Aichi Biodiversity Target 6 on Sustainable Fisheries: Improving reporting & working towards implementation

Organised at the CBD SBSSTA, this event building on collaboration among the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, this event highlighted work by IUCN-Fisheries Expert Group, the European Bureau for Conservation and Development, the CBD Secretariat and FAO in developing advice for indicators and implementation of measuring progress against Aichi Target 6: “By 2020 …

Small-scale fisheries communities and Aichi Target 11: Achieving conservation, sustainable livelihoods and food security in MPAs and other effective area-based measures (OEABMs)

Organised at the CBD SBSSTA, this event highlighted that overexploitation, environmental degradation, social inequities, tenure insecurity and poverty are interconnected threats to aquatic biodiversity conservation and to coastal and rural communities that depend on aquatic resources for their livelihoods and well-being. It is crucial to determine the appropriate forms of …

Member States discuss proposals on data collection and technical measures

Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella is at the Council of the European Union in Luxembourg today, presenting the Commission’s proposed Regulation on technical measures to EU fisheries ministers. A proposed Regulation on data collection in the fisheries sector is also on the agenda. Technical measures for conservation …

Integrating economic advice into EU fisheries management

To manage our EU fisheries well, we need sound data, analysis and advice, both biological and economic. How do we make sure that the data on which we build our fisheries policies and management decisions are timely, accurate and indeed relevant? A European Commission conference, underway in Malta today and …

‘Baltic Plan’: Agreement reached on the first long-term fishing plan under the new CFP

A political agreement on a multiannual plan for the management of the Baltic Sea cod, sprat and herring stocks was reached on Tuesday evening. This is the first such plan under the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and it will ensure the sustainability of fisheries and offer fishermen better economic …

Commission decentralises and simplifies technical conservation measures

Commission delivers on Better Regulation agenda on fisheries. Today the European Commission, continuing to deliver on its commitment to Better Regulation, presented a proposal for new conservation measures for fisheries in European seas. These are rules on how, where and when fishermen may fish, also determining gear, catch composition and …

EUROPEAN AQUACULTURE – EP Think Tank

European aquaculture is stagnating by contrast with increasing rates of aquaculture production at world level and, in particular, in Asia. To try to dampen this trend, the Commission published two communications with strategies for developing European aquaculture, one in 2002 and another in 2009. The 2002 strategy failed to increase …

CoR opinion on Data Collection in Fisheries

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) has provided its opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the establishment of a Community Union framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the …

EU seminar on landing obligation looks at lessons learnt so far

A seminar organised by the European Commission in Brussels today brought together national and European policymakers, scientists, fishing industry representatives and other stakeholders to discuss first experiences with the implementation of the landing obligation. Speakers focused on lessons learnt and next steps. The landing obligation is being phased in under …

ICES Advice released on effects of pulse trawling

Following a request from France, the updated advice from previous years addresses issues related to the impact of pulse trawl gear on the ecosystem. Pulse trawling could be a more benign ecological option than conventional beam trawling if properly understood and adequately controlled, though this comes with a number of …