New alliance from 14 nations pledges to fight latest EU curbs on ‘indefensible’ practice of scooping up fish from the sea floor
An EU action plan to deal with fishing practices that trawl the ocean floor is set to trigger a row between conservationists and a new industry alliance that says it is fighting for Europe’s culture and identity.
About 32% of Europe’s fish are caught by industrial fishing vessels that rake the sea floor with enormous nets in a process called bottom trawling. Studies indicate that these nets can suck up to 41% of all invertebrate life from the sea floor and cause grave damage to marine environments such as cold water coral reefs and seagrass beds.
Bottom-trawling is already banned by the EU at depths of more than 800 metres but the European Commission has promised to implement whatever restrictions it deems necessary to further limit the practice, which it called “the most damaging activity to the seabed”. A delayed package of recommendations and announcements now expected in the spring could include a ban on bottom-trawling in marine protected areas (MPAs).
The fishing industry, however, is preparing to fight back with the formal launch of the European Bottom Fishing Alliance (EBFA) later this month. Formed in response to a petition signed by 150,000 people in December calling for an immediate ban on bottom trawling in MPAs, the alliance unites fishing associations across 14 countries.
Others are critical of these arguments. While trawling restrictions could raise prices for a period, said Joachim Claudet, a senior scientist at France’s National Centre for Scientific Research, “ecosystems would recover quite quickly if we stopped trawling, and that would mean there would be more fish to catch with more sustainable practices.”
Rebecca Hubbard, programme director of the Our Fish campaign group, described the new industry offensive as “a desperate greenwashing initiative in defence of the indefensible”.
The issue is escalating into a battle, said Nicolas Fournier, campaign director of the Oceana conservation group, which argues for practices such as long-line fishing, and eating more locally-caught and less threatened species. “If we are to seize this opportunity to tackle bottom-trawling, it’s basically now or never,” he said.
Brussels, 10 February 2022:- As the “One Ocean Summit”, organised under the French EU Presidency takes place in Brest (9-11 February), more than 20 non-profit organisations today called on the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the European Union to put in place an ambitious, revised EU fisheries control system that fully protects the marine environment and contributes to the success of the Biodiversity Strategy and of the European Green Deal.
In an open letter addressed to the three EU institutions,published today, NGOs called on the French Presidency of the EU Council and on Member State governments, along with Members of the European Parliament and the European Commission, to ensure that the revised EU Fisheries Control Regulation contributes to sustainable fisheries management that reduces the impact of fisheries on the marine environment and promotes the protection of species and ecosystems.
The EU Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, known as the Fisheries Control Regulation [1], is now outdated, and currently under revision. It came into force in 2010 to provide a system of monitoring, inspection and enforcement for fishing operations in EU waters and activities of the EU fleet globally. The control regulation includes responsibilities and obligations for EU Member States with respect to access to their waters and resources, traceability, surveillance of vessels, enforcement and the data collection and documentation of EU fisheries. The European Court of Auditors identified loopholes, which undermine the development of fully documented and transparent fisheries [3]. The current trilogue negotiations on the Regulation started last year and are expected to continue after the French presidency ends in June.
“The ongoing trilogue negotiations provide the opportunity to future-proof the EU’s fisheries control system for the years to come”, said Monica Verbeek, Executive Director of Seas At Risk “It therefore must ensure that EU fisheries will be properly and sustainably managed with the aim to minimise environmental impact of fishing activities, and thus create more climate resilient and healthy marine ecosystems in line with the Biodiversity Strategy goals.
The NGOs are calling on policymakers “to translate these ambitions into a sound revision of the Control Regulation, which will make a difference for biodiversity and climate”.
“Several simple, effective, and financially viable solutions exist. If well implemented, they can strengthen the environmental sustainability of the EU fishing fleet, avoid the death of protected species such as seabirds and dolphins, and contribute to a level playing field for EU fishers, continues Ariel Bruner, Senior Head of Policy at BirdLife Europe.
The NGOs are calling on the EU institutions to ensure that the revised EU Fisheries Control Regulation contributes to sustainable fisheries management that reduces the impact of fisheries on the marine environment and promotes the protection of species and ecosystems, urging them to:
Ensure that all catches are correctly reported and taken into account. This means no increase in the so-called ‘margin of tolerance’ allowed when fishing operators estimate and report their catches. Sustainability of EU fisheries is only possible if scientists and decision makers actually know what has been caught.
Ensure that sufficient and robust fishing data are collected on board of all EU fishing vessels, including the recording of incidental catches of sensitive species in electronic logbooks s To be able to verify logbook data, Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)should be mandatory on all vessels above 12 metres in length as well, as those vessels below 12 metres that are at high-risk of bycatching sensitive species and/or not complying with the Common Fisheries Policy.
Ensure that vessel tracking systems are installed on all EU fishing vessels, independently of their size. Ensure that non-compliance with EU environmental legislation is considered a serious infringement, including fishing in areas that are closed for protection of species and habitats, as well as failing to implement measures to reduce bycatch.
Ensure a digital traceability system covering all fish and seafood products available on the EU market (including preserved and/or processed products), which will promote transparency and sustainability of seafood not only within the EU but also in the global fisheries sector.
[1] COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy,
The EU Fisheries Control Coalition is an alliance of leading NGOs that works with organizations and individuals throughout Europe to secure a fisheries control system that safeguards ocean health and marine resources for generations to come. Find out more about our work here.
Boa Mistura creating the mural “Heartbeat of the Ocean” in Vilnius.
Brussels 3 February 2022:- A collective of Madrid-based street artists have published an open letter to EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius calling on him to take the lead in ending EU destructive and over-fishing and restore the health of the ocean.
“The mural of sea creatures in Vilnius shows and celebrates the Ocean as the heart of the planet. Without a healthy ocean, we cannot have a healthy planet – no heart, no life. Our mural in Vilnius is our message to the world: ‘Save the Ocean to Save the Climate’”, said Pablo Puróne of Boa Mistura.
“Our name, Boa Mistura – which means ‘good mixture’, reflects our diverse backgrounds and pathways. We have created massive outdoor artworks all over the world to bring beauty and a message to our streets and connect people.”
“The mural depicts whales, fish, and other ocean creatures with hands supporting them to express the love and respect humans should have for oceans. It is not only a gift to the people of Vilnius, but to all people. We need people around the world to understand that a healthy ocean is critical to a healthy planet and climate action.”
“Heartbeat of the Ocean has a special message for you as Lithuania’s European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries: the future of Europe’s fish and ocean life are in your hands. This is not just a good line for social media – it is also a deeper message and an urgent call for action. In Vilnius we painted in sub-zero temperatures to communicate our message, now we call on you to take decisive and bold action to protect the ocean, and so safeguard the lives and communities who depend on it… and that means all of us”.
Boa Mistura with the mural in Vilnius Our Fish/Dalius Pacevičius
“By ending destructive and over-fishing and restoring the health of the ocean, we improve the chances for the future of humanity. This sounds wild, but that is what is at stake, and the Commissioner you are in the extraordinary position of being able to deliver on that. We will keep spreading the message, if you please deliver on the action”, concludes the letter.
Environmental NGOs present Commissioner Sinkevičius with giant pop-up storybook on how bottom-trawling impacts our marine environment
Brussels, 20 December 2021: – A giant colourful pop-up book depicting the devastation caused by destructive bottom trawling – and how the marine environment thrives in its absence – was delivered to European Union (EU) Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius by NGOs this morning, on behalf of more than 150,000 Europeans who have signed a petition calling for the EU to phase out destructive fishing practices, starting with an immediate ban of bottom trawling in all Marine Protected Areas. [1]
The tens of thousands of signatories are demanding that EU Commissioner Sinkevičius (responsible for the environment, ocean and fisheries) and EU Commission Executive Vice-president Frans Timmermans (responsible for the EU Green Deal) include a ban on bottom-trawling in the upcoming EU ‘Action plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems’ (Ocean Action Plan), to be adopted next spring. Bottom trawling, the most harmful fishing method for the environment and climate, is widely used in Europe where it impacts more than 50% of the seabed, and even takes place inside Marine Protected Areas.
Oceana, Seas At Risk, Our Fish, WeMove Europe, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, and Environmental Justice Foundation, delivered the 1.5m by 2.5m pop-up book, which features both Commissioners Sinkevičius and Timmermans embarking on an ocean adventure modeled on The Life Aquatic, a popular film which references the work of famous ocean explorer and conservationist Jacques-Yves Cousteau, outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. The book presents a story on how the EU has the chance to turn the tide on destructive fishing by banning bottom-trawling, through a journey from current underwater devastation to a healthy, thriving and resilient marine environment.
Vera Coelho, Senior Director of Advocacy at Oceana in Europe said “Marine Protected Areas, as the name suggests, are supposed to afford protection to marine life, yet in 2020 over 2.5 million hours of bottom-trawling took place inside them. It is unacceptable that the EU continues condoning the destruction of the very places it has committed to protect. This madness can and must be fixed now, for good.”
Tobias Troll, Marine Policy Director at Seas At Risk added“European citizens start to realise that the seas are fragile ecosystems that need protection because they are the life support system of the planet. Destructive fishing techniques like bottom trawling must end, inside marine protected areas but also beyond. We need a just transition to low impact fisheries to protect biodiversity and allow future generations of small scale fisherfolk and coastal communities to have a good life.”
Rebecca Hubbard, Program Director, Our Fish said“We can’t just continue with pledges and promises forever – we are running out of time and every ton of carbon counts. It’s time that the EU got serious about transitioning out of destructive fishing methods such as bottom trawling, which produces CO2 emissions through burning fuel, releasing carbon stored in the seabed, and depleting fish populations, and instead secured a sustainable and resilient future for our climate, ocean and coastal communities.”
Giulio Carini, Senior Campaigner, WeMove Europe said: “Almost half of the EU population lives within 50 kilometers of the sea, and no one wants to have a devastated and dead ocean for decades to come.”
Steve Trent, CEO, Environmental Justice Foundation said: “As well as destroying ocean ecosystems, endangering wildlife, and threatening coastal livelihoods, bottom trawling is also hastening climate breakdown. This practice churns up the seabed, releasing vital stores of carbon that have lain safely locked away for centuries. It is gravely disappointing that the EU, which has led progressive efforts to improve sustainability in fisheries, still allows bottom trawling within protected areas. This must end now.”
Background
– Bottom-contacting gear, including dredging and bottom trawling, is the most unselective and destructive fishing gear. The method involves dragging heavy weighted nets across the sea floor, indiscriminately catching all types of living creatures and habitats that happen to be on their way. Such trawling can strip up to 41% of invertebrate life from the sea-bed, and the ocean floor can take many years to recover. Its continuous use has led to drastic, and in some cases irreversible, degradation of marine ecosystems including habitats like corals and seagrass, as well as sensitive species like sharks, turtles and dolphins. Moreover, bottom trawling disturbs the seabed and releases large amounts of carbon stored in sediments into the sea – novel, early-stage research suggests a level of released carbon that would put it on par with the aviation sector (study).
– Recent data by Oceana revealed how EU countries continue to allow destructive fishing in Europe’s Marine Protected Areas, with over 2.5 million hours of bottom fishing occurring in 2020 inside areas supposedly designated to protect Europe’s most valuable and threatened marine species and habitats.
– A socioeconomic analysis commissioned by Seas At Risk has revealed that a ban on bottom-contacting gear (bottom trawling and bottom dredging) in Marine Protected Areas would yield net benefits as soon as four years after the ban comes into force.
– The EU Action plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems, announced in the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, is expected in 2022. An EU public consultation is open until December 20th..
* Ends *
#BanBottomTrawling
Photos and video footage of the petition delivery:
Brussels, 20 December 2021: – A giant colourful pop-up book depicting the devastation caused by destructive bottom trawling – and how the marine environment thrives in its absence – was delivered to European Union (EU) Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius by NGOs this morning, on behalf of more than 150,000 Europeans who have signed a petition calling for the EU to phase out destructive fishing practices, starting with an immediate ban of bottom trawling in all Marine Protected Areas. [1]
The tens of thousands of signatories are demanding that EU Commissioner Sinkevičius (responsible for the environment, ocean and fisheries) and EU Commission Executive Vice-president Frans Timmermans (responsible for the EU Green Deal) include a ban on bottom-trawling in the upcoming EU ‘Action plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems’ (Ocean Action Plan), to be adopted next spring. Bottom trawling, the most harmful fishing method for the environment and climate, is widely used in Europe where it impacts more than 50% of the seabed, and even takes place inside Marine Protected Areas.
Video: Oceana.
Oceana, Seas At Risk, Our Fish, WeMove Europe, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, and Environmental Justice Foundation, delivered the 1.5m by 2.5m pop-up book, which features both Commissioners Sinkevičius and Timmermans embarking on an ocean adventure modeled on The Life Aquatic, a popular film which references the work of famous ocean explorer and conservationist Jacques-Yves Cousteau, outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. The book presents a story on how the EU has the chance to turn the tide on destructive fishing by banning bottom-trawling, through a journey from current underwater devastation to a healthy, thriving and resilient marine environment.
Vera Coelho, Senior Director of Advocacy at Oceana in Europe said “Marine Protected Areas, as the name suggests, are supposed to afford protection to marine life, yet in 2020 over 2.5 million hours of bottom-trawling took place inside them. It is unacceptable that the EU continues condoning the destruction of the very places it has committed to protect. This madness can and must be fixed now, for good.”
Tobias Troll, Marine Policy Director at Seas At Risk added“European citizens start to realise that the seas are fragile ecosystems that need protection because they are the life support system of the planet. Destructive fishing techniques like bottom trawling must end, inside marine protected areas but also beyond. We need a just transition to low impact fisheries to protect biodiversity and allow future generations of small scale fisherfolk and coastal communities to have a good life.”
Rebecca Hubbard, Program Director, Our Fish said“We can’t just continue with pledges and promises forever – we are running out of time and every ton of carbon counts. It’s time that the EU got serious about transitioning out of destructive fishing methods such as bottom trawling, which produces CO2 emissions through burning fuel, releasing carbon stored in the seabed, and depleting fish populations, and instead secured a sustainable and resilient future for our climate, ocean and coastal communities.”
Giulio Carini, Senior Campaigner, WeMove Europe said: “Almost half of the EU population lives within 50 kilometers of the sea, and no one wants to have a devastated and dead ocean for decades to come.”
Steve Trent, CEO, Environmental Justice Foundation said: “As well as destroying ocean ecosystems, endangering wildlife, and threatening coastal livelihoods, bottom trawling is also hastening climate breakdown. This practice churns up the seabed, releasing vital stores of carbon that have lain safely locked away for centuries. It is gravely disappointing that the EU, which has led progressive efforts to improve sustainability in fisheries, still allows bottom trawling within protected areas. This must end now.”
Background
– Bottom-contacting gear, including dredging and bottom trawling, is the most unselective and destructive fishing gear. The method involves dragging heavy weighted nets across the sea floor, indiscriminately catching all types of living creatures and habitats that happen to be on their way. Such trawling can strip up to 41% of invertebrate life from the sea-bed, and the ocean floor can take many years to recover. Its continuous use has led to drastic, and in some cases irreversible, degradation of marine ecosystems including habitats like corals and seagrass, as well as sensitive species like sharks, turtles and dolphins. Moreover, bottom trawling disturbs the seabed and releases large amounts of carbon stored in sediments into the sea – novel, early-stage research suggests a level of released carbon that would put it on par with the aviation sector (study).
– Recent data by Oceana revealed how EU countries continue to allow destructive fishing in Europe’s Marine Protected Areas, with over 2.5 million hours of bottom fishing occurring in 2020 inside areas supposedly designated to protect Europe’s most valuable and threatened marine species and habitats.
– A socioeconomic analysis commissioned by Seas At Risk has revealed that a ban on bottom-contacting gear (bottom trawling and bottom dredging) in Marine Protected Areas would yield net benefits as soon as four years after the ban comes into force.
– The EU Action plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems, announced in the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, is expected in 2022. An EU public consultation is open until December 20th..
* Ends *
#BanBottomTrawling
Photos and video footage of the petition delivery:
Brussels, 14 December, 2021- European Fisheries Ministers, gathered in Brussels to set fishing limits for fish populations in EU seas for 2022, this morning decided to continue overfishing of over one third of stocks, in disregard for both science and EU law. [1]
Ahead of this week’s EU AGRIFISH Council meeting, several countries – Spain, Portugal and France in particular – proudly stated their intention to go against both scientific advice and EU legislation on fishing limits for EU-only fished stocks, claiming to defend fishing industry interests [2], despite there being no future for the fishing industry without ending overfishing and achieving healthy fish populations.
As a result, despite efforts from the European Commission to make progress towards ending overfishing, fisheries ministers have today disregarded the maximum fishing limits proposed by scientists for iconic fish stocks such as southern hake, sole or nephrops. This runs counter to warnings from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), which for the first time since 2005 has reported a setback in progress towards ending overfishing in EU waters.
“It is unacceptable that ministers openly advocate for ignoring the advice given by scientists and instead choose to respond to industry lobbyists”, says Andrea Ripol, Fisheries Policy Officer of Seas At Risk. “Ministers have this morning decided to continue overfishing, claiming that this was necessary for socio-economic reasons. But what they are failing to grasp is that ending overfishing and ensuring abundant fish populations is in the interest of fishers, and theses narrow-minded decisions will only jeopardise the health of our ocean, our planetary support system, and with it, the fishing industry and communities they are claiming to protect” she added.
“It’s shocking that EU fisheries ministers remain so dysfunctional and out of touch with the concerns of European citizens, that they continue overfishing as if they will not be held responsible for fulfilling their legal obligations, or for the repercussions of worsening the ecological and climate crisis”, said Rebecca Hubbard, Program Director for Our Fish [3]. “EU leaders must hold their fisheries ministers to account for the laws and pledges they’ve signed up to, both internationally and at home, including ending overfishing.”
“The world is waking up to how important it is to protect the ocean in the face of climate change, and to restore fish populations and healthy seas; if fisheries ministers insist on remaining at odds with reality, they must be replaced by functional decision-makers that not only abide by the rules, but manage fishing so that the ocean can provide the fish, livelihoods, and climate that we need to survive and thrive. The European Commission’s forthcoming Action plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems is an opportunity to ensure that the true cost of fishing is monitored, and that fisheries management delivers climate action”, concluded Hubbard. NGO recommendations for the Action Plan can be found here.
The European Commission and EU fisheries ministers also appear to have taken a risky, and non-transparent approach to proposing 2022 fishing opportunities for shared fish stocks if the EU and UK cannot reach agreement by December 20th; instead of proposing 25% of the scientific advice by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) for 2022 as the total allowable catch for the first quarter, they have proposed various quantities, many of which are simply 25% of the 2021 total allowable catch or higher. This is high-risk gambling with the health of fish stocks, said the NGOs. There is minimum transparency around the whole process, which makes any promises from Ministers that they “will follow the science” almost impossible to assess.
Dave Walsh, Communications Advisor, Our Fish +34 691 826 764, press@our.fish
NOTES
[1] The reformed Common Fisheries Policy includes the fundamental objective to progressively restore and maintain fish stocks above sustainable levels, specifically above levels capable of producing the maximum sustainable yield. The legislation also states that this objective shall be achieved by 2015 or progressively by 2020 at the latest for all stocks.
[2] France, Spain and Portugal claim to be going against against both scientific advice and EU legislation:
“94% of citizens in all EU Member States say that protecting the environment is important to them.”
“The Eurobarometer Survey .. reveals that citizens want more to be done to protect the environment, and that they believe responsibility should be shared by big companies and industry, national governments and the EU, as well as citizens themselves. The interviewed citizens considered that the most effective ways of tackling environmental problems are ‘changing the way we consume’ and ‘changing the way we produce and trade’.”
Stunning Mural Delivers Ocean & Climate Action Message in European Commissioner’s Hometown. “Save the Ocean to Save the Climate”. Our Fish/Dalius Pacevičius
“Save the Ocean to Save the Climate” – message to Virginijus Sinkevičius in Vilnius, Lithuania
Vilnius, Friday 3 December 2021:- Our Fish today presented a stunning mural, “Heartbeat of the Ocean” – painted on a nine-floor apartment building in Vilnius, Lithuania by the world-renowned team of Spanish artists Boa Mistura – to the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius, as an early Christmas gift; the mural send a strong reminder that not only is the health of the ocean in his hands, but that the Commissioner must act with urgency to protect it and the climate.
“Save the Ocean to Save the Climate” is the message of the 300 square metre fresco, created during freezing temperatures by the artists of Boa Mistura, on the entire wall of a nine-storey apartment building at Sausio 13-osios st. 7, near Vilnius’s famed TV tower.
“Our Fish wishes to send the people of Vilnius and European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, a Christmas gift that lasts – a bold and beautiful mural that reminds us that the health of Europe’s ocean life is in our hands, and we must act with courage and commitment to protect it for future generations,” said Rebecca Hubbard, Program Director of the Our Fish campaign, which works to end overfishing and restore a healthy ocean ecosystem.
The mural, which features fish, whales and other ocean creatures, aims to invite Vilnius’ residents, guests and decision-makers to pay more attention to protection of the ocean, and the importance of a healthy ocean to climate action.
“European seas have been heavily overfished and the ecosystems degraded over many decades. This not only destroys wildlife and diminishes the ocean’s ability to provide us with food and jobs, it undermines its capacity to store carbon and adapt to the climate emergency,” said Hubbard.
“Commissioner Sinkevičius must use his power, and act with inspired urgency to phase out destructive fishing and ensure a just transition to low-impact fishing, so that we can restore the ocean’s health and ensure it can keep defending us from the worst of climate change”.
The Boa Mistura Team. Our Fish/Dalius Pacevičius
The mural has been painted by four members of the Boa Mistura team, Pablo Ferreiro, Juan Jaume, Pablo Puron and Javier Ballesteros. Boa Mistura’s huge colourful works adorn buildings and streets, in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, France, USA, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, South Africa, China, and in other countries.
“We have created this mural of sea creatures in Vilnius, representing how the Ocean is the heart of planet Earth. Without a healthy ocean, we cannot have a healthy planet – no heart, no life”, said Pablo Puróne, a member of Boa Mistura. “Our mural in Vilnius is our message to the world: message ‘Save the Ocean to Save the Climate’”.
The European Commission is developing an Action Plan to make fisheries more sustainable, and protect marine ecosystems and their biodiversity, as a key part of their European Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The European Commission is currently asking people for their feedback on the Action Plan in a targeted consultation until December 20.
“I’m happy that the old Vilnius district of Karoliniškės just became more colourful. But even more – I’m delighted that this mural will remind passengers every day that ocean and sea creatures depend on our everyday choices. The seaside is quite far from Vilnius – we tend to remember it only in summer. But actually, our daily habits add up to climate change, or on the contrary – help to stop it. How we drive past this huge painting, what we eat each day – it’s time to pay more attention to these things. Oceans are warming and becoming uncomfortable to live in. We must pay attention to our carbon footprint, also to the fish species we eat if we want them to also stay in the oceans, not only in the mural,” said Inga Labutytė-Atkočaitienė, from the Lithuanian Fund for Nature, who spoke at the launch of the mural.
ENDS
Contact:
Dave Walsh, Our Fish Communications Advisor, +34 691 826 764, press@our.fish
Notes:
Briefing: Fisheries management responds to climate and nature emergency
Our Fish is working to end overfishing and restore a healthy ocean ecosystem. By collaborating with others, and deploying robust evidence, we are calling for an end to overfishing as a critical and significant action to address the biodiversity and climate crisis. https://our.fish
Photo and video of completed artwork to follow – contact press@our.fish for more details
Vilnius, Lithuania, 25 November 2021:- The world-renowned team of Spanish artists Boa Mistura is this week creating a reminder of how important healthy oceans are to our wellbeing, by creating a huge mural in Vilnius, Lithuania. Work began this week on the 300 square metre fresco, Heartbeat of the Ocean, which will soon adorn the entire wall of a nine-storey apartment building at Sausio 13-osios st. 7, near Vilnius’s famed TV tower. The mural intends to inspire action to reverse deterioration of the ocean – and negative impacts on the climate.
Fish and other ocean creatures are the heroes in the painting, commissioned by Our Fish, a campaign working to end overfishing and restore a healthy ocean ecosystem. The mural aims to invite Vilnius’ residents, guests and decision-makers to pay more attention to legal protection of the oceans and other water bodies.
“We chose Vilnius for the Heartbeat of the Ocean mural, as it is the home city of the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius. His mission to rebuild healthy fish populations and thriving ecosystems will not only ensure the oceans’ abilities to continue supporting life on the planet by providing all of us with oxygen and food – it will also contribute to sustaining the oceans’ protective powers against the worst effects of climate change”, Rebecca Hubbard, Our Fish Program Director, says.
According to Hubbard, the European Commission is currently preparing an action plan to conserve fishery resources and protect marine ecosystems. “It is crucial for this plan to set out a pathway for reducing the devastating impact of overfishing on marine life and for bolstering the ocean’s capacity to store carbon. This pathway should outline a transition from destructive bottom trawling towards sustainable fisheries that will also benefit the marine environment and support the livelihoods of our coastal communities”, adds Hubbard.
The mural will be painted by four members of the Boa Mistura team. These artists’ works, mostly huge, coloured paintings on buildings or streets, are visible in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, France, USA, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, South Africa, China, and in other countries.
The Boa Mistura team start work: Photo: Our Fish/Dalius Pacevičius
“This mural in Vilnius is a new symbol representing awareness and care of the ocean. We have created a heart made of different marine species. It reminds us that every heartbeat of the planet comes from the bottom of the sea, and protecting and caring for marine biodiversity is of vital importance,“ Boa Mistura team members say.
The slogan “Save the ocean to save the climate” will appear on the bottom of the mural. The nine-storey building was chosen for its strategic location providing great visibility for a large flow of residents and tourists. It’s on a lively avenue, next to the headquarters of the National Social Insurance, large supermarkets, and a polyclinic. The Boa Mistura team will complete their work in the next two weeks. Location details.
About Our Fish
Our Fish is working to end overfishing and restore a healthy ocean ecosystem. By collaborating with others, and deploying robust evidence, we are calling for an end to overfishing as a critical and significant action to address the biodiversity and climate crisis. https://our.fish
What: Fishy Decisions: How the EU and the UK will set Northeast Atlantic fishing limits for 2022 When: Tuesday 16 Nov 1300-1400 CET Why: EU member states and the UK are deciding on fishing limits for 2022, which could continue overfishing or cause more multilateral diplomacy issues Who: Our Fish, Oceana, Seas At Risk, ClientEarth, Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, Ecologistas en Acción, Sciaena, France Nature Environnement, Dutch Elasmobranch Society, Danish Society for Nature Conservation
This joint-NGO media briefing unravels the obscure process of setting fishing limits between the EU, UK, Norway and other coastal states in the Northeast Atlantic for 2022. After years of setting fishing limits higher than scientific advice, EU, Norwegian and UK fisheries ministers must pull out all stops to halt the drastic decline in fish populations and ocean health if they are to deliver on promises made at home and internationally to end overfishing, and to halt the biodiversity and climate crises.
Speakers:
Setting fishing limits – how does it work? Processes and the law, including the Brexit Agreement.Jenni Grossmann, ClientEarth.
State of the Stocks and European Seas – overfishing: past and present, and iconic fish at risk.Valeska Diemel, Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland.
The future of fishing in Europe: Lessons learned from 1st year of post-Brexit TACs and a changing climate.Javier Lopez, Oceana in Europe.
