Protecting the North Sea: Brown Bank
A high resolution version of this report can be found here.
Campaign: Habitat Protection
Sabellaria reefs: ugly and fragile, yet incredibly important emblems of Dutch waters
‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,’ an old adage says. This phrase is even more relevant when talking about hidden gems lying in sea-bottom areas of the North Sea, which many consider to be a cold and dark sea, composed of murky waters and dull animals living in it. In 2016, Oceana Europe’s … Read more
Oceana and North Sea Foundation call for protection of rare reefs found during underwater research
Oceana and the North Sea Foundation call for the designation of the Brown Bank as a marine protected area, after having discovered fragile and ecologically important Sabellaria worm reefs in Dutch waters. These rare biodiversity hotspots are home to a diverse fauna, and were believed to have disappeared from the Netherlands. The Brown Bank is … Read more
Oceana and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography develop a pioneering method in Europe to manage protected areas
The mapping of its deep habitats could be used as a model to improve the management and conservation of this and other protected areas In the research journal Aquatic conservation: Marine and freshwater ecosystems, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) and Oceana have published a map of the deep habitats of Seco de los … Read more
Eastern Baltic cod stock has collapsed – NGOs call to immediately close fishing of Eastern Baltic cod
The report , published last week by International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), an intergovernmental marine science organization, found that the eastern Baltic cod population has reached such a critically low level that it is unable to reproduce itself sufficiently to maintain a future healthy stock1. Scientists and researchers have warned about … Read more
Iberian environmental organizations call for measures once again to ensure recovery of the Iberian sardine
Following a workshop organized by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) in Lisbon to evaluate the recovery and management plan for Iberian sardine (Sardina pilchardus), 15 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Portugal and Spain[1] are concerned about a plan submitted to the European Commission by the Portuguese and Spanish governments. This plan … Read more
EU Mediterranean plan to allow trawling in fish nurseries
The European Parliament approved today in a plenary vote the first multiannual plan for demersal stocks (fish that live and feed near the sea bottom) for the Western Mediterranean Sea. With 461 votes in favor and 62 against, the legal obligation of reaching sustainable fishing by 2020 at the latest, as agreed under the Common Fisheries … Read more
Major photo exhibition showcasing the effects of human activity on Earth opens outside Scottish Parliament
L-R: A passerby enjoying A Human Touch exhibition; Marta Madina, Communications Director at Oceana, Rt Hon Ken Macintosh MSP, Presiding Officer, Amanda Tyndall, Festival and Creative Director at Edinburgh Science Festival; credit Duncan McGlynn A large-scale, outdoor photography exhibition showcasing the impact humans have on planet Earth is unveiled today at The Scottish Parliament. Curated … Read more
Spanish government creates the second-largest marine national park in the Mediterranean
After more than a decade of campaign work by Oceana and six research expeditions made possible by numerous supporters, the Spanish government increased the size of Cabrera National Park from 100 to 900 square kilometers. This increase makes Cabrera – one of the richest and most biodiverse places in the Mediterranean and Spanish Coast – … Read more
