Positions & Papers
Technical Measures Framework briefing and letter
August 25, 2016
In our letter to Ministers, FishSec and Seas at Risk provided recommendations on the Technical Measures Framework.
Technical measures are rules for where, when and how fishing may take place and are fundamental for regulating the impact of fishing on stocks and the wider marine ecosystem. In this paper, we have outlined our joint prorities for the forthcoming negotiations.
Request to Slovakian Presidency live stream Council meetings – joint NGO letter
August 22, 2016
In this letter, FishSec are one of eight organisations requesting that the upcoming Council meetings in 2016 are live streamed. There has been a lack of public scrutiny and transparency with regard to the setting of TACs and quotas and it is of public interest for these decisions to be taken in a more visible light.
Joint NGO position paper on the Commission’s Technical Measures Framework proposal
August 18, 2016
Technical measures are rules for where, when and how fishing may take place and are fundamental for regulating the impact of fishing on stocks and the wider marine ecosystem. In this paper, we have outlined our joint prorities for the forthcoming negotiations.
Commission Consultation on Fishing Opportunities for 2017
June 23, 2016
This letter with recommendations regarding the Communication from the Commission concerning a consultation on Fishing Opportunities for 2017, (COM(2016) 369 final) is aimed at the Fisheries Ministers to consider at the upcoming Council meeting. The European Commission sets out principles for the fixing of fishing opportunities for 2017. It shows a commitment to implement the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), however, the objective of fishing below Fmsy in order to bring stock biomass above Bmsy for all stocks is not as clear as it could be.
Analysis of the Baltic multiannual plan
June 20, 2016
The Baltic multiannual management plan for cod, herring and sprat stocks is analysed in the attached pdf. We welcome the use of multispecies management as a progression in how Baltic fish stocks are utilised, however, we are crticial of the plan as it places unnecessary risks upon the ecosystem and contains provisions which allow for overfishing to continue in breach of the MSY objective in the CFP.
Summary of ICES advice on Baltic stocks for 2017
June 1, 2016
On 31 May 2016, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Advisory Committee published their advice regarding the exploitation of the Baltic Sea fish stocks for 2017. Here we provide a summary and comment on the assessments and advice.
Briefing on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
April 30, 2013
This briefing on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) (COM(2011)804) is aimed at MEPs who are members of the Fisheries Committee in the European Parliament. They vote on amendments to the Cadec (EPP, FR) report in July and the annex provides analysis and voting recommendations on these proposals.
It is our view that the EMFF is a limited fund of public money that should be used to support the implementation of a CFP that:
- ends overfishing by restoring to and maintaining fish stocks at healthy levels;
- provides incentives for environmentally sustainable fishing practices; and
- reduces damage to marine ecosystems.
OCEAN2012: Public aid for sustainable fisheries
October 29, 2012
Public aid has been identified as a driver for overfishing. The proposed European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) must ensure that future aid does not undermine the objectives of the CFP, but contributes to the transition to sustainable fisheries and towards achieving healthy marine ecosystems. We therefore call on MEPs to amend the Commission proposal.
OCEAN2012: Environmentally harmful subsidies
October 29, 2012
Joint letter to José Manuel Durão Barroso president of the European Commission regarding an roadmap to eliminating environmentally harmful subsidies.
OCEAN2012 Briefing: An initial reaction to the Commission’s package on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy
July 12, 2011
In the face of concerted short-term economic interests, the Commission has struggled to craft a proposal that responds adequately to the issues outlined in its 2009 Green Paper. For example the proposal fails to prioritise the objective of achieving environmental sustainability as a prerequisite for achieving social and economic sustainability.The Commission claims to propose a radical reform, yet the most radical aspect of this proposal is the move towards a compulsory near-privatisation of marine resources.