Author: dave

Published by Agence France Press, 15/10/2018: EU’s new Baltic fish catch quotas anger environmentalists

“The 2020 deadline we set ourselves for achieving the sustainability of our fisheries resources is getting closer,” said Elisabeth Koestinger of Austria, which currently holds the six-month EU rotating presidency.

“Today’s decision is another important step towards meeting this goal, whilst at the same time respecting the socioeconomic viability of our coastal communities,” she said.

But Rebecca Hubbard, director for the activist group Our Fish, accused member states and the European Commission of “rubber stamping the continued overfishing of iconic and chronically unhealthy fish stocks.”

Member state ministers set the quota for western cod at 9,515 tonnes for 2019, an increase of 70 percent over this year, even though the European Commission, the EU executive, called for limiting the increase to 31 percent.

They put the limit for eastern cod at 24,112 tonnes, 15 percent less than currently and the same quota the commission supported.

The ministers set the quota for western herring at 9,001 tonnes, a reduction of 48 percent, though the commission had called for a reduction of 63 percent.

“Despite strong support from celebrities, scientists and the public for ending overfishing in EU waters, Baltic member states have instead let short-term profits and political interests drive the setting of unsustainable fishing limits for stocks, such as western and eastern Baltic cod, and western herring,” Hubbard said.

“This failure of governance will do little to drive the substantial improvements urgently needed to restore these fish stocks and deliver the environmental, social and economic benefits of sustainable, healthy fish stocks by 2020”.

The quota for main basin salmon was rolled over at 91,132 tonnes, even though the commission recommended an increase of 15 percent.

For salmon in the Gulf of Finland, the quotas were reduced by three percent to 9,703 tonnes, against the commission proposal of one percent less.

The ministers also called for reducing quotas for central herring, down 26 percent to 170,360 tonnes, and Bothnian herring down seven percent to 88,703 tonnes.

However, the quota for Riga herring will increase by seven percent to 31,044 tonnes.

Quotas for plaice will jump by 43 percent to 10,122 tonnes and those for sprat by three percent to 270,772 tonnes.

  Luxembourg, 15 October 2018:- Campaign group Our Fish has condemned decisions made by EU fisheries ministers to once again set Baltic fishing limits at unsustainable levels, during today’s AGRIFISH meeting in Luxembourg.

“Both the EU Commission and EU fisheries ministers have today failed the citizens, fisheries and coastal communities of the Baltic Sea region, by rubber stamping the continued overfishing of iconic and chronically unhealthy fish stocks”, said Our Fish Programme Director Rebecca Hubbard.

“The EU Commission’s proposal failed to meet even the basic Common Fishery Policy requirements for five Baltic stocks, by recommending fishing limits for eastern Baltic cod, western herring, central herring and salmon above scientific advice for sustainable levels. This gave member states the mandate to set fishing limits for many Baltic stocks at unsustainable levels”, she continued.

“In response, EU fisheries ministers not only did little to improve on the Commission’s proposal – they have made matters worse, by discarding the best available scientific advice for conservation of Baltic fish stocks. EU citizens are the rightful owners of this public resource, and have resoundingly supported an end to overfishing – something that ministers both ignored and disrespected today”, expounded Hubbard [1].

“The fishing limits set today for Western Baltic cod are clearly intended to exploit as many fish as possible, quickly, and not to rebuild this chronically overfished and fragile stock- despite warnings from scientists.”

“Scientists had recommended zero catch for western herring; while EU ministers cut the limits by 48%, this is still 9,001 tonnes above the scientific (ICES) advice. Yet, ministers are calling this a “win”, claiming that their cut will promote a 4% growth in the fish stock [2].

“Meanwhile, the Commission’s proposal and the final agreed fishing limit agreed for eastern Baltic cod, is so far above scientific advice, it is difficult to understand the point of even setting a limit.”

“Despite strong support from celebrities, scientists and the public for ending overfishing in EU waters, Baltic member states have instead let short-term profits and political interests drive the setting of unsustainable fishing limits for stocks, such as western and eastern Baltic cod, and western herring. This failure of governance will do little to drive the substantial improvements urgently needed to restore these fish stocks and deliver the environmental, social and economic benefits of sustainable, healthy fish stocks by 2020”.

ENDS

Notes: Council of the European Union: Baltic Sea: Council decides on how much can be fished in 2019

[1] Public support for ending overfishing was represented by almost 900,000 people supporting the Highs Fish Fight campaign to ban discards and ending overfishing during the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in 2013; 180,000 people have signed a recent WeMove petition and a German petition has gained over 106,000 signatures at https://www.duh.de/fischerei/; and over 11,000 people have signed a petition to end overfishing at https://save.our.fish/

[2] ICES advice for western Baltic cod: https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.4377

ICES advice for eastern Baltic cod: https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.4378

ICES advice for western Baltic herring: https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.4390

NGO joint advice for Baltic fishing opportunities: https://wwf.fi/mediabank/11391.pdf

Further reading:

Earlier today: AGRIFISH: What Will Convince EU Fisheries Ministers To End Baltic Overfishing? “As the annual AGRIFISH meeting opened this morning in Luxembourg, EU Member State delegates were greeted by an Our Fish fishmonger who offered them a chocolate herring, wrapped in a special edition of the satirical Daily Catch newspaper, in return for their commitment to end overfishing of Baltic fish stocks”.

The Our Fish stall was flanked by banners featuring German and Danish celebrities posting for the Fishlove campaign.

Read more: International Movie Stars Bare All To End EU Overfishing Read more: Wir kämpfen für unseren Fisch!

September 2018: Ignoring the Science: EU Commission 2019 Baltic fishing limits outstrip ambition to end overfishing

October 2017: EU Fisheries Ministers’ All Night Debate Leads To Continued Baltic Overfishing of Cod

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.

Website: http://our.fish

Follow Our Fish on Twitter: @our_fish

Luxembourg, 15 October 2018:- As the annual AGRIFISH meeting opened this morning in Luxembourg, EU Member State delegates were greeted by an Our Fish fishmonger who offered them a chocolate herring, wrapped in a special edition of the satirical Daily Catch newspaper, in return for their commitment to end overfishing of Baltic fish stocks [1] .

“EU fisheries ministers continue to receive the best available scientific advice for conservation of Baltic fish stocks, gift-wrapped – yet to date, they have ignored this advice and just kept on overfishing”, said Our Fish Programme Director Rebecca Hubbard. “With just one year until the final 2020 deadline to end EU overfishing, today’s AGRIFISH meeting is crucial to determining if fisheries ministers are serious about putting the future health of Baltic fisheries and communities ahead of short term profits and political interests”.

“Herring is an iconic cultural fish for the Baltic’s EU Member States, such as Denmark and Germany, yet catches are a fraction of their former size, and stocks are in such poor health that the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has advised zero catch [2]. Without urgent action from fisheries ministers, the herring fishery cannot rebuild”, she continued. “EU Fisheries ministers have a duty to respect natural limits and return these stocks to healthy and profitable states”.

“Despite hopes that one strong year class will power its recovery, Western Baltic cod remains at its lowest levels in history, so it is crucial that Ministers do not jump the gun by setting fishing limits too high again this year. They must not waste this opportunity, and instead protect this new recruitment, so that it can truly benefit both the stock and Baltic fishers in the future”, said Hubbard.

Our Fish Fishmonger offers chocolate herring and satirical newspaper The Daily Catch to delegates attending AGRIFISH meeting in Luxembourg, 15 October 2018, where EU fisheries ministers will decide on Baltic fishing quotas for 2018. Our Fish is calling on EU governments to fulfill their commitment to end overfishing and the discarding of fish in EU waters. The fishmonger stand was accompanied by pictures of German and Danish actors from the Fishlove campaign.

‘Despite EU Commission promises to end overfishing in EU waters, it has inexplicably proposed fishing limits far above scientific advice for Eastern Baltic cod – an iconic fish stock that has been struggling from overfishing and poor environmental conditions for years. The most simple thing Member States can do to help eastern Baltic cod – especially countries with the largest shares of quota, such as Denmark, Poland and Sweden – is to follow the science when setting the fishing limits”, commented Hubbard. In October 2017, ministers set four out of ten fishing limits above the advised maximum sustainable levels – so 40% Baltic and Atlantic fish stocks continue to be overfished [3].

Independent indicators also suggest that 10.1 million Western and Eastern Baltic cod were illegally discarded and not counted towards catches in 2017. For eastern Baltic cod in 2017 – scientists estimate that just 1/17 of all unwanted undersize catches were landed and recorded (compared to what was actually discarded) [4].

“It is unacceptable for EU governments to turn their heads away from the widespread unreported and illegal fishing activity taking place in the Baltic Sea. It is time for ministers to put aside the pressure of short term profits, and instead show leadership by setting fishing limits in line with scientific advice, and ensuring industry practices follow the law. Nothing less is required to rebuild and preserve Baltic fish stocks for the benefit of all Baltic and EU citizens, and to secure sustainable coastal communities, by 2020,” concluded Hubbard.

Our Fish specifically recommends that, during AGRIFISH in Luxembourg, Baltic Fisheries Ministers:

• Follow scientific advice by setting annual fishing limits at sustainable levels in line with Common Fisheries Policy requirements (joint NGO advice on all Baltic fishing opportunities for 2019 can be found here);
• Require fleets with an increased risk of discarding to demonstrate that they are compliant with the law, through the use of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) and closed-circuit video surveillance or on board observers; and
• Set fishing limits based on ICES advice for wanted catch, with ‘quota top-ups’ for unwanted catch only granted to fleets that demonstrate full compliance with the Landing Obligation, through the use of REM.

ENDS

Notes:

[1] The Daily Catch features a satirical imagining of today’s AGRIFISH meeting, with EU fisheries ministers leaving environmental NGOs flabbergasted, after unexpectedly choosing to follow scientific advice. The Daily Catch can be downloaded from here.

The fishmonger’s stall was flanked by two banners showing German and Danish actors posing with fish as part of the Fishlove campaign, calling for an end to overfishing.

[2] ICES, 2018, Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea and Greater North Sea Ecoregions. Her.27.20-24. Published 31 May 2018. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.4390

[3] New Economics Foundation, 2018, Landing The Blame: Overfishing In The Baltic 2018.

[4] Our Fish, 2018, Illegal Baltic cod discards are wasting fisheries, communities & the environment.

Further reading:

Press release: International Movie Stars Bare All To End EU Overfishing

Joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2019 https://wwf.fi/mediabank/11391.pdf

September 2018: Ignoring the Science: EU Commission 2019 Baltic fishing limits outstrip ambition to end overfishing

October 2017: EU Fisheries Ministers’ All Night Debate Leads To Continued Baltic Overfishing of Cod

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.

Website: http://our.fish

Follow Our Fish on Twitter: @our_fish

First published on Euractiv, 12 October 2018.

Denmark has become the worst perpetrator of Baltic overfishing over the last years, putting in serious danger entire species, such as the Baltic’s iconic cod, warns Rebecca Hubbard.

Rebecca Hubbard is the program director of Our Fish, an NGO that works to end overfishing and wasteful discarding, and challenges EU governments to deliver transparent, sustainable management of Europe’s fisheries. 

Last week, six of Denmark’s best-known actors appeared in national media, stark naked, along with a fine specimen of Baltic cod.

This bold act by Thure Lindhardt, Trine Dyrholm, Iben Hjejle, Lars Brygmann, Natalie Madueno and Nicolas Bro was powered by their desire to see Denmark’s government reverse the damage done by years of overfishing and by both following and enforcing the laws designed to sustain our fish stocks and marine environment.

In 2013, when Eva Kjer Hansen was last Denmark’s Minister for Fisheries, she and the other EU ministers agreed to end decades of overfishing by signing up to an ambitious reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This committed EU countries to end overfishing by 2015 where possible, and by 2020 at the latest. The 2015 deadline was missed; we cannot afford to miss 2020.

In the meantime, overfishing has become the accepted norm for European fisheries ministers. Last October, ministers set four out of ten fishing limits above the advised maximum sustainable levels – so 40% Baltic and Atlantic fish stocks continue to be overfished.

According to a recent report by the New Economics Foundation, which ranks overfishing practices of EU member states, Denmark topped the league table for setting Baltic quota above scientific advice three years in a row – making the country the worst perpetrator of Baltic overfishing [1].

The Baltic’s iconic cod stocks have been in serious danger for at least a decade. At its peak in 1984, fishers landed more than 440,000 tonnes of Eastern Baltic cod, but today, with dwindling stocks, they can bring home less than 40,000 tonnes a year. Nine years ago, Western Baltic cod stock also plunged to the brink of collapse, and while it is recovering it remains fragile, due to low levels of reproduction.

Why is this happening? Quite simply, EU fisheries ministers repeatedly set fishing limits far above what scientists advise as biologically sustainable. This is not economically sustainable and there is little hope of making steady cash from fishing when there are few fish left to catch.

By refusing to use selective fishing practices, preferring to continue to catch and then discard the too-small or baby cod, the fishing industry made matters worse. Even though this discarding has been outlawed in the Baltic Sea since 2015 – and with rules that mean all catches should be counted towards quota – this wasteful practice continues, illegally [2].

According to Danish Fisheries Agency, on average more than 90% of unwanted Baltic cod continue to be discarded, unreported and illegal [2].

This kind of broadscale non-compliance demands an immediate and urgent response from Denmark’s government, especially considering that just 1% of fishing trips are monitored, and the Danish fishing has become embroiled in a fraud scandal that has erupted just that week.

Next week, Minister Eva Kjer Hansen will join 27 other EU Member State ministers in Luxembourg to set fishing limits for Baltic fish stocks. This year, not only are Baltic cod populations at unsafe levels but so are western herring stocks.

The minister must put aside the pressure of short-term profits and show EU leadership by putting fishing limits and industry practices in line with scientific advice and the law, so that Baltic fish stocks can be preserved for the benefit of all Danish and EU citizens and that coastal communities can flourish in the future.

Copenhagen, London, Los Angeles, 4 October 2018:- Hollywood legend Sean Penn leads a stunning parade of movie stars and celebrities posing – without their clothes – with iconic and threatened fish species, to send a strong message to EU governments to end overfishing. “These stars are aligning to make a bold statement: end EU overfishing by 2020. Now it’s time that EU governments make brave decisions to secure the long-term health of our oceans, our fish stocks, and the future of coastal communities,” said Rebecca Hubbard, Program Director of Our Fish. The campaign is calling on European citizens to join thousands of others who have signed a petition calling on ministers to #endoverfishing. The celebrities were photographed by Alan Gelati for Brighton restaurant MOSHIMO’s celebrated Fishlove campaign as part of a major coordinated effort by the Our Fish organisation to urge European governments to end overfishing by 2020. The series features actors from Hollywood, London and Copenhagen, with more European stars set to join by the end of the year. In Hollywood, Sean Penn, actress, model and singer Paris Jackson, Clark Gregg (Avengers, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Elizabeth McGovern (Downton Abbey), Josh Brolin (Deadpool 2), Leila George (Mortal Engines, The Long Home), and Australian actors Ben Lawson (Neighbours, Designated Survivor), Lincoln Younes (Tangle, Home and Away), and Jai Courtney (A Good Day To Die Hard, Suicide Squad), have all appeared with fish provided by Santa Monica Seafood. The US watermarked images are viewable here<. For high resolution, unwatermarked images contact Nicolas Rohl, nicky@fishlove.co.uk.  Caption that must be published with images: “Celebrities and actors pose with fish in a courageous call on EU governments for bold action to #EndOverfishing in Europe’s waters by 2020. © Fishlove/Alan Gelati.”   “For our children’s future, the future of food security, our oceans, the coastal communities and jobs that depend on healthy oceans, cultural traditions, incredible marine life, wild and amazing creatures, it’s upon us all to support Fishlove,” mused Sean Penn, posing with a Mahi Mahi. “We must put an end to the pillaging of our planet for short term gain. We must protect our oceans from overfishing for the sake of our children and our children’s children. Only by applying constant public pressure can we ensure governments will enforce the laws which will protect our oceans; which will protect our planet”, said Elizabeth McGovern, holding a mackerel. “Love our fish, love our oceans. Keep our fisheries safe and vital now and forever”, said Clark Gregg, who appears with a red grouper.   “Europe’s seas are overfished. If we keep this up, there will be few fish in the future. This year we have a chance to make a change that will ensure more seafood, jobs and profits. If EU fisheries ministers take immediate action to stop Europe’s overfishing we can revive our oceans and fish stocks”, said Ben Lawson. The image featuring Deadpool 2’s Josh Brolin, which was released earlier this year shows the actor holding a sustainably caught wahoo (Ono).

UK PHOTOSHOOT

In London, actress and model Cressida Bonas, actress, poet, model and filmmaker Greta Bellamacina,  7.5 months pregnant actress Jeany Spark (Wallander, Collateral) and  actor Jude Akuwudike (Beasts of No Nation, Sahara) appeared with fish from Brighton & Newhaven Fish Sales. View the UK images here. For high resolution, unwatermarked images contact Nicolas Rohl, nicky@fishlove.co.uk. Caption that must be published with images:  “Celebrities and actors pose with fish in a courageous call on EU governments for bold action to #EndOverfishing in Europe’s waters by 2020. © Fishlove/Alan Gelati.” “Unsustainable fishing practises are not only destroying our beautiful marine life, but also hurting coastal communities, jobs and the people that depend on our oceans”, said Cressida Bonas, holding a smoothhound shark. “I’m very proud to be part of this fishlove campaign; to raise awareness for the cause and to do my small part to try to put an end to overfishing, before it’s too late.” “The protection of our oceans & healthy fish stocks are more important than ever to me. In this portrait I am seven & a half months pregnant with my son: I want him to grow up to enjoy these natural resources. I want his future to be one in which we as individuals & as communities make wiser decisions; take kinder actions”, said Jeany Spark, holding a spider crab. “The sea is a constant motif in my poetry”, explains Greta Bellamacina, holding a sea bass. “The sea is ‘the great freedom’ and the great muse. But it’s more than that, it’s essential to our life on earth. The sea’s phytoplankton contributes more than half of the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere. We need to save the sea before it’s too late. We urgently need to stop overfishing, and stop plastic pollution and cut carbon emissions. If the sea goes, our ecosystem goes and we all go too.”  

Jude Akuwudike holding a hake

COPENHAGEN PHOTOSHOOT

Natalie Madeuno holds a Baltic Cod

In Copenhagen, actor Thure Lindhardt (The Bridge, The Last Kingdom), award-winning actress and singer Trine Dyrholm (Springflod, The Commune), actor Lars Brygmann (Dicte: Crime Reporter, Stealing Rembrandt, Borgen), actress Natalie Madeuno (Follow the Money, In Love and War), actor Nicolas Bro (The Killing, The Bridge) and actress Iben Hjejle (High Fidelity, Dag, Dicte, Langt fra Las Vegas) all posing with a massive Baltic cod – a species under serious threat from overfishing, supplied by David Lange at Kystfisker Kompagniet. View Denmark images here.  For high resolution, unwatermarked images contact Nicolas Rohl, nicky@fishlove.co.uk.  Caption that must be published with images: “Celebrities and actors pose with fish in a courageous call on EU governments for bold action to #EndOverfishing in Europe’s waters by 2020. © Fishlove/Alan Gelati.” “Our oceans do not belong to us”, said Thure Lindhardt, holding the Baltic cod. “They belong to our children and grandchildren. It is now we must do something to protect not only the oceans but indeed the future of our own species”. “Fish are food, healthy food, and so it’s important that we still have enough fish in thirty or forty years from now ”, said Lars Brygmann. “Fish stocks must be taken care of for the future generations to come”.  

Iben Hjejle holds a Baltic Cod

Nicolas Bro holds a Baltic Cod

Trine Dyrholm holds a Baltic Cod

Fishlove has already featured luminaries such as Gillian Anderson, Ben Kingsley, Helena Bonham Carter, Sir Richard Branson, Emma Thompson, Judi Dench, Kenzo, and a host of others who have shed their clothes and hugged a fish for the cause, working with well known photographers such as Rankin and Jillian Edelstein. Before the end of 2018, more celebrities from across European countries will join the Fishlove campaign to support an end to EU overfishing by 2020. Fish facts:

• Fishing is one of the biggest pressures on the our global ocean; worldwide, around one third of fish stocks are overfished to unhealthy levels, and 60% of fish stocks are fished to their maximum sustainable limit.  FAO: The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018 – Meeting the sustainable development goals..
• The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) challenge the world to shift to a sustainable and resilient path – with SDG 14 focused on the ocean: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”
• Historically, the US has shown considerable courage in putting in place legislation and mechanisms to end overfishing, to the considerable benefit of marine environment and dependent communities – the EU could learn a great deal from the US in how decision-making was depoliticised, with fisheries managers being restricted in the fishing limits they could set by the scientific advice and the obligation to restore overfished stocks.
• The strength of US legislation is now being threatened domestically, but nevertheless provides an example that bold decision-making in favour of ending overfishing works – all EU decision-makers have to do is to show the same commitment to long-term objectives.
• In 2013, EU decision-makers agreed to end overfishing by 2015, or 2020 at the latest but so far progress has been too little and too slow:
  • The Mediterranean and Black Sea have the highest level of overfished stocks in the world
  • Around 40% of fish stocks in the Atlantic and Baltic are still overfished or being fished too intensely
  •  

Contacts To obtain high-resolution, unwatermarked images for publication, contact Nicolas Rohl, nicky@fishlove.co.uk +44 7941 492 305 Photographer AND caption MUST be added to any usage of this image: “Celebrities and actors pose with fish in a courageous call on EU governments for bold action to #EndOverfishing in Europe’s waters by 2020. © Fishlove/Alan Gelati.” Dave Walsh, Our Fish Communications Advisor, dave@our.fish +34 691826764 About Fishlove Fishlove was set up in 2009 by Nicholas Röhl, co-owner of MOSHIMO, and actress Greta Scacchi to raise awareness of the unsustainable fishing practices that are destroying the earth’s marine ecosystem. Since then, the Fishlove images have succeeded in bringing the subject of overfishing to the front covers and pages of the world’s media many times over. It is a visual petition of amazing people, including Sir Ben Kingsley, Sir Michael Gambon, Sir Richard Branson, Melanie Laurent, Fiona Shaw, Terry Gilliam, Kenzo, Dame Judi Dench, Emilia Fox, Mark Rylance, Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham-Carter, and Imelda Staunton, to save our seas. In acknowledgment of the central role Fishlove has played in promoting fish conversation as part of the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy in 2013, a major and influential exhibition of the portraits was held at the European Commission in Brussels at the invitation of Maria Damanaki, then EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Helena Bonham-Carter’s image with a tuna, released in 2015, is credited with having helped persuade the UK government to commit to establishing some of the largest, fully protected marine reserves on earth. All of the fish shown in the photographs are commercially fished, although some species shown are regarded by scientists as being over-fished and threatened. Fishlove believes that the use of these fish in these photographs is justified so as to highlight what species could be lost if overfishing continues. None of the fish depicted in the photographs have been specifically caught for the purposes of making these photographs, and would have been landed irrespective of whether these photographs were taken or not. Other than in very unusual circumstances, the fish photographed are eaten afterwards. The fish in this image was sourced from Santa Monica Seafood. Fishlove is produced by MOSHIMO, an independent Japanese restaurant in Brighton, UK, co-owned by Nicholas Röhl and Karl Jones. Famous for its Fishlove campaign, the restaurant has also won a prestigious PETA award for its promotion of plant-based eating. https://fishlove.co.uk/ Follow on: Twitter @fishlove2020 Instagram @fishlovecampaign Facebook @fishlovecampaign   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  

Bericht „Dorsch-Rückwürfe: illegal, destruktiv und umweltschädigend“ von Our Fish deckt Verstöße gegen Rückwurfverbot in der Ostsee auf – Dorschbestand weiterhin in Gefahr – Deutsche Umwelthilfe und Our Fish fordern nachhaltige Fangquoten und umfassende Kontrollen der Fischereiflotten

Downloads:

Dorsch-Rückwürfe: illegal, destruktiv und umweltschädigend 

København, 4. oktober 2018

Massive mængder østersøtorsk bliver stadig smidt overbord fra kutterne i Østersøen, selvom det har været ulovligt i tre år, de ansvarlige ministerier kender til problemet. Det afslører en ny rapport fra organisationen Our Fish.

Rapporten ” Ulovligt udsmid i Østersøen er et spild for fiskeri, samfund og miljø” udgives forud for EU’s fiskeriministres rådsmøde i Luxembourg 15. – 16. oktober. Den tager temperaturen på den hårdt pressede torsk i den vestlige og østlige del af Østersøen og opfordrer fiskerminister Eva Kjer Hansen og hendes kollegaer i EU til at sætte ind med det samme overfor ulovlighederne. Det er helt afgørende, hvis man skal undgå yderligere nedgang for østersøtorsken, der lider under overfiskeri og massivt, ulovligt udsmid.

Torskene i Østersøen er højt skattet af både fiskere og forbrugere, og i torskefiskeriets velmagtsdage i 1984 blev der landet mere end 440.000 tons torsk fra den østlige Østersø. Men efter voldsom nedgang i bestanden må der i dag ikke landes mere end 40.000 tons torsk fra den østlige Østersø om året. Torskene i denne bestand bliver dog ikke kun færre i antal, de bliver også mindre og mindre, og torsk på over 45 cm er stort set forsvundet fra området. For ni år siden stod det desuden så skidt til for torskebestanden i den vestlige del af Østersøen, at den var på randen af kollaps. Selvom der for nyligt er sket en lille bedring i bestanden, er den stadig yderst sårbar, og for at øge beskyttelsen er der lukket for fiskeri af torsk i den vestlige Østersø, imens den gyder, samtidig med at kvoterne er blevet skåret ned.

“I næsten ti år har EU’s fiskeriminister sat de tilladte fangstmængder for torsk i den østlige Østersø på et niveau, der ligger så langt over videnskabelige anbefalinger, at det ikke skaber en effektfuld begrænsning i fangsterne. Det er et tydeligt eksempel på ineffektive og dårlige forvaltning af en ellers yderst sårbar bestand, og det er ikke en god udvikling hverken for fiskeriet eller for havet”, siger Rebecca Hubbard, programchef for Our Fish.  “Lige nu bør EU’s fiskeriministre rette deres blik skarpt mod det forslag til næste års fangstmængder, der for kort tid siden kom fra EU-Kommissionen. Det er virkelig opppe over for torskene i Østersøen, og det kan ikke understreges nok hvor vigtigt det er for bestandenes fremtid, at fiskeriministrene nu sikrer, at fangstmængderne endelig bliver sat i tråd med den videnskabelige rådgivning,” fortsætter hun.

Uafhængige observationer tyder på, at 10,1 millioner torsk fra både den vestlige og østlige Østersø i 2017 blev smidt ulovligt overbord. Fisk, der derfor heller ikke blev regnet med i fangsterne. For torskene i den østlige Østersø har forskere vurderet, at kun 1/17 af fangsterne af uønskede fisk under mindstemålet rent faktisk blev landet og registreret, sådan som loven kræver (sammenlignet med hvad der reelt blev smidt ud).

“I hvilket andet erhverv ville man blot kigge den anden vej, når man fandt ud af at 85% af en aktivitet er klokkeklar ulovlig? Landene omkring Østersøen har pligt til at sikre, at fiskeriet udføres i overensstemmelse med loven, og at pilen i højere grad peger mod mere et selektivt, bæredygtigt og transparent fiskerierhverv. Det er ikke alene nødvendigt for at sikre østersøtorskens overlevelse, det er også nødvendigt for fiskeriet selv, for uden fisk intet fiskeri,” konkluderer Hubbard.

Forud for rådsmødet i Luxembourg anbefales fiskeriministrene derfor at:

• Følge videnskabelig rådgivning og sætte de samlede tilladte fangstmængder på et bæredygtigt niveau og i tråd med målet i EU’s fælles fiskeripolitik;
• Stille krav til at fiskeflåder med særlig risiko for udsmid dokumenterer, at de overholder loven ved hjælp af REM systemer (Remote Electronic Monitoring) og videoovervågning eller brug af uafhængige observatører;
• Fastsætte kvoterne baseret på ICES’ rådgivning, og at ‘top-ups’ for uønskede fangster kun gives til fartøjer, der via REM kan påvise, at de overholder landingsforpligtelsen.

Download rapporten:

Illegal Baltic cod discards are wasting fisheries, communities & the environment kan downloades her.

Tidligere relevante rapporter:

September 2018: Ignoring the Science: EU Commission 2019 Baltic fishing limits outstrip ambition to end overfishing

October 2017: EU Fisheries Ministers’ All Night Debate Leads To Continued Baltic Overfishing of Cod

November 2017: Thrown Away: How Illegal Discarding in the Baltic Sea is Failing EU Fisheries and Citizens

Kontakt:

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

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

Brussels, 4th October 2018:- A report published today by the Our Fish campaign finds that an extremely high level of Baltic cod is still being discarded against the law, with full knowledge of Member State fisheries ministries, three years after it was banned. The report, ‘Illegal Baltic cod discards are wasting fisheries, communities & the environment, published ahead of the coming EU AGRIFISH council meeting in Luxembourg (October 15-16th) explores the state of Eastern and Western Baltic cod, and calls on Baltic fisheries ministers to act urgently to prevent the further decline of these exhausted iconic fish stocks through overfishing and illegal and unreported discarding at sea. The Baltic’s iconic cod stocks are in serious danger. At its peak in 1984, fishers landed more than 440,000 tonnes of Eastern Baltic cod, but today, with dwindling stocks, they are allowed to bring home less than 40,000 tonnes a year. Eastern Baltic cod are not only shrinking in number, but also in size – individuals longer than 45 centimetres have virtually disappeared.  Nine years ago, Western Baltic cod stock also plunged to the brink of collapse, and while it has started recovering, it is still considered very fragile due to poor recruitment. As a result, it has been subject to closures during spawning time, along with severe cuts to quotas, in order to save the stock. “For almost ten years, EU fisheries ministers have set the annual fishing limits for eastern Baltic cod so far above scientific recommendations that catches are not even restricted by this limit – a clear indicator of the ineffective and poor management of Eastern Baltic cod”, said Our Fish Programme Director Rebecca Hubbard. “EU fisheries ministers must now correct the Commission’s proposal, re-aligning it with scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)”. Independent indicators suggest that 10.1 million Western and Eastern Baltic cod were illegally discarded and not counted towards catches in 2017. For eastern Baltic cod in 2017 – scientists estimate that just 1/17 of all unwanted undersize catches were landed and recorded (compared to what was actually discarded). “In what other industry would the government turn its head when told that 85% of activity is unreported and illegal? Baltic governments must act now to bring fishing industry practices into line with the law, and ensure a just transition to more selective, sustainable, transparent fishing, if we are to preserve the iconic Baltic cod, the communities that depend on it for their livelihoods, and the trust of EU citizens and seafood buyers,” concluded Hubbard. The report recommends that while in Luxembourg, Baltic Fisheries Ministers:

• follow scientific advice by setting annual fishing limits at sustainable levels in line with Common Fisheries Policy requirements;
• require fleets with an increased risk of discarding to demonstrate that they are compliant with the law, through the use of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) and closed-circuit video surveillance or on board observers; and
• set fishing limits based on ICES advice for wanted catch, with ‘quota top-ups’ for unwanted catch only granted to fleets that demonstrate full compliance with the Landing Obligation, through the use of REM.  

Download the report: Illegal Baltic cod discards are wasting fisheries, communities & the environment can be downloaded here.   Further Reading: September 2018: Ignoring the Science: EU Commission 2019 Baltic fishing limits outstrip ambition to end overfishing October 2017: EU Fisheries Ministers’ All Night Debate Leads To Continued Baltic Overfishing of Cod November 2017: Thrown Away: How Illegal Discarding in the Baltic Sea is Failing EU Fisheries and Citizens 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. Website: http://our.fish Follow Our Fish on Twitter: @our_fish

From Undercurrent, 4th September 2018: NGOs claim Baltic proposals ignore science on safe fishing levels

The European Commission (EC)’s latest proposals for fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea ignore scientific advice for some of the stocks, NGOs Our Fish and the Fisheries Secretariat (FishSec) have warned.

The EC’s plan, which will go to the European Council in October for a final decision, suggests cutting total allowable catches (TACs) on some herring stocks, and increasing those on cod and plaice.

“While moving in the right direction, Our Fish is concerned that the EU Commission is again choosing to propose fishing limits above what science says is safe,” said Our Fish program director Rebecca Hubbard.

“This is not only a warning for EU ambition on ocean governance, it sets a low bar for EU fisheries ministers to deliver on their duty to end overfishing. Despite this, fisheries ministers can still respond to EU citizens’ expectations and restore ocean health by setting limits that will end overfishing in the Baltic Sea in 2019.”

Undercurrent: NGOs claim Baltic proposals ignore science on safe fishing levels