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

56% of catch limits ignore scientific advice

Press Release Date: December 17, 2014

Location: Madrid

Contact:

Marta Madina | email: mmadina@oceana.org | tel.: Marta Madina

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 reduction in the number of stocks exploited according to the principles of sustainability established under the Common Fisheries Policy.

“This agreement represents a serious step backwards for EU fisheries management. Although catches will be reduced for several stocks, it is totally unjustifiable that fisheries ministers ignored 56% of the scientific advice, and that the number of stocks exploited at Maximum Sustainable Yield will therefore fall from 27 to 18,” declared Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Oceana in Europe. “Member States have not only shirked the obligations that they themselves established under the new CFP – their decision actually runs directly counter to sustainability.”

Become a Wavemaker

Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WITH A DONATION

We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.

Donate Here

Oceana in Europe gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.

Employment Opportunities
Contact
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use

REGIONAL SITES :

International
United States
Chile
Canada
Belize
Philippines
Brazil
Peru
Mexico
Oceana UK

FIND OCEANA