Today was a BIG day for Oceana: the European Commission unveiled their proposal for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. We’ve been working for months on ensuring that this proposal included the much needed solutions to restore Europe’s depleted seas and put us on the path towards sustainable fisheries. The outcome had some positives, … Read more
Proposal changes nothing for 3/4th of species commercially exploited without management measures. Today, the Commission presented its proposal for a reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in what marks the beginning of a nearly 20-month process that will involve European parliamentarians, and ministers from the 27 EU Member States, among many others. The proposal takes some … Read more
The problem of discards is one of the greatest failures of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). If you follow our blog you’ll have read about it in the past. The numbers are disgusting – truthfully: 1.3 Million tons of marine fish (and other organisms) are discarded and dumped overboard (dead most often than not) … Read more
1. The Common Fisheries policy should prioritise ecological sustainability. 2. The Common Fisheries Policy should apply an ecosystem-based approach to the management of fishing activities. 3. The Common Fisheries policy should implement a science-based approach. 4. The Common Fisheries Policy should effectively apply the precautionary approach. 5. The Common Fisheries Policy should implement a flexible … Read more
Today, stakeholders, including Oceana, the international marine conservation organization, gathered at the European Commission to exchange views on the issue of discards. Currently, due to the lack of proper regulations by the EU and Member States, and the complicity of the fishing industry, around 1,3 million tonnes of marine resources, representing 13% of total catches, … Read more
Oceana welcomes the long awaited EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy, presented at a press conference today by Commissioner Janez Poto?nik, which reaffirms the EU’s intention to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services by 2020. Fisheries are obviously a critical area of this Strategy, which also covers restoration of the marine environment. However, Oceana questions … Read more
The effective enforcement of the new rules applied to the EU Fisheries Control regulation will encourage a culture of compliance, simplify the application of control rules and harmonize standards for inspections and sanctions. The credibility of the Common Fisheries Policy depends on all of these elements. “The reformed Common Fisheries Policy must at its core … Read more
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the basic management tool for the fishery and aquaculture sector in the European Union. The current CFP (Council Regulation 2371/2002) entered into force on 1 January 2003 and constituted the reform of the previous fisheries policy that established the fisheries guidelines of the previous twenty years. It was at the … Read more
The Importance of Addressing By-Catch and Discard Management. In Europe around 1,3 million tonnes of marine fish are discarded every year, representing 13% of total catches. Because in most cases discards do not survive, the negative ramifications of this enormous waste of marine resources are severe. The unnecessary death of juvenile and mature individuals of … Read more
Oceana, the leading international organisation dedicated exclusively to the protection and recovery of the seas, is participating on 26 and 27 April in a meeting of experts in Geneva on fishing subsidies and sustainable fisheries management, convened by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) on Fisheries. The meeting, which is being held in Geneva, the … Read more
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We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.
Oceana in Europe gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.
