Oceana celebrates NEAFC improvements on shark management

Lack of agreement for key commercial stocks like mackerel, blue whiting or herring Today, the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), responsible for managing fishery resources in the international waters of that region, has finished its week-long annual meeting in London. Oceana, an NGO observer to NEAFC, strongly welcomes the measures adopted for shark management … Read more

Oceana denounces Council decision on deep-sea fishing opportunities

Yesterday, the Council of Fisheries Ministers of the European Union reached an agreement on fishing opportunities for deep-sea species for 2015 and 2016. Although catches will be reduced for many deep-sea stocks, Oceana is deeply disappointed that catch limits were nevertheless set higher than scientifically advised for 63% of stocks, putting these vulnerable species at … Read more

Oceana welcomes European Commission proposal on fishing opportunities for 2015

Today, the European Commission has proposed fishing opportunities for 2015 for the main commercial fish stocks in Atlantic waters and the North Sea. In accordance with the objectives of the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the Commission has recommended catch limits that achieve Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) by 2015, and comply with the new discard … Read more

OCEANA alerts that EU is turning blind eye to swordfish overfishing

EU maintains inaction despite accounting for 90% of the fleet responsible. Oceana, the international marine conservation organisation, has sounded the alarm today on the European Union’s reluctance to take measures for the recovery of Mediterranean swordfish. According to an assessment carried out by scientists earlier this year, the stock is overfished; it has declined steeply … Read more

Oceana disappointed as EU fisheries Ministers ignore scientific advice

Today, EU Fisheries Ministers met to negotiate the 2015 Total Allowable Catches (TAC) for the Baltic Sea stocks. Regretfully, the Ministers decided to ignore scientific advice for cod , going against their own agreement under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to achieve fisheries management in line with Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY, which is the theoretical … Read more

Three months to phase-out overfishing

Brussels, 10 October 2014 – As usual for this time of year, EU fisheries ministers are about to start haggling over fishing limits. Starting next week, the Fisheries Council will be deciding on the total allowable catches for most fish stocks in European waters for 2015/2016. This year’s decisions will be more important than ever … Read more