Since 2003, Oceana has achieved dozens of concrete policy victories for marine life and habitats in Europe. From stopping bottom trawling in sensitive habitat areas to protecting sea turtles from commercial fishing gear, our victories represent a new hope for the world's oceans.
December 19, 2022
German and Dutch Marine Protected Areas Closed to Destructive Fishing Gear
Following joint recommendations by Germany and the Netherlands, the European Commission closed over 3,500 square kilometers (over 1,350 square miles) of the North Sea to bottom trawling, and prohibited the use of destructive fishing gears such as gillnets, trammel nets, and driftnets across an additional 1,700 square kilometers (over 650 square miles). These fisheries restrictions cover parts of existing marine protected areas (MPAs) designated for the protection of reefs, sandbanks, and endangered marine species such as the harbor porpoise. Oceana researched these important areas during expeditions in 2016 and 2017, published proposals for their protection, and campaigned for their adoption.
November 30, 2022
New International Rule Requires Countries to Investigate and Deter Companies from Engaging with Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Vessels
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), an inter-governmental organization that oversees the conservation and management of fishes such as tunas and swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean, adopted a new rule that will prevent companies from providing services, such as insurance, satellite communications, and financial services, to fishing vessels known to be engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the ICCAT regulatory area. The 52 member countries of ICCAT will be required to take effective and deterrent action against citizens and businesses that engage with and support IUU fishing. Campaigning by Oceana in Europe, Brazil, Canada, and the United States, was key to securing this victory. This achievement builds on Oceana’s ongoing campaign to get companies that do business with the fishing sector to avoid supporting illicit fishing activities.
World Leader in Satellite Communications Inmarsat Stops Services to IUU Fishing Vessels
Inmarsat, a large satellite telecommunications company headquartered in London, ended contracts with 13 vessels after analyzing official lists of vessels engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This outcome follows campaigning by Oceana in Europe, after Oceana’s research uncovered evidence that Inmarsat was providing services to IUU fishing vessels. Inmarsat provides services to many fishing vessels around the world and its new integration of IUU fishing lists into its system will help ensure the company does not accept illicit operators as clients in the future. This victory will also make it more difficult for these vessels to access the essential satellite services they depend on to fish.
November 1, 2022
Mediterranean Countries Agree to Mandatory Disclosure of Vessels Allowed to Fish in Restricted Areas
The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), the regional fisheries management organization covering the Mediterranean and Black Sea, will now require countries to disclose key enforcement information for vessels that are allowed to fish in Fisheries Restricted Areas. Member countries of the GFCM must now report key information for these vessels, including their target species, and when and where they are fishing. The GFCM also agreed to publicly list vessels that are authorized to catch overfished deep-sea shrimp and hake in the Strait of Sicily. Both decisions were the direct result of campaigning by Oceana in Europe.
September 25, 2022
Over 14,600 Square Kilometers of Deep-Sea Habitats Protected from Bottom Fishing in the Northeast Atlantic
The European Commission announced that it is closing 87 offshore areas between 400 and 800 meters (approximately 1,300 and 2,600 feet) deep to all bottom-contact fishing gear, protecting vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. This closure is key to implementing the 2016 EU Deep-Sea Access Regulation, secured by Oceana’s campaigning, which includes a ban on bottom-trawling below 800 meters deep. The decision to close additional areas followed extensive consultations with EU Member States and stakeholders, including Oceana, other NGOs, and the fishing industry.
September 5, 2022
Marine Reserve Expanded in Spain’s Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands regional government created a new marine reserve in the Toro and Malgrats islands, home to Posidonia seagrass meadows, gorgonians, and fish such as groupers, meagres, and seabream. The new reserve covers 30 square kilometers (11.5 square miles) — 13 times the size of the previously protected area, which was comprised of two smaller marine reserves. Oceana researched and proposed this additional marine protected area (MPA) in 2007 and more recently joined forces with other stakeholders calling for the two marine reserves to be connected and expanded. Marine reserves are the most protected category of MPAs and include a ban on destructive fishing methods such as bottom trawling.
September 1, 2022
Spain Penalizes Fishing Vessels for Turning Off Public Tracking Devices
As a result of data provided by Oceana, the Spanish government fined two of its fishing vessels 20,000 euros each for turning off their public tracking devices (known as automatic identification systems, or AIS) on several occasions while off the coast of West Africa. All EU fishing vessels over 15 meters (50 feet) in length are required to have an AIS device that continuously transmits data on their location, direction, and speed. This information is critical to avoid collisions at sea, while also ensuring transparency in commercial fishing activities. The penalties served as a warning for the fishing industry and set a strong precedent for other EU countries.
March 31, 2022
Spain Curbs Ocean-Polluting Single-Use Plastics Through New Waste Law
Following campaigning by Oceana and allies, Spain adopted a new Waste Law that incorporates the European Union Single-Use Plastics Directive into national law, helping to reduce ocean-bound plastic pollution. Oceana advocated for the new law to go beyond the minimum requirements set by the EU, including newly adopted measures that will: establish a basis for future deposit-return schemes; reduce single-use plastics in public administration facilities; make plastic producers accountable for covering the costs of beach clean-ups; and enable municipalities to ban mass balloon releases and smoking on beaches. Although the Spanish government did not approve all of the additional prohibitions proposed by Oceana, the new law represents a key first step towards further action by Spain to reduce single-use plastics.
March 23, 2022
Norwegian Insurance Company Hydor Ends Coverage of Three Illegal Fishing Vessels
Hydor AS, a Norwegian-based insurance company, ended its contract with a fleet of vessels that were listed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) for illegally fishing across the Atlantic. This decision follows campaigning by Oceana and its ally the Environmental Justice Foundation, who together warned Hydor about its unwitting support of illegal fishing operators. This victory will help to mobilize other companies to fight against illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing, a criminal activity that hurts law-abiding fishers and puts companies at legal, financial, and reputational risk.
November 30, 2021
Major Global Insurance Company AXA XL Introduces Transparency Requirement for Insured Fishing Vessels
Following campaigning by Oceana and our allies, AXA XL, one of the largest international insurers, now requires International Maritime Organization (IMO) numbers for all fishing vessels and refrigerated cargo vessels it insures. IMO numbers are unique identifiers that can be used for monitoring and tracking vessels, and do not change even if a vessel changes ownership, flag, or name — a common tactic used by illegal fishers to avoid detection. By requiring IMO numbers, AXA XL is reducing the risk of insuring vessels engaged in illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing and increasing transparency in the fishing sector. Their decision sets a leading example for other companies to follow, including those outside the insurance sector.
