Study shows fisheries council irresponsilility led to collapse of North Sea cod

On the eve of the Fisheries Council discussions in Luxembourg, Oceana draws attention to a new paper [1] co-authored by fisheries scientist Dr. Rainer Froese and resource economist Martin Quaas, linking the Council’s poor decisions and disregard for scientific advice to the collapse of North Sea cod. The international marine conservation organization is urging Council … Read more

Oceana statement on taxation of energy products Parliament vote

Today, the European Parliament voted on their consultation to the Commission proposal on the taxation of energy products and electricity. In addition to official aid provided by the European Union and state aid from Member States, European fishing vessels also benefit from a tax exemption on fuel. A large majority of Members of the European … Read more

A holistic approach to fisheries management

Last week, we held an event at the European parliament to raise awareness around a concept that is near and dear to us. The event, which brought together scientists, politicians, policy experts  and civil society, was designed to start a discussion on how best to implement an ecosystem-based approach (don’t worry, read further down, we’ll … Read more

Good news for some of the Spaniards fish Favorites

The Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) has launched a campaign to collect data on stocks and the ecosystem in which they live some of the most consumed species in Spain. Anchovies, sardines and mackerel among other pelagic species (i.e. fish living in the water column) will be studied in the region Northwest of the Iberian … Read more

Sweden steps up the fight against EU-wide discards

Sweden has stepped up the fight for an EU-wide ban on discards, as rural affairs minister Eskil Erlandsson arrived in Brussels to outline his vision for an ‘ethical and fair’ fishing programme. Discarding refers to the process whereby unwanted fish caught are thrown back into the sea because they aren’t valuable enough or quotas have … Read more

Non-managed species in EU fisheries

  Responsibility to Manage Species Marine commercial species are a natural renewable resource but they are not always managed in the most responsible way1, despite fisheries resources providing an important part of the food supply2 and supporting many people’s livelihoods across the EU3. Inadequate or inexistent management of exploited fishery resources constitutes a real threat … Read more

European Union failing threatened mediterranean sharks

Oceana, the international marine conservation organisation, denounces the European Commission for blocking efforts to protect threatened and endangered sharks and rays in the Mediterranean Sea, under the Barcelona Convention. The protection of ten species of sharks and rays is one of the key issues for discussion at the biennial meeting of the Convention, which begins … Read more