The UN goes for an international mercury convention

This week, diplomats are in Geneva negotiating a treaty on global mercury emissions. Mercury poisoning is no joke – as this Guardian article states, mercury is “a lethal neurotoxin that includes, among an inventory of grim effects, brain damage and the loss of IQ points in unborn children, injuries to kidneys and heart, and results … Read more

Half of 2013 fishing opportunities set by EU Fisheries Ministers are above scientific recommendations

This morning after an intense two-day negotiation process, EU fisheries ministers reached an agreement on 2013 catch limits for the main commercial species in the North East Atlantic. Oceana in a preliminary assessment of fisheries minister’s agreement describes the decisions adopted as contradictory and regrets another missed opportunity to end the overexploitation of European fishery … Read more

An update on fisheries subsidies

With all the cheer around yesterday’s vote on the CFP, we wanted to make sure that a couple of pieces of good news on fisheries subsidies didn’t slip through the cracks. Yesterday, both the Parliament’s Fisheries and Budget committees voted through several amendments aimed at blocking funding for fishermen who do not comply with fishing … Read more

Fisheries Parliament Committee Shines in CFP vote

We knew it was going to be a big week for fisheries in Brussels. The vote out of the EU Parliament’s Fisheries Committee was beyond what even we had hoped for. We are so very proud that the majority of the MEPs fought for a sustainable future for European fisheries. Thank you, for representing the … Read more

EU citizens’ representatives stand up for a sustainable future for EU fisheries

Today, after eighteen months of negotiations, the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament finally voted on the reform of the basic regulation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This was an historical vote, because it was the first time the EU Parliament – the voice of European citizens – is acting as a co-legislator in … Read more

What a week ahead!

There is nothing like ending the year with a bang, and this week, a couple of major votes and decisions are coming up that will affect EU fisheries. Tomorrow, the PECH Committee of the European Parliament is voting on the reform of the CFP – this is the last and most important vote in the … Read more

Oceana urges EU Member States to reduce 2013 fishing opportunities to recover fish stocks

Next week, on the 18th and 19th December, the Council of European Fisheries Ministers will meet in Brussels to agree on the 2013 catch limits for the main commercial species in the North East Atlantic. Oceana, in a recent report submitted to Member States, has urged them to use a precautionary approach in adjusting total … Read more

Oceana celebrates Finnish Sea trout fishing ban

Oceana welcomes last Friday’s decision by the authorities of Uusimaa and the Southeast Finland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment to ban wild sea trout fisheries in the Gulf of Finland. The ban applies to all types of fisheries (including recreational) in the territorial waters beyond the coastal waters. Following the release of … Read more

E.U. Parliament Votes to Curb Overfishing

After 18 months of negotiations, the Fisheries Committee of the EU parliament voted to put in place new measures that would effectively end overfishing and greatly improve the way the EU manages its fisheries, which have been historically poor managed and overfished. In recent years, the majority of its scientifically-assessed fisheries have been found to be … Read more

Wild Sea Trout Fishing Banned in the Gulf of Finland

The authorities of Uusimaa and the Southeast Finland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment banned wild sea trout fisheries in the Gulf of Finland to give the stock a chance to rebuild. In the summer of 2012, alarming surveys from the Baltic Sea found that wild sea trout had become critically endangered in … Read more