EU Policy Archives

NGOs welcome European Commission proposal to increase control and transparency of EU fleet fishing worldwide

A proposal published today by the European Commission that would close loopholes in the regulation governing the European Unions (EU)’s long-distance fishing fleet has been welcomed by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts and WWF. “The European Commission’s proposal reinforces the EU’s commitment to combatting illegal fishing globally,” said María José … Read more

EU fisheries ministers undermine sustainable fishing in the Baltic

Oceana condemns the decision by the EU Fisheries Council on Baltic catch limits for 2016 Today, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the EU reached an agreement on the 2016 total allowable catches (TAC) for the Baltic Sea fish stocks. Regretfully, just like the last year, European ministers have yet again decided to ignore scientific advice … Read more

Oceana is moderately encouraged by the European Commission’s proposal for 2016 Baltic fishing limits

Today, the European Commission has presented its annual proposal of catch limits (TACs) for the Baltic Sea. The proposal is based largely on scientific advice, issued by the International Council on the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), and for the majority of stocks EC has been able to propose limits at sustainable levels in line … Read more

European Commissioner Karmenu Vella visits ‘Oceana Ranger’

Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, visited the research catamaran Oceana Ranger last Friday to learn about the scientific expeditions carried out by the international marine conservation organisation. A Maltese native, Mr Vella had the chance to get acquainted with the underwater research currently being conducted in Malta by Oceana, … Read more

First ever database of EU fishing fleet around the world launched

Oceana and its allies launch the transparency database www.whofishesfar.org, an online database detailing 15,264 EU vessels authorised to fish outside EU waters between 2010 and 2014. The figures were made public for the first time after an access-to-information request to the European Commission. Transparency is a key element for eradicating illegal fishing and ensuring sustainable fisheries. … Read more

A glimmer of hope for protection of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) in the Mediterranean Sea

As we know, our marine world is full of acronyms, so it is helpful sometimes to shed light on particularly relevant ones to Oceana’s conservation work, such as “VMEs”. This stands for Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, and describes deep-sea ecosystems that are unique, rare, fragile and are particularly sensitive to the impacts of fishing activities, such … Read more

Shark Finning and the EU

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

Debate: EU Markets Driving Good Fisheries Governance

Do you plan to attend the 2015 Seafood Expo in Brussels? On Tuesday 21st of April, Commissioner Karmenu Vella will hold a debate on whether the European Union’s rules and methods in the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing can contribute towards better fisheries governance globally. It will be a unique opportunity to … Read more

Oceana: EU fisheries ministers take serious step backwards in sustainable management of fish resources

Number of stocks exploited according to MSY will fall from 27 to 18 EU fisheries ministers reached an agreement concerning fishing opportunities for 2015, for the main commercial species in the Northeast Atlantic. Oceana strongly denounces the adopted catch limits, which were set above scientifically advised levels in most cases, leading, beyond logic, to a … Read more