Month: May 2017

  • Die Minister der Ostseeländer müssen handeln um einen „ Dorschkollaps“ zu verhindern

    Die Minister der Ostseeländer müssen handeln um einen „ Dorschkollaps“ zu verhindern

    Die Minister der Ostseeländer müssen handeln um einen „ Dorschkollaps“ zu verhindern.

    Kopenhagen, Mittwoch den 31.Mai 2017.

    Als Reaktion auf die Entwicklung des Dorschbestandes der vom internationalen Rat für Meeresforschung ( ICES ) untersucht wurde, fordert die Aktionsgruppe „Our Fish“ die Minister der Ostseeanrainerstaaten auf, dringend Maßnahmen zu ergreifen um einen Kollaps der regionalen Dorschfischerei zu verhindern.

    Die Untersuchung der Fischbestände in der Ostsee zeigt, dass trotz eines starken Nachwuchsjahrganges 2016 die Dorschbestände noch immer überfischt werden,.( 1 ) Außerdem wurden laut ICES, 11 Millionen untermaßige Dorsche des östlichen Bestandes durch die Schleppnetzfischerei unbeabsichtigt gefangen -und dann aussortiert und illegal tot oder sterbend zurückgeworfen wurden. (2,3)

    Um den Kollaps der Dorschbestände in der Ostsee zu verhindern und um das Aufwachsen zukünftiger Nachwuchsjahrgänge sicherzustellen, muss nicht nur den Vorschlägen des ICES in diesem Jahr gefolgt werden , sondern auch die Fischer müssen dazu gebracht werden, die Selektivität ihrer Netze zu optimieren. Unsere Leiterin der Fischkampagne REBECCA HUBBART fordert daher die zerstörerische Grundschleppnetzfischerei zu verbieten, die sowohl den Dorschbestand als auch die darauf angewiesenen Fische, in ihrer Existenz gefährden.

    Der westliche Dorschbestand wurde durch intensive Befischung schon seit Jahrzehnten übernutzt und befand sich dadurch schon öfter am Rande des Zusammenbruchs. Trotz des starken Nachwuchsjahrganges 2016 befindet sich die Biomasse auf dem zweitniedrigsten Stand seit den 80er Jahren und außerhalb sicherer Reproduktionsgrenzen. (1) Our Fish ruft die Minister der Ostseeanrainerstaaten dazu auf, die Notwendigkeit einer Bestandserholung bei der Festsetzung der Fangquoten für das Jahr 2018 zu berücksichtigen und nicht über die wissenschaftlichen Empfehlungen hinauszugehen.

    Die ICES Empfehlungen bilden die wissenschaftliche Basis für die Beratungen und die Festsetzungen der Fangquoten, die in der diesjährigen Sitzung der EU Kommission im Oktober stattfinden. Trotz der Verpflichtung die Gemeinsame Fischereipolitik umzusetzen und die Überfischung der Bestände zu beenden, waren und sind diese Sitzungen der EU Kommission wegen mangelnder Transparenz, mangelndem Verantwortungsbewusstsein

    und der laufenden Unterlassung, die Festsetzung der Fangmengen dem geltenden Recht entsprechend vorzunehmen, zu kritisieren. (3,4) Letztes Jahr wurden die Fangquoten bei 4 von 10 Beständen wissentlich oberhalb der wissenschaftlichen Empfehlung festgesetzt. Dies führte zur Fortsetzung der Überfischung und zu einer Abnahme der wirtschaftlichen und sozioökonomischen Leistung.

    Der östlich Dorschbestand war für lange Zeit eine Goldmine für die Fischerei und es wurden hohe Fänge über Jahre hinaus erzielt. Den Höchststand bildete das Jahr 1984 mit 400.000 Tonnen, gefolgt von einer danach kontinuierlich fortschreitenden Abnahme auf 57.000 Tonnen im Jahre 1992. Die Fangempfehlung für dieses Jahr betrug gerade etwas über 22.000 Tonnen-gerade den achtzehnten Teil des Höchstfanges aus 1984. (3)

    In jüngster Vergangenheit haben sich Dänemark und Deutschland für eine Überfischung stark gemacht, unter Nichtbeachtung der ICES Empfehlung. (5,6) „Wenn der dänische Minister für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft ESBEN LUNDE LARSEN und der deutsche Minister für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft CHRISTIAN SCHMIDT diese sinnlose Ausplünderung nicht zuletzt auch durch die 10 % Rückwürfe in der Schleppnetzfischerei nicht umgehend verhindern, sind sie mitverantwortlich für den Niedergang der kommerziellen Fischerei auf Großkuttern, anstatt Nachhaltigkeit zu fördern und die Zukunft der kleine Küstenfischerei zu sichern“ schlussfolgert HUBBART.

    Schlussfolgerungen

    Die Altersstruktur des westlichen Dorschbestandes leidet unter einer zu geringen Zahl an laichreifen Fischen. (8) Der Anteil der Altersklasse zweijähriger Fische betrug im Jahre 1994 35% wohingegen die Erwartungen für 2016 bei 71 % liegen (2). Ähnlich sieht es aufgrund von langjähriger Überfischung beim östlichen Bestand aus. Große laichfähige Fische fehlen.

    Die Quotenempfehlung für die kommerzielle Fischerei, auf den westlichen Bestand beträgt zwischen 1376 und 3541 Tonnen. Hier von werden 1754 Tonnen der Angelfischerei zugeordnet.

    Der östliche Bestand hat sich in der letzten Zeit so stark verändert, dass brauchbare Daten fehlen. Dies verhindert vorausschauende Bestandsermittlungen und Bestandsempfehlungen und Herangehensweisen .Für diesen Bestand in Verbindung mit vorbeugenden Beurteilungen ( durch             das Fehlen sicherer Daten) soll der EU Anteil, basierend auf die ICSES Empfehlung, nicht höher als 26071 Tonnen sein (3).

    Quellennachweis

    1. ICES (2017), ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea Ecoregion. Published 31 May 2017. cod.27.22-24
    2. Limited observer data indicates that undersized cod represent more than 10% of the total eastern Baltic cod catch in tonnes (equivalent to 11 million individuals), while landings of undersized cod are very low and discarding still takes place, despite the Landing Obligation being in place since 2015.

    ICES (2017). Report of the Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS), 19-26 April, 2017, ICES HQ, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2017/ACOM:11.

    1. Anecdotal evidence suggests fishers are modifying selectivity properties of their gear to increase catch rates of all cod, leading to a higher number of undersized fish being caught.

    ICES (2017), ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea Ecoregion. Published 31 May 2017. cod.27.25-32

    1. https://corporateeurope.org/power-lobbies/2017/05/fishing-influence
    2. http://transparency.eu/project/overfishing-in-the-darkness/
    3. New Economics Foundation (2017), Landing the Blame – Overfishing in the Baltic 2017.
    4. New Economics Foundation (2016), Landing the Blame – Overfishing in the Baltic Sea 2016.
    5. Marteinsdottir G, &Begg G.A. 2002. Essential relationships incorporating the influence of age, size and condition on variables required for estimation of reproductive potential in Atlantic cod Gadusmorhua. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 235: 235–256.

    Contacts

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

    Rebecca Hubbard, Campaign Manager, rebecca@our.fish +34 657 669 425

    Was ist “Our Fish”?

    Our fish:

    • Arbeitet daran sicherzustellen, dass die EU Mitgliedstaaten die Gemeinsame Fischereipolitik, GFP umsetzen und wirbt für nachhaltig bewirtschaftete Fischbestände in den europäischen Meeren.
    • Führt Organisationen zusammen, um mit einer Stimme die Beendigung der Überfischung und Lösungen für eine nachhaltige Befischung der europäischen Meere zu fordern.
    • Fordert eine ordentlich gemanagte und effektive Fischerei.
    • Fordert alle Mitgliedsstaaten auf, dem Fischereiaufwand jährliche Grenzen zu setzen, die sich an nachhaltigen Kriterien ausrichten und sich auf wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen und Empfehlungen stützen. Ziel ist der Nachweis , um nachzuweisen, dass ihre Fischereiflotten durch Kontrollen und Dokumentation der Fänge, nachhaltig fischen.

    http://www.ourfish.eu

    Der Kommentar

    Wolfgang Albrecht,

    1. Vorsitzender des Fischereischutzverbandes Schleswig-Holstein

    Die jüngste Entwicklung in der Dorschfischerei ist kein Anlass zur Freude, sondern, wenn nicht bald durch entschlossene Maßnahmen gegengesteuert wird, eher das Ende auch von vielen Betrieben der stillen Fischerei mit passiven Fanggeräten, die den jetzigen Bestandsrückgang gar nicht verursacht haben. Drei Krisensitzungen im vergangenen Jahr haben außer finanzieller Unterstützung, vornehmlich an der falschen Stelle, nichts gebracht und waren für den nötigen Bestandsaufbau des Dorsches in der westlichen Ostsee, eher ungeeignet, weil die nötigen Maßnahmen ( Paketlösung: Überbrückungshilfen, Verringerung des Fangaufwandes bei den Verursachern) nach wie vor fehlen.

    Es fehlt auf der Entscheidungsebene an Mut und Übersicht, um zielführende Maßnahmen anzuschieben.

    Man befasst sich mit Vermarktungskonzepten und übersieht dabei, dass die stille Fischerei mit passiven Fanggeräten, die bekanntlich nicht in andere Fanggebiete ausweichen kann, kurz vor ihrem Ende steht. Ohne Fänge gibt es dann auch nichts zu vermarkten.

    Was wird dann aus der Touristenattraktion in unseren Häfen ??

    „Dunkeltuten“ !!

    Auch die Behauptung: „ Die Fischer sitzen alle in einem Boot“ hilft uns nicht wirklich weiter, wenn ein Teil der Flotte durch viel zu hohen Fangdruck die Fischbestände dermaßen überbeansprucht, dass als Folge, die Quoten gegen Null gekürzt werden müssen.

    Zur Ursachenbeurteilung bietet die vorstehende Pressemitteilung von „ Our Fish“ viel Interessantes zum Nachdenken.

  • Baltic Sea Ministers Must Act To Stop Cod Collapse

    Baltic Sea Ministers Must Act To Stop Cod Collapse

     

    Copenhagen, Wednesday 31 May, 2017 – Responding to advice on Baltic fish stocks released today by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), campaign group Our Fish called on Baltic Sea Fisheries Ministers to take urgent action to prevent the collapse of the region’s cod fisheries.

    The ICES advice on Baltic fish stocks for 2018 demonstrates that the Baltic’s cod stocks are still severely overfished, despite a year of strong breeding by the western Baltic cod (1). ICES also reported that over 11 million undersized Eastern Baltic cod will be caught as unwanted catch – with a large majority of these illegally thrown back dead or dying (2,3).

    “To avoid collapse of the Western and Eastern Baltic cod stocks and secure future generations of fish, Baltic Sea Fisheries Ministers must not only heed this year’s catch advice from ICES, but also allow fishers to develop more selective fishing gears and remove the wasteful forms of bottom trawling currently in use, which are threatening both our fish stocks and our coastal fishers”, said Our Fish Campaign Manager Rebecca Hubbard.

    “Western Baltic cod has been so intensively overfished, teetering on the brink of collapse for 10 years, that even after 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 (1). Our Fish is calling on Baltic Ministers to use this rare opportunity to rebuild the stock and adopt the most cautious scientific advice for 2018”.

    The ICES advice forms the scientific basis for deliberations over Baltic Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits that are set at the annual EU Agrifish Council meeting in October. Despite their important role in applying the Common Fisheries Policy and ending overfishing, these Agrifish Council meetings have been criticised for their lack of transparency and accountability, and persistent failure to set fishing limits according to the law (3)(4). Last year 4 out of 10 fish stocks were set above scientific advice, with governments knowingly perpetuating overfishing and the decline in social and economic values (5).

    The eastern Baltic cod stock once represented a goldmine for fishers, but catches have been plummeting for 30 years. From an extraordinary peak at 400,000 tonnes in the 1984 to just under 57,000 tonnes in 1992, this year ICES advice recommends a catch just over 22,000 tonnes – one eighteenth of its former peak (3).

    “In recent years, Denmark and Germany  have strongly advocated for overfishing, ignoring ICES advice (5,6). If  Danish Minister for Environment and Food Esben Lunde Larsen and German Minister of Food and Agriculture Christian Schmidt do not stop this senseless plunder, at least 10% of which is being thrown away as discards, mainly from destructive bottom trawlers, they may be responsible for the commercial collapse of this once great fishery, instead of the sustainable and secure future for coastal fishers which it could be,” concluded Hubbard.

    ENDS

    NOTES:

    Western Baltic cod is suffering from age-truncation, a reduction in the age when fish become mature[8]. The proportion mature at age 2 in 1994 was 35%, whereas the most recent estimate for 2016 is 71% mature at age 2 [2]. Similar to the eastern Baltic stock, this age-truncation is a result of overfishing over the long term, with larger, more fecund ‘mother’ cod selected out.

    The total commercial catch advice for western Baltic cod, based on the Baltic Multi Annual Plan, is a range from 1 376 tonnes to 3 541 tonnes. ICES has assessed 1 754 tonnes goes to recreational catch (1).

    The eastern Baltic cod fish stock has been so fundamentally altered over time that a lack of reliable data makes stock assessments unreliable, and ICES advises a precautionary approach (3).

    For the eastern Baltic cod, in accordance with the precautionary approach (due to a lack of reliable data), the EU portion of the TAC corresponding to ICES advice should not exceed 26 071 tonnes (3).

    1. ICES (2017), ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea Ecoregion. Published 31 May 2017. cod.27.22-24
    2. Limited observer data indicates that undersized cod represent more than 10% of the total eastern Baltic cod catch in tonnes (equivalent to 11 million individuals), while landings of undersized cod are very low and discarding still takes place, despite the Landing Obligation being in place since 2015. ICES (2017). Report of the Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS), 19-26 April, 2017, ICES HQ, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2017/ACOM:11.
    3. Anecdotal evidence suggests fishers are modifying selectivity properties of their gear to increase catch rates of all cod, leading to a higher number of undersized fish being caught. ICES (2017), ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea Ecoregion. Published 31 May 2017. cod.27.25-32
    4. https://corporateeurope.org/power-lobbies/2017/05/fishing-influence
    5. http://transparency.eu/project/overfishing-in-the-darkness/
    6. New Economics Foundation (2017), Landing the Blame – Overfishing in the Baltic 2017.
    7. New Economics Foundation (2016), Landing the Blame – Overfishing in the Baltic Sea 2016.
    8. Marteinsdottir G, & Begg G.A. 2002. Essential relationships incorporating the influence of age, size and condition on variables required for estimation of reproductive potential in Atlantic cod Gadus morhua. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 235: 235–256.

     

    Contacts

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

    Rebecca Hubbard, Campaign Manager, rebecca@our.fish +34 657 669 425

    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 brings together organisations from across Europe to speak with a common voice: overfishing of our waters 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://www.ourfish.eu

  • Baltic Sea Ministers Must Act To Stop Cod Collapse

    Copenhagen, Wednesday 31 May, 2017 – Responding to advice on Baltic fish stocks released today by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), campaign group Our Fish called on Baltic Sea Fisheries Ministers to take urgent action to prevent the collapse of the region’s cod fisheries.

    The ICES advice on Baltic fish stocks for 2018 demonstrates that the Baltic’s cod stocks are still severely overfished, despite a year of strong breeding by the western Baltic cod (1). ICES also reported that over 11 million undersized Eastern Baltic cod will be caught as unwanted catch – with a large majority of these illegally thrown back dead or dying (2,3).

    “To avoid collapse of the Western and Eastern Baltic cod stocks and secure future generations of fish, Baltic Sea Fisheries Ministers must not only heed this year’s catch advice from ICES, but also allow fishers to develop more selective fishing gears and remove the wasteful forms of bottom trawling currently in use, which are threatening both our fish stocks and our coastal fishers”, said Our Fish Campaign Manager Rebecca Hubbard.

    “Western Baltic cod has been so intensively overfished, teetering on the brink of collapse for 10 years, that even after 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 (1). Our Fish is calling on Baltic Ministers to use this rare opportunity to rebuild the stock and adopt the most cautious scientific advice for 2018”.

    The ICES advice forms the scientific basis for deliberations over Baltic Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits that are set at the annual EU Agrifish Council meeting in October. Despite their important role in applying the Common Fisheries Policy and ending overfishing, these Agrifish Council meetings have been criticised for their lack of transparency and accountability, and persistent failure to set fishing limits according to the law (3)(4). Last year 4 out of 10 fish stocks were set above scientific advice, with governments knowingly perpetuating overfishing and the decline in social and economic values (5).

    The eastern Baltic cod stock once represented a goldmine for fishers, but catches have been plummeting for 30 years. From an extraordinary peak at 400,000 tonnes in the 1984 to just under 57,000 tonnes in 1992, this year ICES advice recommends a catch just over 22,000 tonnes – one eighteenth of its former peak (3).

    “In recent years, Denmark and Germany  have strongly advocated for overfishing, ignoring ICES advice (5,6). If  Danish Minister for Environment and Food Esben Lunde Larsen and German Minister of Food and Agriculture Christian Schmidt do not stop this senseless plunder, at least 10% of which is being thrown away as discards, mainly from destructive bottom trawlers, they may be responsible for the commercial collapse of this once great fishery, instead of the sustainable and secure future for coastal fishers which it could be,” concluded Hubbard.

    ENDS

    NOTES:

    Western Baltic cod is suffering from age-truncation, a reduction in the age when fish become mature[8]. The proportion mature at age 2 in 1994 was 35%, whereas the most recent estimate for 2016 is 71% mature at age 2 [2]. Similar to the eastern Baltic stock, this age-truncation is a result of overfishing over the long term, with larger, more fecund ‘mother’ cod selected out.

    The total commercial catch advice for western Baltic cod, based on the Baltic Multi Annual Plan, is a range from 1 376 tonnes to 3 541 tonnes. ICES has assessed 1 754 tonnes goes to recreational catch (1).

    The eastern Baltic cod fish stock has been so fundamentally altered over time that a lack of reliable data makes stock assessments unreliable, and ICES advises a precautionary approach (3).

    For the eastern Baltic cod, in accordance with the precautionary approach (due to a lack of reliable data), the EU portion of the TAC corresponding to ICES advice should not exceed 26 071 tonnes (3).

    1. ICES (2017), ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea Ecoregion. Published 31 May 2017. cod.27.22-24
    2. Limited observer data indicates that undersized cod represent more than 10% of the total eastern Baltic cod catch in tonnes (equivalent to 11 million individuals), while landings of undersized cod are very low and discarding still takes place, despite the Landing Obligation being in place since 2015. ICES (2017). Report of the Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS), 19-26 April, 2017, ICES HQ, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2017/ACOM:11.
    3. Anecdotal evidence suggests fishers are modifying selectivity properties of their gear to increase catch rates of all cod, leading to a higher number of undersized fish being caught. ICES (2017), ICES Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Baltic Sea Ecoregion. Published 31 May 2017. cod.27.25-32
    4. https://corporateeurope.org/power-lobbies/2017/05/fishing-influence
    5. http://transparency.eu/project/overfishing-in-the-darkness/
    6. New Economics Foundation (2017), Landing the Blame – Overfishing in the Baltic 2017.
    7. New Economics Foundation (2016), Landing the Blame – Overfishing in the Baltic Sea 2016.
    8. Marteinsdottir G, & Begg G.A. 2002. Essential relationships incorporating the influence of age, size and condition on variables required for estimation of reproductive potential in Atlantic cod Gadus morhua. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 235: 235–256.

     

    Contacts

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

    Rebecca Hubbard, Campaign Manager, rebecca@our.fish +34 657 669 425

    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 brings together organisations from across Europe to speak with a common voice: overfishing of our waters 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://www.ourfish.eu

     

  • Electric Pulse Fishing: EU Agrifish Council must make comprehensive impact assessment

    Electric Pulse Fishing: EU Agrifish Council must make comprehensive impact assessment

    During the meeting, EU Fisheries Ministers will consider technical measures for European fisheries management, including how to limit and regulate “innovative fishing gears” such as electric pulse fishing. There is currently limited understanding of the environmental impacts of this fishing method.

    A release of the Draft Technical Measures, show that the Council have weakened the proposal by removing requirements for full environmental impact assessments of electric pulse fishing on sensitive habitats and non-target species, evaluated and confirmed by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) (1).

    “By failing to uphold stringent environmental impact assessments for electric pulse fishing , the Agrifish Council is in danger of abandoning the precautionary principle in favour of pandering to the demands of the fishing industry”, said Rebecca Hubbard, Our Fish Campaign Manager. “Our Fish is calling on the EU Fisheries Ministers at the Agrifish Council to ensure the highest level of environmental impact assessment on habitats and non-target species from electric pulse fishing , by reinserting the need for STECF review, or return to a total prohibition”, said Rebecca Hubbard, Our Fish Campaign Manager.

    Electric pulse fishing is a form of trawling that emits electric pulses into the seabed to shock fish off and out of the seafloor, where they are caught by trawl net. The Dutch fishing industry has been advocating for the development of electric pulse fishing in European waters, despite significant concerns from fishermen, conservation organisations and politicians for unknown impacts on habitats and marine life (2,3).

    Until 2007, fishing using electrocution was prohibited in European waters, however the dramatically reduced fuel costs, compared to conventional beam trawling, has motivated the Dutch fishing industry to lobby for its development. After experimental exemptions were granted, the practice has spread throughout the North Sea.

    Combined with historically low price of fuel, electric pulse fishing fishing makes for a more profitable haul. The Dutch fishing industry and government claim that electric pulse fishing is environmentally sustainable and less damaging than beam trawl fishing (4).

    “Considering how beam trawl fishing steamrolls seabed habitats and catches vast quantities of other non-target species, saying that electric pulse fishing is ‘better’ doesn’t make for a ringing endorsement”, said Hubbard. “There have been limited thorough studies on the impacts of electrocution trawl fishing on sensitive habitats, and non-target species, especially animals that rely on electroreception, and on fish eggs and larvae . The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has reported on the significant gaps in knowledge and the need for more thorough research and regulatory framework (5)”.

    ENDS

    Notes

    (1). Release of Draft Technical Measures (Politico) http://www.politico.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Council-Technical-Measures.pdf?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&utm_campaign=baeffc217c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_04_27&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10959edeb5-baeffc217c-190010205

    (2). A shocking way to catch fish: electric pulse beam trawling http://lifeplatform.eu/a-shocking-way-to-catch-fish-electric-pulse-beam-trawling/;

    Bloom: Pulse Fishing  https://www.bloomassociation.org/en/pulse-fishing/;

    Bloom: French Environment Minister calls for a true European ban on pulse fishing

    https://www.bloomassociation.org/en/french-environment-minister-calls-for-a-true-european-ban-on-pulse-fishing/

    (3). Project Pulsefishing

    https://pulsefishing.eu/en/project-pulsefishing/node/50;

    Agreement to double pulse trawl licences

    https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2014/02/18/agreement-to-double-pulse-trawl-licences

    (4). Ibid.

    (5). Request from France for updated advice on the ecosystem effects of pulse trawl lhttps://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2016/Special_Requests/France_Effects_of_pulse_trawl.pdf

    Contacts

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

    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 brings together organisations from across Europe to speak with a common voice: overfishing of our waters 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://www.ourfish.eu

  • Electric Pulse Fishing: EU Agrifish Council must make comprehensive impact assessment

    Brussels, 11 May 2017:- Campaign group Our Fish today called on EU Fisheries Ministers at the Agrifish Council meeting in Brussels to require the highest level of environmental impact assessment for electric pulse fishing in European waters, or return to a total prohibition of the method.

    During the meeting, EU Fisheries Ministers will consider technical measures for European fisheries management, including how to limit and regulate “innovative fishing gears” such as electric pulse fishing. There is currently limited understanding of the environmental impacts of this fishing method.

    A release of the Draft Technical Measures, show that the Council have weakened the proposal by removing requirements for full environmental impact assessments of electric pulse fishing on sensitive habitats and non-target species, evaluated and confirmed by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) (1).

    “By failing to uphold stringent environmental impact assessments for electric pulse fishing , the Agrifish Council is in danger of abandoning the precautionary principle in favour of pandering to the demands of the fishing industry”, said Rebecca Hubbard, Our Fish Campaign Manager. “Our Fish is calling on the EU Fisheries Ministers at the Agrifish Council to ensure the highest level of environmental impact assessment on habitats and non-target species from electric pulse fishing , by reinserting the need for STECF review, or return to a total prohibition”, said Rebecca Hubbard, Our Fish Campaign Manager.

    Electric pulse fishing is a form of trawling that emits electric pulses into the seabed to shock fish off and out of the seafloor, where they are caught by trawl net. The Dutch fishing industry has been advocating for the development of electric pulse fishing in European waters, despite significant concerns from fishermen, conservation organisations and politicians for unknown impacts on habitats and marine life (2,3).

    Until 2007, fishing using electrocution was prohibited in European waters, however the dramatically reduced fuel costs, compared to conventional beam trawling, has motivated the Dutch fishing industry to lobby for its development. After experimental exemptions were granted, the practice has spread throughout the North Sea.

    Combined with historically low price of fuel, electric pulse fishing fishing makes for a more profitable haul. The Dutch fishing industry and government claim that electric pulse fishing is environmentally sustainable and less damaging than beam trawl fishing (4).

    “Considering how beam trawl fishing steamrolls seabed habitats and catches vast quantities of other non-target species, saying that electric pulse fishing is ‘better’ doesn’t make for a ringing endorsement”, said Hubbard. “There have been limited thorough studies on the impacts of electrocution trawl fishing on sensitive habitats, and non-target species, especially animals that rely on electroreception, and on fish eggs and larvae . The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has reported on the significant gaps in knowledge and the need for more thorough research and regulatory framework (5)”.

    ENDS

    Notes

    (1). Release of Draft Technical Measures (Politico) http://www.politico.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Council-Technical-Measures.pdf?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&utm_campaign=baeffc217c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_04_27&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10959edeb5-baeffc217c-190010205

    (2). A shocking way to catch fish: electric pulse beam trawling http://lifeplatform.eu/a-shocking-way-to-catch-fish-electric-pulse-beam-trawling/;

    Bloom: Pulse Fishing  https://www.bloomassociation.org/en/pulse-fishing/;

    Bloom: French Environment Minister calls for a true European ban on pulse fishing 

    https://www.bloomassociation.org/en/french-environment-minister-calls-for-a-true-european-ban-on-pulse-fishing/

    (3). Project Pulsefishing

    https://pulsefishing.eu/en/project-pulsefishing/node/50;

    Agreement to double pulse trawl licences

    https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2014/02/18/agreement-to-double-pulse-trawl-licences

    (4). Ibid.

    (5). Request from France for updated advice on the ecosystem effects of pulse trawl lhttps://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2016/Special_Requests/France_Effects_of_pulse_trawl.pdf

    Contacts

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

    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 brings together organisations from across Europe to speak with a common voice: overfishing of our waters 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://www.ourfish.eu