Campaign: Sustainable Fisheries
Oceana fishing opportunities recommendations for 2014: North East Atlantic stocks
In advance of the next EU Council decision on fishing opportunities for stocks in the North East Atlantic in 2014, Oceana would like to provide a constructive opinion on how fishing opportunities should be set. It is our hope that the Council takes into account the recommendations contained in this document and proposes Total Allowable … Read more
Oceana: Overfishing main driver of extinction risk for European marine fishes
Sharks, commercial deep-sea species, groupers, and halibut among most threatened fishes Overfishing is the major threat to fish species in European seas, according to the European Red List of Marine Fishes released today by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and the European Commission, and carried out in collaboration with Oceana. Despite gradual … Read more
Oceana: Regrettable status of fish stocks conflicts with political commitments
The list of overfished stocks includes key commercial species such as cod and sole in the Atlantic and hake or swordfish in the Mediterranean Today, the European Commission has published its annual report on fishing opportunities. It shows a deteriorating trend in the statuses of both Atlantic and Mediterranean stocks. Oceana assesses the situation described … Read more
States agree first ever fisheries management in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea
Milan – Today the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean Sea (GFCM) closes the doors on its annual meeting. For the first time in its 60 year history, the Commission, composed of representatives from Mediterranean and Black Sea countries, has agreed to fisheries management measures aimed at recovering fish stocks in the region. Until now, … Read more
“Jurassic Park of sponges” discovered in the Mediterranean Sea
Spanish researchers have published[i] in PLoS ONE the discovery of a ‘rock’ sponge reef unique in the world. The structure, of which its kind was thought to have been extinct millions of years ago, was discovered at a depth of 760 metres surrounding the top of a small seamount between Valencia and Ibiza where drilling … Read more
Oceana and scientists call on Mediterranean states for a fisheries management plan in the Strait of Sicily
Oceana and over 50 scientists urge Mediterranean States to establish a management plan for demersal fisheries in the Strait of Sicily based on the best available scientific advice to ensure the recovery of overexploited stocks of hake and deep-water rose shrimp. The letter, signed by the scientists, will be disseminated at the 39th session of … Read more
Oceana: Dire state of ‘protected’ European marine environment underscores need for management
Today, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published its State of Nature report, a six-year assessment of the conservation status of threatened European habitats and species protected under the Natura 2000 network, the world’s largest network of nature conservation areas. Oceana warns that most EU marine species and habitats within the Natura 2000 network remain in … Read more
EU citizens’ representatives endorse a sustainable future for the Baltic Sea
Today, a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg voted on the multiannual management plan (MAP) for fisheries in the Baltic Sea – the first MAP under the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The plan concerns the long-term managing of major commercial stocks of cod, sprat and herring, as well as providing measures for species of … Read more