IUCN European Red List of Marine Fishes
First complete assessment of European marine fishes highlights major threat from overfishing. A total of 7.5% of all European marine fish species are threatened with extinction in European waters, according to the European Red List of Threatened Species published today by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and the …
Landing obligation – Omnibus regulation enters into force
Following the adoption of the omnibus regulation in the European Parliament’s plenary on the 27th April 2015, the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers’ Council gave, on its part, the green light on the agreed text on the 11th May 2015. As foreseen in the procedure, the regulation is consequently published in …
Bluefin tuna fishing season opens
The main bluefin tuna fishing season opens today, and purse seiners will be able to fish for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean and the Eastern Atlantic until 24 June. For the first time since the establishment of the bluefin tuna recovery plan in 2006, there is a marked increase in …
ECJ Advocate General says Council acted unlawfully on Cod Plan
In the long-standing dispute about the Parliament’s powers as co-legislator in the domain of fisheries policy, the Advocate General of the Court of Justice (ECJ) on Thursday supported the Parliament’s plea that the Council was wrong in splitting the proposal for a multiannual cod plan and adopting part of it …
Second amendment of the Fishing Opportunities Regulation fixing for 2015 the fishing opportunities in the North Sea and in the Atlantic
The European Commission has today announced a further proposal aimed at halting the decline of sea bass in the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea, Channel and North Sea. The Commission’s proposal is the third of a series of proposals in relation to this stock this year. This proposal is addressed to …
EC launches 2 public consultations
The European Commission is currently performing a ‘Fitness Check’ of the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive — Directive 2009/147/EC and Council Directive 92/43/EEC respectively. In this context, it has launched a public online consultation. As part of the Commission’s Smart Regulation policy, the Fitness Check is intended to verify …
Europêche launches iFish
Europêche, the body which represents 80,000 fishermen and 45,000 vessels within the EU fleet, launches its new consumer facing information portal – iFish. iFish is designed to address the growing consumer appetite for information on the industry, and will cover key themes such its economic and environmental impact, as well …
Towards sustainable management and trade possibilities of seal products
Following the decision by the WTO Appellate Body the EU must now change its seal trade regime and comply with the decision at the latest by 18 October 2015. In February 2015 the European Commission has presented a proposal to ban trade in products from seals taken in EU waters. …
IOTC results are warmly welcomed by the EU
The 19th meeting of the IOTC was held in Busan, Korea, from 24 April to 1 May 2015. The IOTC adopted six EU proposals (stand alone or co-sponsored), including improved reporting requirements, a reinsertion of the expired IOTC capacity management framework and a conservation measure on billfish with clear indications …
Landing obligation is approved
Fishermen will have two years to “adapt” before sanctions for failing to comply with the new fish “discard” ban take effect, under a law passed by Parliament on Tuesday. The draft law, already informally agreed by MEPs and ministers, amends the “omnibus” regulation on arrangements for enforcing the ban. Obliging …