISSION proposal COUNCIL agreement Name Latin name ICES FISHING ZONES TACs 2019 2020 2020 TACs … Continued
October 9, 2019
Get real, fisheries ministers!
The Baltic Sea, 2019. Emergency measures for eastern Baltic cod. Scientists advice again a zero quota on Western herring. Huge and long term misreporting of catches revealed in the pelagic fisheries for sprat and herring undermining science. Half of the assessed Baltic fish stocks outside safe biological limits*. Continued illegal discarding of unwanted catches. Parasites spread by seals. As a consequence of all this: an unaddressed and growing problem of overcapacity in the fishing fleet. I can make the list longer, but you get the picture.
September 28, 2019
Update on Eastern Baltic Cod
Below we provide a list of recent documents concerning Eastern Baltic Cod (EBC), with the date of publication or corresponding meeting for each document. We think it will aid clarity and discussion to put these documents in one place online. We hope that if all stakeholders see the same documents they may more easily share a common understanding and take joint initiatives to save what can be saved of Eastern Baltic Cod.