Author: Dave Walsh

  • EU Fisheries Ministers’ All Night Debate Leads To Continued Baltic Overfishing of Cod

    EU Fisheries Ministers’ All Night Debate Leads To Continued Baltic Overfishing of Cod

     

    Luxembourg, 10 October 2017: Campaign organisation Our Fish this morning slammed the decision by EU fisheries ministers to set 2018 western Baltic cod quotas four times higher than cautious scientific advice during an all night AGRIFISH meeting in Luxembourg [1][2].

    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 [4].

    “Despite staying up all night, all EU fisheries ministers accomplished is once again setting Total Allowable Catches for Baltic cod far higher than recommended by scientific advice”, said Our Fish Programme Director Rebecca Hubbard. “EU citizens would be better served by ministers who understand that quotas need to be a fraction of current levels, so that Baltic cod stocks can recover from decades of overfishing”.

    “This is the fourth year in a row that the Council of EU fisheries ministers have set fishing limits for western Baltic cod significantly above scientific advice, despite the stock being severely overfished. Governments are pursuing a downward spiral of these once great fish stocks, which has serious ecological and social impacts, and goes against both EU fisheries law and public sentiment [5]”.

    “It is already well established that setting fishing limits based on scientific advice will help ensure healthy fish stocks, and reap greater social and economic benefits for communities”, said Hubbard. “Yet despite this opportunity, fisheries ministers are still unwilling to follow scientific advice. With relative profits of the fishing industry at an all time high and fish stocks severely overfished, fisheries ministers are missing a perfect opportunity to secure sustainable Baltic cod stocks”, concluded Hubbard.

    AGRIFISH meets again in December 2017 to discuss and decide on Total Allowable Catches for fish stocks in the North East Atlantic. Deliberations are expected to be even more laborious than for the Baltic stocks, with around 150 stocks under discussion.

    ENDS

    Photo

    High resolution photograph of the artwork by Gijs Vanhee is available for download and use in relation to this story.

    Contacts

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

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

    Follow Our Fish on Twitter: https://twitter.com/our_fish

    Notes:

    For more background see 9 October 2017 press release: Agrifish: 70,000 People Join Demand to End EU overfishing as Ministers Decide Baltic limits

    http://our.fish/en/2017/10/09/agrifish-70000-people-join-demand-end-eu-overfishing-ministers-decide-baltic-limits/

    [1] Council agreement on 2018 catch limits in the Baltic Sea

    http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/10/09-baltic-sea-catch-limits-2018/

    [2] The AGRIFISH meeting took place at the European Convention Center Luxembourg (ECCL)

    http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/agrifish/2017/10/09-10/

    [3] The Council of EU fisheries ministers set 2017 fishing limits for four out of ten Baltic fish stocks above scientific advice, including a 352% increase on scientific advice for western Baltic cod, despite the fact that they were on the edge of commercial collapse.

    The reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) that entered into force in 2014 aims to restore and maintain populations of fish stocks above levels capable of supporting MSY. The corresponding exploitation rate was to be achieved by 2015 where possible and by 2020 at the latest for all stocks. Following scientific advice is essential if we are to achieve this goal, end overfishing, and restore fish stocks to healthy levels.

    New Economics Foundation (2017), Landing the Blame – Overfishing in the Baltic 2017. http://neweconomics.org/2016/12/landing-the-blame/

    August 31, 2017: NGOs call on Baltic Governments to stop driving overfishing

    http://our.fish/en/2017/08/31/ngos-call-on-baltic-governments-to-stop-driving-overfishing/

    [4] Fisheries Secretariat & Seas At Risk (2017), Annex I: Comments and recommendations for Member States on the ‘Commission proposal for a Council Regulation fixing for 2018 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea’, available at: http://www.fishsec.org/app/uploads/2017/09/170927-SAR-FISH-Council-Brief-2018-Baltic-TAC-Annex-FINAL.pdf

    [5] Carpenter, G. & Esteban, A. (2015). Managing EU fisheries in the public interest. London: New Economics Foundation. http://neweconomics.org/2015/03/managing-eu-fisheries-in-the-public-interest/

    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

  • Undercurrent: 70,000 sign overfishing petition on eve of Baltic meeting

    Undercurrent: 70,000 sign overfishing petition on eve of Baltic meeting

    From Undercurrent News, October 9th 2017: 70,000 sign overfishing petition on eve of Baltic meeting

    More than 70,000 EU citizens have signed a petition calling for an end to overfishing and the protection of EU waters on the eve of a Luxembourg conference where fisheries ministers will discuss 2018 Baltic Sea fishing limits.

    “In just three days, over 70,000 people from across the EU have stepped forward to tell their governments to stop overfishing and safeguard the EU’s marine environment through the proper enforcement of already existing laws”, said Rebecca Hubbard, program director with Our Fish.

    The Council of EU fisheries ministers set 2017 fishing limits for four out of ten Baltic fish stocks above scientific advice, including a staggering 352% increase on scientific advice for Western Baltic Cod, according to Our Fish.

    “While Denmark and Germany have been pursuing overfishing of western Baltic cod under the excuse of avoiding social and economic impacts, most of the quota flows to destructive trawlers that cause the biggest environmental impact, while reaping higher profits than lower-impact coastal fishers,” said Hubbard.

    “The reality is that Denmark and Germany can make fishing ecologically sustainable and economically fair during today’s Council meeting, by setting total allowable catches (TACs) at the the most cautious end of scientific advice, and changing the way quotas are allocated within their own countries.”

    To rebuild stocks to healthy levels, western Baltic cod must be given a break from overexploitation, she added.

    “The fishing industry has never had a better moment for reinventing itself as a sustainable industry — fuel prices are at an all time low, relative profits of the fishing industry are at an all time high, and evidence shows that the faster we end overfishing, the greater the economic benefits will be.”

  • Times of Malta: Street artists create messages about fish sustainability

    Times of Malta: Street artists create messages about fish sustainability

    Times of Malta: Street artists create messages about fish sustainability – Appeal made to Our Ocean conference meeting in Malta

    Street artists have created pieces to pass on the message about the importance of fish sustainability, to coincide with the Our Ocean conference being held in Malta today and tomorrow.
    Maltese street artist Twitch collaborated with activist NGO Our Fish to create a spectacular light painting, depicting a ghostly swordfish leaping out of the waters surrounding Valletta.
    In the meantime, Italian street artist Vera Bugatti created a 3x6m canvas that challenges us to see overfishing from the point of view of the marine life itself. It will be on display in Spinola Bay from 4pm this Thursday afternoon.
    Twitch’s ‘ghostly’ swordfish.
    Twitch’s ‘ghostly’ swordfish.
    Michelin-starred chefs also joined the artists to demand urgent action on the region’s growing fisheries crisis from ministers of the EU’s Mediterranean nations and EU Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella.
    “When artists and chefs are asking what we will eat if all the Mediterranean’s fish are gone, we’re wondering why leaders at the Our Ocean conference are not asking themselves the same question,” said Rebecca Hubbard, program director for Our Fish.
    “It’s not enough for EU fisheries ministers to celebrate signing declarations of intent for the Mediterranean: they need to make good on the intentions, by acting now to protect our fish stocks.”

    In a letter addressed to Commissioner Vella, and Fisheries Ministers from Italy, Spain and France, chefs Massimo Bottura (It), Paco Morales (Es), Christopher Coutanceau (Fr), David Ariza Abad (Es), Valerio Calabrese (It), Nicola Attianese and Filomena D’Uva (It) wrote: “Mediterranean fisheries still have a chance. They may be 96% overfished, but if urgent action is taken to halt their overexploitation, these EU fish stocks have a good chance of rebounding to more sustainable levels by 2020. What’s needed is political will from Mediterranean EU nations to take real action, and to take it now, before, it’s too late.”
    Currently, 96% of EU Mediterranean stocks are overfished. Official discards – fish caught but thrown back dead or dying – are estimated at 230,000 tonnes per year (18% of Mediterranean fish catches) – not including what goes unreported.

  • Agrifish: 70,000 People Join Demand to End EU overfishing as Ministers Decide Baltic limits

    Agrifish: 70,000 People Join Demand to End EU overfishing as Ministers Decide Baltic limits

     

    Luxembourg, 9 October 2017: As more than 70,000 EU citizens signed a petition calling for an end to overfishing and protection of EU waters, an enigmatic light painting depicting cod heads and money bags formed a cordon around the Luxembourg conference venue where EU fisheries ministers will discuss 2018 Baltic Sea fishing limits, during today’s AGRIFISH meeting.

    “By creating this artwork, I want to highlight the link between industry influence that is fueling overfishing, as well as the lack of transparency in the decision-making process”, said Belgian street artist Gijs Vanhee, who collaborated with the Our Fish campaign to create the image outside the European Convention Center in Luxembourg.

    “In just three days, over 70,000 people from across the EU have stepped forward to tell their governments to stop overfishing and safeguard the EU’s marine environment through the proper enforcement of already existing laws”, said Rebecca Hubbard, Program Director with Our Fish. “EU citizens clearly understand that Europe’s marine resources are under pressure and expect their governments to ensure we have healthy fish stocks and coastal communities for the future”.

    The Council of EU fisheries ministers set 2017 fishing limits for four out of ten Baltic fish stocks above scientific advice, including a staggering 352% increase on scientific advice for Western Baltic Cod, despite the fact that they were teetering on the edge of commercial collapse [2].

    “While Denmark and Germany have been pursuing overfishing of western Baltic cod under the excuse of avoiding social and economic impacts, most of the quota flows to destructive trawlers that cause the biggest environmental impact, while reaping higher profits than lower-impact coastal fishers [2]. The reality is that Denmark and Germany can make fishing ecologically sustainable and economically fair during today’s Council meeting, by setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) at the the most cautious end of scientific advice, and changing the way quotas are allocated within their own countries,” continued Hubbard [3].

    “Western Baltic cod is in a desperate situation, with populations at their second lowest level in thirty years. To rebuild stocks to healthy levels, western Baltic cod must be given a break from overexploitation”, said Hubbard. [4] “The fishing industry has never had a better moment for reinventing itself as a sustainable industry – fuel prices are at an all time low, relative profits of the fishing industry are at an all time high, and evidence shows that the faster we end overfishing, the greater the economic benefits will be [3].”

    EU Agrifish Council meetings are closed to the public, there is no public record of debates, and the Council refuses to publicly livestream the sessions where annual fishing limits are decided. Meanwhile fishing industry lobbyists have repeatedly gained insider access to Agrifish meeting venues using press passes, giving them unfair influence on final decisions [5].

    “The Fisheries Ministers meeting behind closed doors here today will have an impact on our ocean, our food, and our communities. Their decisions must be based on scientific advice and EU law, rather than narrow profit-based interests of a small number of fishing industry heavyweights. By ending overfishing and returning EU fish stocks to healthy levels, we could provide enough fish to feed 89 million people and support 20,000 more jobs [6]”, concluded Hubbard.

    ENDS

     

    Photo

    High resolution photograph of the artwork by Gijs Vanhee is available for download and use in relation to this story.

    Contacts

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

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

    Follow Our Fish on Twitter: https://twitter.com/our_fish

    Notes:

    Today’s AGRIFISH meeting is taking place at the European Convention Center Luxembourg (ECCL)

    http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/agrifish/2017/10/09-10/

    [1]The Petition hosted by WeMove.EU in partnership with Our Fish, Seas At risk and IFAW, was launched on Friday, October 6th https://act.wemove.eu/campaigns/save-eu-seas

    [2] The reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) that entered into force in 2014 aims to restore and maintain populations of fish stocks above levels capable of supporting MSY. The corresponding exploitation rate was to be achieved by 2015 where possible and by 2020 at the latest for all stocks. Following scientific advice is essential if we are to achieve this goal, end overfishing, and restore fish stocks to healthy levels.

    New Economics Foundation (2017), Landing the Blame – Overfishing in the Baltic 2017. http://neweconomics.org/2016/12/landing-the-blame/

    “German and Danish Governments are also under intense pressure from the trawler-dominated Baltic Sea Advisory Council, who are proposing a western Baltic cod limit of 8,597 tonnes, which includes an extra 3,000 tonnes under the auspices of eastern Baltic cod mixing in the western baltic zones. Environmental NGOs, the European Anglers Association and the Latvian fishing association voted against this quota transfer in the Baltic Sea Advisory Council, as it further threatens the vulnerable western Baltic cod stock and disenfranchises eastern Baltic countries of their fisheries rights.”

    http://our.fish/en/2017/08/31/ngos-call-on-baltic-governments-to-stop-driving-overfishing/

    [3] Our Fish & New Economics Foundation (2017), How Denmark can make fisheries sustainable and fair

    http://our.fish/en/2017/08/29/how-denmark-can-make-fisheries-fair-and-sustainable/

    Our Fish & New Economics Foundation (2017), Germany’s blind spot for sustainable fisheries

    http://our.fish/en/2017/08/28/germanys-blind-spot-for-sustainable-fisheries/

    [4] Despite a strong 2016 year class, stocks are still at the second lowest biomass levels since the early 1980s, and outside of safe limits for repopulating to a healthy state.

    ICES (2017), ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea Ecoregion. Published 31 May 2017. Cod.27.22-24

    [5] Fishing For Influence, Corporate Europe Observatory and Seas At Risk, viewed 8/10/2017 at https://corporateeurope.org/power-lobbies/2017/05/fishing-influence

    [6] Carpenter, G. & Esteban, A. (2015). Managing EU fisheries in the public interest. London: New Economics Foundation. http://neweconomics.org/2015/03/managing-eu-fisheries-in-the-public-interest/

    [7] Last week during the Our Ocean conference in Malta, Michelin-starred chefs from France, Spain and Italy wrote to their respective fisheries ministers and to EU Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella, to demand urgent action on the region’s growing fisheries crisis.

    Michelin Starred Chefs and World Famous Street Artists Call for an end to Overfishing To Save Mediterranean Iconic Food and Culture http://our.fish/en/2017/10/05/michelin-starred-chefs-world-famous-street-artists-call-end-overfishing-save-mediterranean-iconic-food-culture/

    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

  • Gli Chefs stellati Michelin e famosi artisti di strada chiedono la fine della sovrapesca per salvare la dieta e la cultura mediterranea

    Light painting of ghostly swordfish near Valletta, Malta, by Maltese street artist Twitch, in collaboration with Our Fish & Dancing Fox. Image: Twitch/Dancing Fox/Our Fish

    Light painting of ghostly swordfish near Valletta, Malta, by Maltese street artist Twitch, in collaboration with Our Fish.  

    Malta,  5 ottobre, 2017:- Mentre  leaders politici, economici e della società civile convergono oggi a Malta per la conferenza annuale Our Ocean, chefs stellati Michelin insieme a famosi artisti di strada chiedono misure urgenti sulla crisi della pesca del Mediterraneo ai ministri mediterranei della UE e al Commissario Europeo per l’Ambiente, gli Affari marittimi e la Pesca, Karmenu Vella.

    “La pesca mediterranea ha ancora una possibilità. Il 96% degli stock ittici dell’UE del Mediterraneo sono sovrasfruttati, ma se verrano adottate misure urgenti per fermare lo sfruttamento eccessivo, potrebbero ritornare a livelli più sostenibili entro il 2020. Serve la volontà politica da parte degli stati UE del Mediterraneo di adottare misure concrete, prima che sia troppo tardi” – hanno dichiarato gli chef Massimo Bottura (IT), Paco Morales (SP), Christopher Coutenceau (FR), David Ariza Abad (SP), Valerio Calabrese (IT), Nicola Attianese and Filomena D’Uva (IT) in una lettera indirizzata al Commissario Vella e ai ministri della pesca di Italia, Spagna e Francia.

    “Perché i leader alla conferenza OurOcean non si domandano che cosa mangeremo quando non ci sarà più pesce come chiedono gli chef e gli artisti?” – ha dichiarato Rebecca Hubbard, direttore di programma di OurFish – “Non c’è più tempo per le dichiarazioni di intenti. I ministri della pesca della UE devono intervenire subito per proteggere gli stock ittici del Mediterraneo”.

    Attualmente, il  96% degli stock dell’UE  sono sovrasfruttati. Si stima che gli  scarti dichiarati – il pescato rigettato in mare morto o morente – siano 230,000 tonnellate all’anno (18% del catture in Mediterraneo) [1] – senza contare tutto quello che non viene dichiarato [2].

    La pesca provoca o contribuisce per il 93% all’esaurimento delle specie marine del Mediterraneo  e al 100% delle estinzioni locali [3]. Lo strascico di fondo è responsabile del declino di diverse  popolazioni a rischio di squali e razze  del Mediterraneo così come dello sfruttamento eccessivo di specie demersali [4]. In alcune aree lo sfruttamento del  nasello è 15 volte superiore al livello di sostenibilità [5].

    Per ricordare ai delegati di OurOcean l’opportunità di proteggere la vita marina del Mediterraneo, l’artista di strada  maltese Twitch ha collaborato con Our Fish per creare  uno spettacolare dipinto illuminato di un pescespada spettrale che salta fuori dal mare di fronte a La Valletta.  “In quanto esseri umani, ci rivolgiamo al mare per ispirazione, per cibo, per cultura e per la vita. Se non adottiamo misure urgenti adesso per fermare la pesca eccessiva, presto tutto ciò sarà solo un ricordo” – ha dichiarato Twitch

     

    Our Ocean Street Art by Vera Bugatti
    “I created this artwork inspired by a single question: what will we eat if there are no more fish?” – Vera Bugatti

    L’artista di strada italiana Vera Bugatti ha creato una tela 3x6m che ci sfida a guardare alla pesca eccessiva dal punto di vista della vita marina. “Ho creato questa opera, ispirata da un’unica domanda: Che cosa mangeremo se non rimane più pesce? Il Mediterraneo ha ispirato il nostro cibo, la nostra arte e cultura per millenni e oggi è giunto il momento di unirci per proteggere questa importante risorsa culturale e naturale per le generazioni future” – ha detto Bugatti. Il suo dipinto verrà mostrato a Spinola Bay dalle 4 di giovedi pomeriggio.

    Foto & Video
    La lettera degli chefs ai ministri può essere scaricata qui

    Immagini ad alta risoluzione e video saranno disponibili qui

    Contatti
    Dave Walsh, Communications Advisor, dave@our.fish +34 691826764
    Rebecca Hubbard, Direttore Programma, rebecca@our.fish +34 657669425
    Segui Our Fish on Twitter: https://twitter.com/our_fish

     Our Fish
    Our Fish è impegnata a garantire che i paesi membri dell’Unione Europea applichino la Politica Comue Europea per la sostenibilità degli stocks nelle acque europee.

    Our Fish lavora in Europa  con organizzazioni e individui per inviare un forte e chiaro messaggio: la pesca eccessiva deve terminare e bisogna introdurre soluzioni per assicurare  che le acque europee siano pescate in maniera sostenibile. Our Fish chiede che la Politica Comune della Pesca sia adeguatemente applicata e che la pesca europea sia gestita in modo efficiente.

    Our Fish invita i paesi membri dell’UE a fissare annualmente limiti di pesca basati sui pareri scientifici e garantire che le proprie flotte peschino in maniera sostenibile, attraverso monitoraggi e la documentazione completa delle loro catture.

    Gli artisti
    Vera Bugatti è un’artista di strada conosciuta a livello internazionale. Ha partecipato a diverse mostre ed eventi di strada in tutto il mondo. Ha vinto premi in Italia, Olanda, Francia, Germania, Irlanda, Croazia, Svezia, Danimarca, Bosnia e Erzegovina, Russia, Portogallo, Lituania, Gran Bretagna, Bulgaria, Stati Uniti, Messico, Emirati e India. I suoi dipinti di strada 3D anche conosciuti come arte di strada sono la rappresentazione di disegni artistici su strade, marciapiedi, piazze con l’utilizzo di materiali semipermanenti o provvisori come il gesso. Questo tipo di arte nasce con i primi artisti di strada italiani “I Madonnari” risalenti al XVI secolo.

    James Micallef Grimaud, alias Twitch è un’artista maltese pioniere dell’arte di strada nel suo paese. A metà degli anni ’90, iniziò a creare i primi lavori con la pittura spray sui muri in località diroccate a Malta. È il primo graffitaro sull’isola conosciuto per creare opere dal “significato profondo”. Inoltre, Grimaud lavora anche con l’acrilico, colori ad olio e altri materiali nel suo studio. Ha partecipato a diverse mostre sia a livello internazionale che a Malta. Il suo stile unico e le sue ampie opere innovative hanno suscitato un enorme interesse sull’isola e oggi rimane un importante e prominente personalità in questo ambito.

    Note
    Our Ocean è una conferenza globale, che si svolge annualmente in diverse località – nel 2015 a Valparaiso, in Cile mentre nel 2016 sotto la supervisione di John Kerry si è tenuta a Washington DC. L’edizione del 2017 è stata organizzata dalla Commissione europea e dal Commissario Karmenu Vella originario di Malta. Per altre informazioni vedi:  https://ourocean2017.org

    [1] FAO (2016): Stato del Mediterraneo e del Mar Nero
    [2] FAO (2016): Stato del Mediterraneo e del Mar Nero
    Gli scarti sono principalmente prodotti dallo strascico di fondo (40%) in percentuali che vanno da 15 al 65.5% delle catture. I livelli delle catture accessorie dello strascico pelagico vanno dal 10 al 50%, mentre per le reti a circuizione e la piccola pesca artigianale vanno dal 2 al 15%.
    [3] FAO (2016): Stato del Mediterraneo e del Mar Nero
    [4] FAO (2016):  Stato del Mediterraneo e del Mar Nero
    [5] Oceana (2016): Mar Mediterraneo, una regione dell’UE in uno stato drammatico di sovrapesca 

  • Des chefs étoilés Michelin et des street-artists célèbres lancent un appel pour l’éradication de la surpêche et la sauvegarde de la culture alimentaire de Méditerranée

    Light painting of ghostly swordfish near Valletta, Malta, by Maltese street artist Twitch, in collaboration with Our Fish & Dancing Fox. Image: Twitch/Dancing Fox/Our Fish

    Malte, le 5 octobre 

    Alors que décideurs politiques, acteurs du monde des affaires et représentants de la société civile convergent vers Malte pour la conférence annuelle Our Ocean, plusieurs chefs de cuisine étoilés Michelin se sont joints à des street-artists reconnus pour apostropher les décideurs européens. En effet, année après année, les pêcheries méditerranéennes s’enfoncent dans une crise qui nécessite des décisions énergiques et urgentes.

    Des chefs italiens (Massimo Bottura, Valerio Calabrese, Nicola Attianese et Filomena D’Uva), espagnols (Paco Morales et David Ariza Abad) et français (Christopher Coutanceau) ont co-signé une lettre adressée au Commissaire Vella et aux ministres italien, espagnol et français des pêches. Ils y déclarent notamment : « Même si 96% des stocks sont en état de surexploitation, il est encore temps de mettre en œuvre des mesures énergiques pour sauver les pêcheries de Méditerranée. Si ces mesures sont déployées en urgence, les stocks marqueront de nets signes de redressement d’ici à 2020. Tout ce qu’il faut, c’est que les gouvernements des états riverains prennent dès maintenant la décision d’agir avant qu’il soit trop tard. »

    « Quand des chefs et des street-artists renommés s’interrogent sur ce que nous allons manger si le poisson de Méditerranée disparaît, on est en droit de se demander pourquoi les décideurs présents à la conférence Our Ocean ne se posent pas la même question » a déclaré Rebecca Hubbard, directrice des programmes de l’organisation Our Fish. « La Méditerranée n’a que faire des déclarations d’intention signées en grande pompe. Ce dont elle a besoin, c’est d’actions et d’actions urgentes. »

    POUR MIEUX APPRÉHENDER LA SITUATION

    Actuellement, 96% des stocks méditerranéens sont surexploités.

    Les rejets déclarés (poissons rejetés morts après capture) sont estimés à 230 000 tonnes par an, soit 18% des captures [1]. Et encore ! Ces chiffres ne comprennent pas les rejets non déclarés [2].

    La pêche est directement ou indirectement la cause de 93% des pertes de vie marine en Méditerranée et de 100% des extinctions locales [3].

    Le chalutage de fond accentue le déclin d’espèces en danger comme les requins et les raies ; il constitue la cause majeure de la surpêche des espèces profondes [4].

    Sur certaines zones, le merlu est exploité 15 fois au-dessus de ses seuils de durabilité [5].

    LES STREET-ARTISTS À LA CONFERENCE OUR OCEAN

    Pour rappeler aux délégations présentes à la conférence à leur devoir d’action, deux street-artists méditerranéens se sont associés à la campagne menée par Our Fish :

    Twitch, artiste maltais, a peint un espadon fantomatique jaillissant des eaux. Il explique comment cette idée lui est venue : « En tant qu’êtres humains, nous nous tournons en permanence vers l’océan, pour notre inspiration, notre alimentation, notre culture et pour y trouver la vie tout simplement. Si nous n’agissons pas dans l’urgence, nous n’aurons plus sous les yeux que des fantômes. »

    Our Ocean Street Art by Vera Bugatti“I created this artwork inspired by a single question: what will we eat if there are no more fish?” – Vera Bugatti

    Vera Bugatti, artiste italienne a créé une fresque de 3 mètres sur 6 qui nous force à considérer la surpêche du point de vue de la vie marine et des espèces qui la composent. « Cette œuvre est la réponse à une question simple que je me suis posé : que mangerons nous s’il n’y a plus de poisson ? La Méditerranée a inspiré notre cuisine, tout comme elle a forgé notre culture et nos créations artistiques depuis des milliers d’années. Aujourd’hui, il est temps pour nous de tout faire pour que les générations futures puissent bénéficier de cette généreuse corne d’abondance ». Son œuvre sera visible Jeudi après-midi à 16 heures à Spinola Bay.

    Photo & Video

    La lettre des chefs aux ministres des pêches  

    Photos et vidéos

     

    Contacts

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

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

    Follow Our Fish on Twitter: https://twitter.com/our_fish

    Our Fish

    Our Fish mène une campagne pour que les états membres mettent en œuvre la Politique commune de la pêche (PCP) et pour une pêche durable dans les eaux européennes.

    Nous travaillons avec des organisations et des membres de la société civile pour atteindre des objectifs clairs :

    ·       Éradication de la surpêche ;

    ·       Mise en place des solutions permettant d’atteindre les seuils de durabilité ;

    ·       Déploiement effectif et complet de la PCP ;

    ·       Amélioration de la gouvernance des pêcheries

    Our Fish appelle les états-membres :

    ·       À fixer des limites de capture durables basées sur les avis scientifiques ;

    ·       À vérifier que leurs flottes ont des pratiques durables, notamment par la surveillance et la mise en œuvre du protocole dit des “pêcheries intégralement documentées”

     

    Sur les street-artists impliqués

    Vera Buggati est une artiste reconnue au niveau international. Ses œuvres ont été primées lors de nombreux festivals de street-art en Italie, en France, aux Pays-Bas, en Allemagne, en Russie mais également en Inde, au Mexique et dans les Émirats.

    Sa spécialité est la peinture en 3D réalisés sur les trottoirs avec des matériaux résistants ou de la simple craie. Elle s’inscrit dans une très longue tradition italienne puisque dès le XVIe siècle, des artistes (les Madonnari) s’exprimaient déja sur les trottoirs des villes.

    James Micallef Grimaud, aka Twitch est un artiste maltais qui a été l’un des premiers à se lancer dans le street-art sur son ile. Dès les années 90, il a peint des oeuvres à la bombe sur des bâtiments abandonnés. Il est connu pour être le premier créateur de graffiti porteurs d’un message. Il a participé à de nombreuses manifestations artistique en solo ou en collaboration avec d’autres street-artists à Malte et à l’étranger. Au-delà du street-art, Twitch travaille l’acrylique, l’huile et d’autres matériaux en atelier. Son style unique et totalement novateur a déclanché un fort engouement dans les milieux du street-art et il s’est imposé comme une figure de la scène artistique. 

    Notes

    Our Ocean est une conférence globale, qui a lieu tous les ans. Celle de 2015 avait eu lieu au Chili, à Valparaiso et celle de 2016 à Washington. Malte, dont le Commissaire européen des pêche est originaire, organise l’édition 2017.

    [1] FAO (2016): State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea

    [2] FAO (2016): State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea

    Discards are mainly generated by bottom trawls (40%), and range from 15-65.5% of catches. Pelagic trawl bycatch levels range from 10-50%, and for purse seiners and small scale fishers from 2-15%

    [3] FAO (2016): State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea

    [4] FAO (2016): State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea

    [5] Oceana (2016): Mediterranean Sea, A key EU fishing region in a bleak state of overfishing

  • Chefs con estrellas Michelin y artistas urbanos famosos solicitan poner fin a la sobrepesca para salvar la comida y la cultura como símbolos del Mediterráneo

    Light painting of ghostly swordfish near Valletta, Malta, by Maltese street artist Twitch, in collaboration with Our Fish & Dancing Fox. Image: Twitch/Dancing Fox/Our Fish

    Malta, 5 de octubre de 2017 – Mientras los líderes políticos, empresarios y sociedad civil de todo el mundo convergen hoy en Malta para la conferencia anual “Our Ocean”, varios chefs con estrellas Michelin se han unido a artistas urbanos mundialmente conocidos para exigir a los ministros de los países mediterráneos de la UE y al Comisario de Medio Ambiente, Asuntos Marítimos y Pesca, Karmenu Vella, una acción urgente sobre la creciente crisis pesquera regional.

    “Las pesquerías mediterráneas todavía tienen una oportunidad. Puede que tengan niveles de sobrepesca de hasta el 96%, pero si se tomasen medidas urgentes para detener su sobreexplotación, estas poblaciones tendrían lAnchora posibilidad de recuperarse a niveles más sostenibles para 2020. Ahora bien, para que esto suceda, es necesario que las naciones mediterráneas de la UE muestren voluntad política y establezcan, ahora, medidas reales antes de que sea demasiado tarde”, comentan los chefs Massimo Bottura (It), Paco Morales (Es), Christopher Coutenceau (Fr), David Ariza Abad (Es), Valerio Calabrese (It), Nicola Attianese y Filomena D’Uva (It), en una carta dirigida al Comisario Vella, y a los Ministros de Pesca de Italia, España y Francia.

    “Cuando los artistas y los chefs preguntan qué comeremos si todos los peces del Mediterráneo desaparecen, nos preguntamos por qué los líderes de la conferencia Our Ocean no se están haciendose la misma pregunta”, apunta Rebecca Hubbard, Directora de Programa de la organización Our Fish. “No basta con que los ministros de Pesca de la UE celebren las declaraciones de intenciones para el Mediterráneo – necesitan cumplir con las intenciones que proclaman y actuar ahora para proteger nuestras poblaciones de peces”.

    Actualmente, el 96% de las poblaciones mediterráneas de la UE sufren sobrepesca. Se calcula que los descartes oficiales -peces capturados pero arrojados muertos o moribundos- alcanzan las 230.000 toneladas anuales (18% de las capturas en el Mediterráneo) [1] –cifra que no incluye las capturas no declaradas [2]. La pesca causa o contribuye al 93% del agotamiento de la fauna marina mediterránea y al 100% de las extinciones locales [3]. La pesca de arrastre de fondo está provocando el declive de poblaciones de tiburones y rayas ya en peligro de extinción en el Mediterráneo, y es la principal responsable de la sobrepesca de especies demersales, o que viven en el fondo marino [4]. En algunas zonas, la merluza europea está siendo explotada hasta 15 veces por encima de los niveles sostenibles [5].

    Para recordar a los delegados de Our Ocean sobre su oportunidad de ayudar a proteger la vida del Mar Mediterráneo, el artista de la urbano maltés Twitch ha colaborado con Our Fish para crear una espectacular pintura de luz, representando un pez espada fantasmal saliendo de las aguas que rodean la Valetta. “Como seres humanos miramos siempre al océano, para la inspiración, para el alimento, para la cultura, para la vida. Si hoy no tomamos medidas urgentes para poner fin a la sobrepesca, pronto todo lo que quedará en el mar serán fantasmas”, señala Twitch.


    “I created this artwork inspired by a single question: what will we eat if there are no more fish? – Vera Bugatti

    La artista urbana italiana Vera Bugatti ha creado un lienzo de 3×6 metros con el que nos desafía a ver la sobrepesca desde el punto de vista de la propia vida marina. “Creé esta obra inspirada en una sola pregunta ¿qué comeremos si no hay más peces? El Mediterráneo ha moldeado nuestra comida, nuestro arte y nuestra cultura durante miles de años, y hoy es el momento que nos unamos para proteger esta rica herencia cultural y natural para las futuras generaciones”, añade Bugatti. La pintura de Bugatti estará expuesta en la Bahía de Spinola a partir de las 16h del jueves por la tarde.

    FIN

    Photo & Video
    La carta de los chefs a las Ministra Tejerina se puede descargar aquí
    Imágenes de alta resolución de fotos y video estará disponible aquí

    Contactos
    Dave Walsh, Asesor de Comunicaciones, dave@our.fish +34 691826764
    Rebecca Hubbard, Directora de Programa, rebecca@our.fish +34 657669425
    Sigue Our Fish en Twitter: https://twitter.com/our_fish

    About Our Fish
    Our Fish trabaja para garantizar que los Estados miembros europeos apliquen la Política Pesquera Común y alcancen poblaciones de peces sostenibles en aguas europeas.

    Our Fish trabaja con organizaciones e individuos de toda Europa para lanzar un mensaje poderoso e inquebrantable: se debe poner fin a la sobrepesca y se deben establecer soluciones para garantizar que en Europa se pesque de forma sostenible. Our Fish exige que la Política Pesquera Común se aplique adecuadamente y que las pesquerías de Europa sean efectivamente gobernadas.

    Our Fish solicita a todos los Estados miembros de la UE que establezcan límites de pesca anuales a niveles sostenibles, basados en el asesoramiento científico, y que aseguren que sus flotas demuestren que pescan de forma sostenible mediante el seguimiento y la documentación completa de sus capturas.

    About the Artists
    Vera Bugatti is an internationally recognised Italian artist and street painter.

    She has taken part in multiple exhibitions, and she has performed in several street art events all over the world. She has won awards for her work in Italy, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Ireland, Croatia, Austria, Malta, Sweden, Denmark, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Russia, Latvia, Portogallo, UK, Bulgaria, USA, Mexico, Emirates and India.

    Her 3D street painting, also commonly known as pavement art, street art, or sidewalk art, is the rendering of artistic designs on streets, sidewalks, and town squares with semi-permanent or impermanent materials such as chalk. This type of art was born with the first Italian pavement artists (the Madonnari) that have been traced back to the sixteenth century.

    James Micallef Grimaud, aka Twitch, is a Maltese artist known as a pioneer of street art in his country. Starting in the mid ‘90s, he began creating artwork with spray paint on walls in derelict locations around Malta. He is the first graffiti artist on the island credited with creating street art that has “deeper meaning”.

    In addition to his street art, Grimmaud also works with acrylics, oils, and other media in his studio. He has featured in numerous solo and collaborative shows, both internationally and at home in Malta. His unique style and groundbreaking large-scale work kicked off a massive  interest in street art on the island, and he remains a unique and leading voice within the scene today

    Notas
    Our Ocean es una conferencia mundial, que se celebra anualmente en diferentes lugares – la edición de 2015 se celebró en Valparaíso, Chile, mientras que John Kerry supervisó la edición de 2016 en Washington DC. La edición de 2017 está organizada por la Comisión Europea y el Comisario Karmenu Vella, originario de Malta. Más detalles en https://ourocean2017.org

    [1] FAO (2016): State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea
    [2] FAO (2016): State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea
    Los descartes son generados principalmente por las redes de arrastre de fondo (40%) y pueden representar entre 15-65.5% sobre el total de las capturas. Los niveles de captura accidental del arrastre pelágico oscilan entre el 10 y el 50%, y para las modalidades de cerco y artes menores oscilan entre el 2 y 15%.
    [3] FAO (2016): State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea
    [4] FAO (2016): State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea
    [5] Oceana (2016): Mediterranean Sea, A key EU fishing region in a bleak state of overfishing

  • Michelin Starred Chefs and World Famous Street Artists Call for an End to Overfishing to save Mediterranean Iconic Food and Culture

    Michelin Starred Chefs and World Famous Street Artists Call for an End to Overfishing to save Mediterranean Iconic Food and Culture

    Light painting of ghostly swordfish near Valletta, Malta, by Maltese street artist Twitch, in collaboration with Our Fish & Dancing Fox. Image: Twitch/Dancing Fox/Our Fish

    Malta, October 5th, 2017:- As political, business and civic leaders from around the world converge in Malta today for the annual Our Ocean conference, Michelin-starred chefs have joined world famous street artists to demand urgent action on the region’s growing fisheries crisis from ministers of the EU’s Mediterranean nations and EU Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella.

    “Mediterranean fisheries still have a chance. They may be 96% overfished, but if urgent action is taken to halt their overexploitation, these EU fish stocks have a good chance of rebounding to more sustainable levels by 2020. What’s needed is political will from Mediterranean EU nations to take real action, and to take it now, before, it’s too late”, said chefs Massimo Bottura (It), Paco Morales (Es), Christopher Coutanceau (Fr), David Ariza Abad (Es), Valerio Calabrese (It), Nicola Attianese and Filomena D’Uva (It) , in a letter addressed to Commissioner Vella, and Fisheries Ministers from Italy, Spain and France.

    “When artists and chefs are asking what we will eat if all the Mediterranean’s  fish are gone, we’re wondering why leaders at the Our Ocean conference are not asking themselves the same question”, said Rebecca Hubbard, Program Director for campaign organisation Our Fish. “It’s not enough for EU fisheries ministers to celebrate signing declarations of intent for the Mediterranean  – they need to make good on the intentions, by acting now to protect our fish stocks.”

    Currently, 96% of EU Mediterranean stocks are overfished. Official discards  – fish caught but thrown back dead or dying – are estimated at 230,000 tonnes per year (18% of Mediterranean fish catches) [1] – not  including what goes unreported [2]. Fishing causes or contributes  to 93% of depletions of Mediterranean marine wildlife and 100% of local extinctions [3]. Bottom trawling is driving the decline in already endangered shark and ray populations in the Mediterranean, and is the major culprit in overfishing of demersal, or bottom dwelling species [4]. European hake – is exploited at almost 15 times the sustainable rate in some areas [5].

    Our Ocean Street Art by Vera Bugatti

    “I created this artwork inspired by a single question: what will we eat if there are no more fish?” – Vera Bugatti.  Vera Bugatti/Dancing Fox/Our Fish – Photo by Zigli Jonathan Borg.

    To remind Our Ocean delegates of their opportunity to help protect Mediterranean sea life, Maltese street artist Twitchhas collaborated with Our Fish to create a spectacular light painting, depicting a ghostly swordfish leaping out of the waters surrounding Valletta. “As humans we look always to the ocean — for inspiration, for food, for culture, for life. If we don’t take urgent action today to end overfishing, soon all we will be left with are ghosts,” said Twitch.

    Italian street artist Vera Bugatti has created a 3x6m canvas that challenges us to see overfishing from the point of view of the marine life itself.  “I created this artwork inspired by a single question: what will we eat if there are no more fish? The Mediterranean has shaped our food, our art and our culture for thousands of years, and today it is time for us to come together to protect this rich cultural and natural bounty for generations to come,” said Bugatti. Bugatti’s painting will be on display in Spinola Bay from 16:00 on Thursday afternoon.

    ENDS

    Photo & Video

    The letter from chefs to ministers can be downloaded from here

    High resolution images of Twitch’s light painting can be downloaded from here

    Further high resolution images photo and video will be available from here

    Infographic: How to stop Mediterranean Overfishing is available here

    Contacts

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

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

    Follow Our Fish on Twitter: https://twitter.com/our_fish

    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.

    About the Artists

    Vera Bugatti is an internationally recognised Italian artist and street painter.

    She has taken part in multiple exhibitions, and she has performed in several street art events all over the world. She has won awards for her work in Italy, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Ireland, Croatia, Austria, Malta, Sweden, Denmark, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Russia, Latvia, Portogallo, UK, Bulgaria, USA, Mexico, Emirates and India.

    Her 3D street painting, also commonly known as pavement art, street art, or sidewalk art, is the rendering of artistic designs on streets, sidewalks, and town squares with semi-permanent or impermanent materials such as chalk. This type of art was born with the first Italian pavement artists (the Madonnari) that have been traced back to the sixteenth century.

    James Micallef Grimaud, aka Twitch, is a Maltese artist known as a pioneer of street art in his country. Starting in the mid ‘90s, he began creating artwork with spray paint on walls in derelict locations around Malta. He is the first graffiti artist on the island credited with creating street art that has “deeper meaning”.

    In addition to his street art, Grimaud also works with acrylics, oils, and other media in his studio. He has featured in numerous solo and collaborative shows, both internationally and at home in Malta. His unique style and groundbreaking large-scale work kicked off a massive  interest in street art on the island, and he remains a unique and leading voice within the scene today.

    Notes

    Our Ocean is a global conference, held annually at different locations – the 2015 version was held in Valparaiso, Chile, while John Kerry oversaw the 2016 edition in Washington DC. The 2017 edition is hosted by the European Commission, and Commissioner Karmenu Vella, who is from Malta. More details at https://ourocean2017.org

    [1] FAO (2016): State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea

    [2] FAO (2016): State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea

    Discards are mainly generated by bottom trawls (40%), and range from 15-65.5% of catches. Pelagic trawl bycatch levels range from 10-50%, and for purse seiners and small scale fishers from 2-15%

    [3] FAO (2016): State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea

    [4] FAO (2016): State of the Mediterranean and Black Sea

    [5] Oceana (2016): Mediterranean Sea, A key EU fishing region in a bleak state of overfishing

  • Undercurrent: Environmental group aims to hold EU to CFP in 2018

    Undercurrent: Environmental group aims to hold EU to CFP in 2018

    Published by Undercurrent News, September 6, 2017:

    Campaign group Our Fish has urged the European Commission to better enforce the common fisheries policy (CFP) in 2018 and in particular to resist actions which may make the policy less effective.

    “Specifically, we urge the commission to resist any actions that result in the weakening, greenwashing, filibustering, or evasion of CFP implementation,” it said in a press release.

    Continue Reading