Oceana Europe CEO: Rebuilding Europe’s fish stocks can increase catches by more than 50%. Why should Europeans settle for less?

For the first time ever, we know the full potential of fish recovery in Europe and it’s good news! If we fully implement the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and manage stocks sustainably, fish catches can increase by 57% or 5 million tonnes. That’s a lot of extra fish currently missing from European seas. Earlier this … Read more

European fisheries ministers turn their back on the economic potential of fish recovery in the North East Atlantic

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council agreed tonight to allow continued overfishing in North-East Atlantic. Once again, ministers approved catch limits for 2017 that surpass scientific recommendations, ignoring the facts that 64% of European stocks are overfished and 85% are below healthy levels. EU countries have a legally binding obligation to fish stocks at sustainable levels … Read more

There’s no excuse for unsustainable fishing catch limits anymore. It’s time for the North East Atlantic to get its fish back

The AGRI-FISH Council of the EU is gathering in Brussels on December 12th-13th to decide on annual catch limits (TACs) for the main commercial fish stocks in the Atlantic and the North Sea for 2017. Oceana recently released the most comprehensive study of EU fisheries ever and the case for recovering fish stocks is stronger … Read more

Fishing opportunities recommendations. North-East Atlantic stocks 2017

According to the information reflected in the European Commission communication and an independent scientific study commissioned by Oceana, fishing mortality rates in the NE Atlantic are still clearly above the committed levels required to meet sustainable objectives. This in turn is threatening the status of the stocks and leading to the under-exploitation of fish resources. … Read more

European Parliament supports steps for transparency in EU fishing operations outside EU waters

Members of the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament voted today on the European Commission’s proposal to regulate activities of the EU’s fishing fleet operating outside EU waters. The Committee has agreed on the need for new and unprecedented measures for transparency and sustainability within fisheries, including the creation of the first public register of … Read more

Mediterranean countries need to protect an area the size of Ireland by 2020

So far only 7% of the Mediterranean has been protected and deep-sea ecosystems have almost no protection. Tangier, Morocco – An area the size of the Republic of Ireland (71,840 km2) still needs to be protected in the Mediterranean, Oceana warns, if countries are to fulfil their international obligation to protect 10% of coastal and … Read more

Reflagging by EU fishing vessels

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts and WWF are working together to secure the harmonised and effective implementation of the European Union’s (EU) Regulation to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The EU has been active in fighting IUU fishing at a global level through its innovative and ambitious IUU … Read more

International community takes first step for depleted Mediterranean swordfish on World Fisheries Day

Oceana welcomes long-overdue measures to rebuild the depleted and overfished stock, but the plan falls behind expectations Vilamoura, Portugal.-The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) has today finalised its one-week long negotiations between 51 countries. ICCAT has finally agreed on a recovery plan for the severely depleted Mediterranean swordfish, which has been … Read more