North Sea management has led in recent years to long-term plans for commercial fish species such as plaice and sole, however because of the non-selective fishing methods of bottom trawlers, such as the Dutch fishing fleet, bycatch species are suffering intense pressure. As quotas rise for the populous commercial fish species, such as plaice and sole, vulnerable fish stocks like North Sea cod and sea bass are hit hard. The landing obligation, aimed at eliminating wasteful discards at sea, can and must be implemented to ensure these unwanted bycatch species are protected.

Scientific advice for North Sea cod catches has dropped a staggering 47% since last year, to between 15 000 and 22 000 tonnes [1]. Cod stocks have recovered slightly since the historic low in 2006, but this growth is not continuing because there is still too little baby cod in the North Sea.

“Over 20% of the catches of North Sea cod are estimated to be unwanted undersized baby cod. We cannot continue to waste our precious public fish resources like this. The landing obligation was meant to end this waste – it’s time for effective monitoring and enforcement, using remote electronic monitoring, to ensure these rules are complied with,” said Rebecca Hubbard, Our Fish Programme Director.

Sea bass is also heavily threatened and this stock shows no signs of recovery. Here too, the cause is that there is too little baby sea bass. However, ICES has advised that a small amount of 1 800 tonnes can be caught as it will not affect numbers of baby bass, after two years of zero catch advice [2].

The Common Fisheries Policy obliges all member states to end overfishing by 2020 for all fish stocks subject to fishing quotas.

“The EU can only achieve an end to overfishing if all fisheries ministers follow scientific advice when setting fishing limits, and urgently begin a real transition to more selective fishing methods. Only this way, can we ensure that all fish populations, including vulnerable bycatch species, rebuild to healthy levels, and Europe ends it’s addiction to overfishing,” concluded Hubbard.

 

ENDS

 

[1] ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort: Greater North Sea Ecoregion Published 29 June 2018 cod.27.47d20. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.4436

[2] ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort Celtic Seas and Greater North Sea ecoregions. Version 2: Published 2 July 2018 bss.27.4bc7ad-h https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.4472

 

Contacts

Rebecca Hubbard, Our Fish Program Director, rebecca@our.fish +34 657669425

Frederieke Vlek, Our Fish campaign coordinator Netherlands, frederieke@our.fish + 31 625031004

Lisboa, 11 de junio de 2018

Hoy, 15 organizaciones no-gubernamentales (ONG) ambientales de Portugal y España se han reunido en Lisboa – en el velero de Ecologistas en Acción, Diosa Maat y en la sede de Liga para a Protecção da Natureza– por primera vez, para coordinar sus esfuerzos en la protección del medio marino. La pesquería de la sardina ibérica, las oportunidades de pesca de los peces de profundidad y la efectiva implementación de la Política Pesquera Común (PPC) han sido los principales asuntos tratados. Como resultado se va a realizar una solicitud de reunión con el comisario de Medio Ambiente, Asuntos Marítimos y Pesca Karmenu Vella. Otras acciones están siendo planificadas junto con un procedimiento de comunicación común, con el objetivo de afrontar de forma conjunta los retos ambientales a los que se enfrentan las aguas ibéricas.

La naturaleza no entiende de fronteras humanas y aún menos si hablamos de océanos y la vida marina que los habita. Esto lo saben perfectamente los pescadores españoles y portugueses puesto que han compartido pesquerías desde que existen registros. Ambos países están conectados geográficamente, biológicamente, socialmente, económicamente y políticamente por las aguas ibéricas atlánticas.

A pesar de que las ONG portuguesas y españolas han colaborado en el pasado en asuntos de conservación marinos, fue la situación crítica de la pesquería de la sardina la que puso de relieve que, en muchas ocasiones, la pesca sostenible y unos ecosistemas marinos saludables en la región solo serán posibles si existe una cooperación estrecha y continua entre las ONG de ambos países. La estancia del velero Diosa Maat de Ecologistas en Acción en Lisboa ha creado la oportunidad para esta reunión de las ONG de ambos países.

Las organizaciones han realizado una petición clara: “Los ministros de pesca de España y Portugal deben liderar las decisiones europeas de cara al respeto a la mejor información científica disponible e implementando completamente la Política Pesquera Común, para restaurar y mantener unas poblaciones de peces en niveles sostenibles para el 2020”.

España y Portugal han sido en muchas ocasiones los Estados miembros menos ambiciosos a la hora de respetar las recomendaciones científicas y la PPC y, por ello, además de acciones dirigidas a los ministros de ambos países, se va a solicitar en los próximos días una reunión al comisario de Pesca de la UE con el objetivo de abordar estos asuntos de ámbito ibérico pero que también preocupan en Europa.

Las ONG están de acuerdo, de igual modo, en que los dos países deben ser más proactivos y trabajar en conjunto en la promoción de la pesca de pequeña escala y de bajo impacto, y en una buena gestión de la red Natura 2000. A pesar de ello, los retos de las aguas ibéricas van más allá de la pesca. La basura marina, los planes para la extracción de gas y petróleo, la contaminación proveniente de los ríos entre otros asuntos, también requieren de acciones conjuntas. En definitiva, como principal resultado, las ONG portuguesas y españolas han acordado una lista de temas a los cuales van a realizar un seguimiento mediante una comunicación continua y actividades conjuntas.

 

Contactos

Eneko Aierbe (Ecologistas en Acción) | pesca@ecologistasenaccion.org | (+34) 665705002

Gonçalo Carvalho (Sciaena) | gcarvalho@sciaena.org | (+351) 936257281

Carla Dâmaso (OMA) | carladamaso@oma.pt

Celia Ojeda-Martínez (Greenpeace) | cojedama@greenpeace.org (+34) 638101735

Claudia Correia (APECE) | claudia.sds.correia@gmail.com | (+351) 918465215

Inês Cardoso (LPN) | ines.cardoso@lpn.pt

Joana Andrade (SPEA) | joana.andrade@spea.pt

José Maria Candeias (GEOTA) |zecandeias@gmail.com

Lydia Chaparro (Fundació ENT) | lchaparro@ent.cat

Marta Madina (Oceana) |mmadina@ocean.org| (+34) 911 440 884

Pep Arcos (SEO) | jmarcos@seo.org

Raul Garcia (WWF-Es) | pesca@wwf.es

Rebecca Hubbard (Our Fish) | rebecca@our.fish | (+34) 657 669 425

Rita Sá (ANP|WWF) | rsa@natureza-portugal.org | (+351) 914517337

Tereza Fonseca (Quercus) | terezafonseca@quercus.pt |(+351) 967538597

Lisbon, June 11th 2018

Today, 15 marine conservation non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Spain and Portugal met in Lisbon – in Ecologistas en Acción’s sailboat Diosa Maat and on Liga para a Protecção da Natureza’s headquarters – for the first time, to coordinate their work on key marine conservation issues. The Iberian sardine stock, the deep sea fishing opportunities and the full implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) were among the main topics discussed. As a result, a meeting will be requested to European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella. Many other joint actions are being planned, as well as a shared communication platform, in order to increase the joint capacity to deal with the environmental challenges that Iberian waters face.

Nature does not comply with man-made boundaries, and even less if we are talking about the ocean and marine life that inhabit it. Fishermen in general know this very well, but Portuguese and Spanish fishermen even more, because they share fishing stocks for as long as the records exist. The two countries are geographically, biologically, socially, economically and politically connected by the Atlantic Iberian waters.

Although Spanish and Portuguese NGOs have collaborated in the past on ocean conservation issues, it was the serious situation with the Iberian sardine stock that made clear that in many occasions, sustainable fisheries and healthy marine ecosystems in the region will only be possible if there is close and continuous cooperation between the NGOs from both countries. The visit of the sailboat Diosa Maat of Ecologistas en Acción to Lisbon created the perfect opportunity for the NGOs of the two countries to meet.

The organisations made a clear demand: “The Portuguese and Spanish Ministries have to take the lead in Europe by following the best available scientific advice and fully implement the Common Fisheries Policy, restoring and maintaining the fish populations at sustainable levels by 2020 ”.

Portugal and Spain have often been the less ambitious member states when it comes to respecting science and the CFP, and therefore, apart from several actions focusing on the ministries of the two countries, a meeting request will be sent to the EU Commissioner of the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in the coming days to discuss these issues of Iberian, and ultimately, of European concern.

The NGOs also agreed that the two countries need to be more pro-active in promoting sustainable management of small scale and encouraging low impact fisheries, as well as working together towards a sound management of Natura 2000 network. But the challenges that the Iberian waters face go far beyond fisheries. Marine litter, plans to extract oil and gas, unsustainable river basins management and pollution, among many others, also require joint actions. Therefore, as a main outcome of this first meeting, the Spanish and Portuguese marine NGOs agreed on a list of common issues they will follow with regular communications and events.

Contacts

Eneko Aierbe (Ecologistas en Acción) | pesca@ecologistasenaccion.org | (+34) 665705002

Gonçalo Carvalho (Sciaena) | gcarvalho@sciaena.org | (+351) 936257281

Carla Dâmaso (OMA) | carladamaso@oma.pt

Celia Ojeda-Martínez (Greenpeace) | cojedama@greenpeace.org (+34) 638101735

Claudia Correia (APECE) | claudia.sds.correia@gmail.com | (+351) 918465215

Inês Cardoso (LPN) | ines.cardoso@lpn.pt

Joana Andrade (SPEA) | joana.andrade@spea.pt

José Maria Candeias (GEOTA) |zecandeias@gmail.com

Lydia Chaparro (Fundació ENT) | lchaparro@ent.cat

Marta Madina (Oceana) |mmadina@ocean.org| (+34) 911 440 884

Pep Arcos (SEO) | jmarcos@seo.org

Raul Garcia (WWF-Es) | pesca@wwf.es

Rebecca Hubbard (Our Fish) | rebecca@our.fish | (+34) 657 669 425

Rita Sá (ANP|WWF) | rsa@natureza-portugal.org | (+351) 914517337

Tereza Fonseca (Quercus) | terezafonseca@quercus.pt |(+351) 967538597

This time five years ago, EU politicians were in the midst of negotiations over the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy. The reform, following broad engagement from civil society, industry, and politicians, and actively supported by almost 900,000 people across Europe, aimed to end decades of overfishing and discarding of fish at sea, which was clearly undermining the health of our oceans and coastal communities.

Continue reading on Euractiv: EU opportunity to make fish discarding history

This time five years ago, EU politicians were in the midst of negotiations over the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy. The reform, following broad engagement from civil society, industry, and politicians, and actively supported by almost 900,000 people across Europe, aimed to end decades of overfishing and discarding of fish at sea, which was clearly undermining the health of our oceans and coastal communities.

Continue reading on Euractiv: EU opportunity to make fish discarding history

Baltic Sea still blighted by illegal discarding and overfishing

One-half cut in quota for eastern Baltic cod proposed

Western Baltic cod under safe biological limits and illegal discarding of undersize fish doubled

Western spring spawning herring catch should be zero

Up to 100% of undersized plaice being discarded

Copenhagen, 31 May 2018:- Responding to reports on Baltic fish stocks published today by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), campaigners called on fisheries ministers to end the annual cycle of overfishing, by following the lowest advised fishing limits when setting quotas for 2019.

“Due to years of poor management and continued overfishing, iconic fish stocks such as Baltic cod and western herring are in perilously bad shape, while illegal discarding continues unabated in the Baltic Sea”, said Our Fish Programme Director Rebecca Hubbard.

“In 2017, governments knowingly perpetuated overfishing – and the resulting decline in social and economic values – by setting four out of ten Baltic fish stocks above scientific advice. This year, fisheries ministers must pay particular attention to the detail of the ICES reports – and act with extreme caution when setting 2019 quotas to ensure that fish populations can be rebuilt to healthy levels”.

ICES advice provides the scientific basis for deliberations on Baltic Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits that are set at the annual EU Agrifish Council meeting each October. Despite their important role in applying the Common Fisheries Policy and ending overfishing, these Agrifish Council meetings have been criticised for their lack of transparency and accountability, and persistent failure to set fishing limits according to the law (CEO 2017; TI 2017; NEF 2017).

Cod

Catches of the eastern Baltic cod stock have been plummeting for 30 years. From an extraordinary peak at 400,000 tonnes in the 1984 to just under 57,000 tonnes in 1992, this year ICES advice recommends 16,685 tonnes – a drastic cut of one half from last year (ICESb 2018).

ICES found that the western Baltic cod population remains extremely depleted, and below safe biological levels. A recent upward trend entirely reliant on just one strong year class of fish in 2016 – despite the fact that recruitment has been low for almost 20 years, and the 2016 year-class is bookended by two of the worst recruitment years on record (ICESa 2018). Recruitment numbers indicate how many fish are coming into the population, and therefore it’s chances of rebuilding in the future.

“Baltic fisheries in general, and cod in particular, are fast approaching a situation when management decisions have no effect, since the stocks are not responding as would  normally be predicted by scientific models”, said Nils Höglund, fisheries policy officer at Coalition Clean Baltic.”For example, quotas for eastern Baltic cod have not limited fishing efforts for many years now. While fishermen have not come close to catch what they are allowed to — because the fish are too small or simply not there, the eastern Baltic cod stock also lacks  the scientific data required to make proper assessments. What fisheries Ministers have failed to do is ensure there is plenty of sprat for the cod to eat in relevant areas – and this should be tested with priority.”

“Last year Baltic Sea Fisheries Ministers ignored scientific advice and set catch limits far above ICES advice. This year, we see the results – eastern Baltic cod catch advice has been slashed, and western cod stocks are perched on a knife edge and illegal discarding of juvenile fish has doubled”, said Our Fish’s Hubbard. “Fisheries Ministers need to note ICES strong warnings and set the TAC for Baltic cod at the lowest levels proposed for commercial and recreational fishers.”

Herring

According to ICES, the Baltic’s Western herring stocks have been outside of safe biological limits since 2008, with low recruitment since the mid-2000’s, reaching a record low in 2016 and 2017. Despite fishing pressure being far above sustainable levels (Maximum Sustainable Yield) between 1992 and 2009, coinciding with a crash in fish stock size, fishing pressure was not substantially decreased even after 2010 (ICESc, 2018).

“In a damning indictment of poor fishery management, ICES recommends that catches for the Western spring spawning herring should be zero, due to continued overfishing. This sends a clear message to Baltic fisheries ministers that they cannot continue to ignore natures limits without repercussions. This year, fisheries ministers must end the decades of overfishing of western herring or risk commercial extinction of an ecologically important fish stock” said Hubbard.

Plaice

Despite ICES reporting the Plaice fishery to be in reasonably good health, with fishing pressure decreasing and stock populations increasing in recent years, illegal discarding is now considered to be widespread in the Baltic (ICESd, 2018).

“Only seven tonnes of undersized plaice was landed in 2017, whereas researchers estimate the real figure is over 400 tonnes higher, with 100% of the catch still being discarded in some fleets. This constitutes not only a huge waste of marine resources, but illegal, unreported fishing. Baltic Sea member states – especially Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Poland – must start dealing with this IUU fishing in their fleets by significantly increasing monitoring and control at sea,” concluded Hubbard.

ENDS

NOTES:

Western Baltic Cod: ICES (2018a), ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea Ecoregion. Published 31 May 2018. Cod.27.22-24

ICES advises that when the EU multiannual plan (MAP) is applied, total catches in 2019 that correspond to the F ranges in the plan are between 9094 tonnes and 23992 tonnes. Depending on the management decision for recreational catches, assumed to be between 1754 tonnes and 3227 tonnes, the corresponding commercial catches are between 5867 tonnes and 22 238 tonnes.

The positive perspective of the stock development in the forecast is mainly due to one strong year class (2016). Although the spawning-stock biomass has increased until 2018, it is still below Blim. Fishing mortality in 2017 was still considerably above FMSY. The 2016 year class is the only strong year class in more than ten years and the present advice is highly dependent on predicted development of this year class, which is not yet fully recruited to the fishery. Additionally, the 2015 and 2017 year classes are at historical low. There is a risk of growth overfishing because the 2016 year class fish have not yet reached their full growth potential. Therefore, to make use of the full growth potential of the 2016 year class, ICES suggests to use the FMSY lower value in the MAP when setting the TAC.

Eastern Baltic Cod: ICES (2018b), ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea Ecoregion. Published 31 May 2018. cod.27.25-32

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches in 2019 from the eastern Baltic cod stock should be no more than 16,685 tonnes. Landings of fish below the minimum conservation reference size (MCRS, 35 cm) are very low (179 t BMS reported in 2017) and discarding still takes place despite the fact that the landing obligation has been in place since 2015. The estimated discard amount 3 452 tonnes in 2017 (approximately 11%) based on observer data. The available information from the fisheries and observers suggests that illegal modifications of the selectivity properties of the gear takes place, leading to a higher proportion of smaller fish being caught.

Western Baltic spring spawning Herring: ICES (2018c), ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea Ecoregion. Published 31 May 2018. her.27.20-24.

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, there should be zero catch in 2019. The SSB has been below Blim since 2006. Fishing mortality (F) has been relatively constant at levels above FMSY since 2010. Recruitment has been low since the mid-2000 and has been declining in recent years, with the lowest values of the time series in 2016 and 2017.

Sprat: ICES (2018), ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea Ecoregion. Published 31 May 2018. spr.27.22-32

ICES advises that a spatial management plan is considered for the fisheries that catch sprat. Relocating the sprat fishery has long been suggested by ICES to improve availability of feed for cod in the Baltic proper area (25-26) and it is repeated again this year. This would also help the sprat and herring in more northern areas of the Baltic Sea to grow to their full potential and also likely result in less M74 in Baltic salmon, whose diet at present is comprised of too much sprat causing an increase of the problem.

Plaice: ICES (2018d), ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea Ecoregion. Published 31 May 2018. Ple.27.24-32

Since 2017 a landing obligation is in place and discarding is illegal. About 7 tonnes (0.8% of the total catch) of BMS plaice were recorded by the Member States. Based on observer data 38% of the catch was discarded in 2017. This indicates that the landing obligation is not enforced for this stock. The discarded fraction can cover all length classes and comprise as much as 100% of the catch.

See Also:

Our Fish report: Thrown Away: How Illegal Discarding in the Baltic Sea is Failing EU Fisheries and Citizens

CEO, Corporate Europe Observatory (2017). Fishing for influence, May 24th 2017. Viewed at:: https://corporateeurope.org/power-lobbies/2017/05/fishing-influence

TI, Transparency International (2016), Overfishing in the Darkness: A case study in Council decision-making. Viewed at: http://transparency.eu/project/overfishing-in-the-darkness/

NEF, New Economics Foundation (Dec 2017)., Landing the Blame – Overfishing in the Baltic 2018. Viewed at: http://neweconomics.org/2017/12/landing-the-blame-baltic-2018/

October 10, 2017: EU Fisheries Ministers’ All Night Debate Leads To Continued Baltic Overfishing of Cod (Our Fish)

“After hours of deliberations that continued until after 6am, EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council ministers agreed to set Total Allowable Catches (TAC) for western Baltic cod at 5,597 tonnes, four times higher than the most cautious scientific advice, despite the stock being critically overfished [3]. Eastern Baltic cod was set at 28,388 tonnes, almost four thousand tonnes higher than scientific advice.”

Contacts

Dave Walsh, Our Fish Communications Advisor, dave@our.fish +34 691826764

Rebecca Hubbard, Our Fish Program Director, rebecca@our.fish +34 657669425

 

Nils Hoglund, Coalition Clean Baltic Fisheries Policy Officer, nils@ccb.se +46 708679249

 

Brussels, 23 May 2018:- Nine global ocean conservation leaders have urged the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, to use his “power, position, and responsibility” to end destructive and wasteful EU overfishing, ahead of the 2020 Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) deadline, and before his mandate expires in 2019.

UPDATE 20 June 2018: Response to this letter from EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella

In a letter received by  Commissioner Vella on May 22, the nine ocean advocates expressed support for the Commissioner in his efforts to end overfishing in European waters, while acknowledging the challenges in overcoming the current status quo – where many stocks continue to be fished above scientific advice.

The letter’s signatories warn that the EU’s reputation as a global fisheries leader on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) has generated an expectation that the EU will get its own house in order – and that correspondingly, failure to end EU overfishing will undermine the success of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy.

“We strongly encourage you to seize the opportunity of the coming months to finally bring the destructive and wasteful act of EU overfishing to an end, in keeping with the CFP deadline”, reads the letter, signed by Kristian Parker of the Oak Foundation, Jane Lubchenco of Oregon State University, Rashid Sumaila of UBC Institute for the Oceans & Fisheries, Torsten Thiele of the Global Ocean Trust, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson of Ocean Collectiv, Pascal Lamy of the Jacques Delors Institute, Enric Sala of the National Geographic Society, Kristina Gjerde of the IUCN Global Marine & Polar Program and photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

“However, battling both the short-term interests and the lack of political will across several member states has delayed ending overfishing of EU stocks. Where science-based fishing limits have been set, healthier fish stocks have flourished, underscoring the power of reform. However, a recent analysis showed that in December 2017, contrary to the goals of the reform, 57 EU fishing limits were set above scientific levels. This unfortunate trend has resulted in only modest year-to-year improvements and – of grave concern to those who care deeply about fisheries – it risks failing to achieve the CFP’s goals by 2015 or 2020”, continues the letter.

“With the 2020 CFP deadline to end overfishing coming up fast, EU fisheries ministers are sailing perilously close to the wind”, said Our Fish Programme Director Rebecca Hubbard. “Instead of safely reaching sustainable 2020 destination, the EU is in danger of floundering far from shore, thanks to myopic, short-term decision-making that favours the demands of big fishing industry players, over the long term health of fisheries. Commissioner Vella has taken the lead on setting a course towards sustainable EU fisheries, now fisheries ministers must join him in ending Europe’s addiction to overfishing.”

In 2017, an update of the World Bank’s Sunken Billions report estimated that better

management of global fisheries would unlock $83 (€70) billion in additional revenues worldwide. In the EU, millions of tonnes of fish have been discarded at sea [1], and over 40% of Atlantic fish stocks and over 90% of Mediterranean stocks are now overfished [2]. Researchers estimate that by ending overfishing, the EU could increase the amount of fish caught by up to 2 million tonnes per year, which could deliver an increase in net profits in the fishing and processing sectors by €965 million/year and an extra 92,000 jobs [3].

The letter’s authors state that “we stand ready to support faithful implementation of the CFP, for the sake of coastal communities, the ocean and future generations whose economies, livelihoods, culture and food security depend on our generation’s actions”.

The letter can be downloaded from the Our Fish website here.

Notes:

• EU member state ministers with responsibility for fisheries will decide on fishing limits four times in the course of the autumn:

1. In October 2018 for Baltic Sea fish stocks;
2. In November 2018 for Deep Sea fish stocks;
3. In November 2018 for a number of shared fish stocks with Norway; and
4. In December 2018 for Atlantic and the North Sea

• Deep Sea fishing limits are set every second year, so this year’s agreement will be the last before the Common Fisheries Policy target of reaching sustainable fishing limits by 2020 is reached.
• The ban on discards (Landing Obligation) is of particular importance in 2018, as January 2019 signifies when it should be fully phased in. Key decisions on improving monitoring and control to address widespread non-compliance include:
  • Updating of Specific Control Inspection Programs for the Baltic, North Sea, Western Waters and Mediterranean regions, by the Commission and EU member states, voting in September 2018;
  • Review of the Control Regulation, proposal from Commission end of May, followed by a trilogue process.

[1] Based on figures from: European Commission, (2011). COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER IMPACT ASSESSMENT Accompanying the document Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common Fisheries Policy [repealing Regulation (EC) N° 2371/2002]. Viewed at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/sec/2011/0891/COM_SEC(2011)0891_EN.pdf

[2] Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) – Monitoring the performance of the Common Fisheries Policy (STECF-Adhoc-18-01). Viewed at: https://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/43805/2092142/STECF+18-01+adhoc+-+CFP+Monitoring+2018.pdf

[3] Oceana (2017), Healthy Oceans Are Good For Business. Viewed at: http://eu.oceana.org/en/publications/reports/healthy-fisheries-are-good-business

Contacts

Dave Walsh, Our Fish Communications Advisor, dave@our.fish +34 691826764

Rebecca Hubbard, Our Fish Program Director, rebecca@our.fish +34 657669425

About Our Fish

Our Fish works to ensure European member states implement the Common Fisheries Policy and achieve sustainable fish stocks in European waters.

Our Fish works with organisations and individuals across Europe to deliver a powerful and unwavering message: overfishing must be stopped, and solutions put in place that ensure Europe’s waters are fished sustainably. Our Fish demands that the Common Fisheries Policy be properly enforced, and Europe’s fisheries effectively governed.

Our Fish calls on all EU Member States to set annual fishing limits at sustainable limits based on scientific advice, and to ensure that their fishing fleets prove that they are fishing sustainably, through monitoring and full documentation of their catch.

http://our.fish

Follow Our Fish on Twitter: @our_fish