Archives: news

  • Video: Staying Up All Night To Get Fish (Quota)

    Video: Staying Up All Night To Get Fish (Quota)

    Each December, fisheries ministers from all over the EU get together in Brussels to haggle over annual fishing limits for the Atlantic and North Sea. They arrive at the meeting, armed with the best possible scientific advice from, well, scientists. But when the doors are closed, the party begins and the scientific advice is forgotten. Instead, ministers bow to pressure from industry interests to maintain unsustainably high fishing quotas – and that results in more overfishing. Yes, each year, our fisheries ministers actually agree to take more fish from the sea than scientists say is sustainable.

    This craziness doesn’t have to continue. Let EU Commissioner Vella and EU fisheries ministers know that you want them to end overfishing! 

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  • Video: Time to Face the Music: Our Fish Delivers #EndOverfishing message with a Brass Band

    Video: Time to Face the Music: Our Fish Delivers #EndOverfishing message with a Brass Band

    In November 2018, Our Fish paid a visit to Bergen, Norway, where a meeting between the EU and Norway to negotiate on joint fish stocks was underway. Fisheries industry representatives were allowed into the building – but environmental organisations were not. So Our Fish decided to make sure that the delegates inside heard our message: End overfishing! You can get involved too – take action here!

  • Ook de haring verdient bescherming

    Ook de haring verdient bescherming

    We moeten ook gewone vis als haring, schol en kabeljauw in de Noordzee beschermen, zeggen Sharon Becker (campaigner Our.Fish in Nederland) en Irene Kingma (directeur Nederlandse Elasmobranchen Vereniging NEV).

    Bekende Nederlanders die deze maand naakt poseerden met acht Noordzeevissen, vragen minister Carola Schouten in tientallen abri’s om juist deze soorten te beschermen. Hun oproep is niet zonder reden.

    Omdat de Noordzee met meer landen wordt gedeeld, worden er ieder jaar Europese afspraken gemaakt over welke vis elk land mag vangen en hoeveel. Deze week beginnen de eerste onderhandelingen van een reeks in het Noorse Bergen. Volgens de Visserijwet uit 2013 moet de EU met Noorwegen de vangstquota vaststellen op basis van wetenschappelijke data. De uitvoering van deze wet had al moeten gebeuren in 2015, maar iedere visserijminister mag dat – bij hoge uitzondering – tot uiterlijk 2020 uitstellen. Daardoor worden vangstquota nog steeds structureel te hoog vastgesteld en blijft de druk op visbestanden hoog.

    Dit jaar bleek uit wetenschappelijk onderzoek dat nu zelfs vissoorten achteruitgaan die nog niet eerder onder de druk van de visserij leden. Deze doodgewone soorten verdienen echte bescherming. Zoals de schol: het vangstadvies van de wetenschappers ging drastisch omlaag nu blijkt dat er te veel op de relatief jonge schol in de zuidelijke Noordzee wordt gevist. Als de jonkies niet de kans krijgen om zich voort te planten, kan dat de hele populatie aantasten.

    De kabeljauw staat er ook niet florissant voor: nadat het kabeljauwbestand in 2006 was ingestort, leek deze soort weer te herstellen. Meteen nam echter de visserijdruk toe. Dit jaar adviseren de wetenschappers om de vangst vrijwel te halveren. Met de Noordzeeharing gaat het eveneens slechter: 40 procent minder vangen ten opzichte van dit jaar, luidt het advies.

    Ernstig bedreigde soorten

    In december onderhandelt Nederland verder over beschermingsmaatregelen voor de al langer bedreigde soorten in de Noordzee. De zeebaars is zo’n bedreigde vis volgens de wetenschappers. Maar dit bestand zal niet vanzelf herstellen. In plaats van te ruziën over wie het kleine beetje vis dat er is mag vangen, zouden ministers voor de vis nu echt in de bres moeten springen. Een eerste belangrijke stap daarbij zijn maatregelen die ervoor zorgen dat zeebaars minder als bijvangst belandt in bodemsleepnetten. Daarvoor moet ook naar de visserij op rode mul gekeken worden. Voor deze soort bestaat nog helemaal geen vangstlimiet, met als onvermijdelijk gevolg veel bijvangst van zeebaars. Ook de paling is al jaren een ernstig bedreigde diersoort in heel Europa. Er zwemt op dit moment nog maar 1 procent van de hoeveelheid babypaling die in 1980 werd gemeten. Wetenschappers adviseren al jaren een algeheel vangstverbod op paling, iedere visserijminister zou daar nu naar moeten handelen.

    Voor bedreigde haaiensoorten zoals de haringhaai en de doornhaai geldt nu een verbod om ze aan land te brengen. Maar deze dieren belanden toch in de netten, als bijvangst in de visserij op andere soorten. Er zijn nog geen maatregelen om die bijvangst tegen te gaan. Die moeten er wel snel komen, vastgelegd in een specifiek herstelplan voor deze haaisoorten.

    De internationale Fishlove campagne vraagt alle Europese ministers van visserij – en dus ook minister Schouten – om kordaat een einde te maken aan deze overbevissing. Juist nu, juist voor deze doodgewone vissen in onze eigen Noordzee.

    Trouw: Ook de haring verdient bescherming

  • ‘t Regent Vis

    ‘t Regent Vis

    Mensen doen hun dagelijkse ding door de stad. Dan beginnen de vissen te vallen. Een voor een, dan een stortvloed. Iedereen krijgt vis op zijn kop. Wat gebeurt hier?

    Ieder jaar wordt er zo’n 1,7 miljoen ton vis dood of stervend teruggegooid in Europese zeeën. Eis een einde aan deze verspilling. Kom nu in actie!  

    Sommige commerciële visserij in de zeeën rondom Europa is ongedifferentieerd en ontzettend verkwistend, waardoor er tientallen miljoenen vissen worden verspild. De meest recente officiële schatting is dat er jaarlijks in de EU-visserij een ongelooflijk aantal van 1,7 miljoen ton aan vissen en zeedieren onbedoeld wordt verspild. [1]

    Deze grootschalige vernietiging betekent dat enorme aantallen jonge vissen worden gevangen voordat ze zich hebben kunnen voortplanten, terwijl laagwaardige of ongewilde vissen – vaak bedreigde vissoorten, terug worden gegooid in zee, meestal dood of stervend.

    In 2013 introduceerde de EU het bijvangstverbod (ook wel bekend als de aanlandingsplicht) als onderdeel van het herziene Gemeenschappelijke Visserijbeleid, met als doel om deze onnodige verspilling van vis tegen te gaan en om het gebruik van selectievere vismethoden te stimuleren.

    Deze nieuwe wet eist dat bijna alle vangsten volledig gedocumenteerd en geteld worden tegen visquota, en daarna aan land gebracht worden. Deze wet wordt tussen 2015 en januari 2019 ingevoerd.

    Echter, onderzoek laat zien dat dit zogeheten discarden nog steeds gebeurt, dat de selectiviteit van visserij nog steeds niet significant is verbeterd, dat vangstdata gebruikt voor wetenschappelijke en managementdoeleinden minder betrouwbaar wordt, en dat overheden weigeren om meer maatregelen voor monitoring op zee te nemen zodat de nieuwe wetten gehandhaafd worden. [2]

    De belofte om een einde aan overbevissing te maken glipt ons door de vingers, en ondertussen wordt de situatie misschien nog erger. Maar we kunnen er wat tegen doen. Laten we overbevissing stoppen – stuur nu een bericht naar de EU Visserijministers.

     

    Ref: COM (2011). Commission Staff Working Paper Impact Assessment accompanying the document Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common Fisheries Policy [repealing Regulation (EC) N° 2371/2002].

  • Regner fisk

    Regner fisk

    Dagligdagen i en travl by, men pludselig falder fisk fra himlen. Først en efter en, derefter en stormflod af fisk – en gademusiker, politifolk, kunder som står i køen for en fransk hotdog, alle får fisk på hovedet! Hvad sker der?

    I EU’s havområder smides der hvert år 1,7 mio tons døde eller døende fisk tilbage i havet. Det kan du være med til at stoppe. Gør noget nu.

    Dele af erhvervsfiskeriet i havene omkring Europa er ikke selektivt. Derfor går millioner og atter millioner af fisk til spilde. I det seneste officielle skøn anslås udsmidet af uønskede fisk og andre havdyr i EU’s fiskeri til intet mindre end 1,7 millioner tons hvert år! [1]

    Denne ødelæggende praksis, som har stor udbredelse, betyder, at et stort antal ungfisk fanges, allerede inden de har haft tid til at yngle, mens fisk med lav værdi eller uønskede fisk – som ofte er sårbare arter – også smides overbord, for det meste døde eller døende.

    Som led i reformen af den fælles fiskeripolitik indførte EU i 2013 den såkaldte landingsforpligtelse og forbød dermed udsmid af fisk. Hensigten var at sætte en stopper for dette unødige spild og at fremme mere selektive fangstmetoder. Ifølge landingsforpligtelsen skal næsten alle fangster dokumenteres fuldstændigt, modregnes i kvoten og landes. Landingsforpligtelsen indføres gradvist mellem 2015 og januar 2019.

    Men i den senere tid er der kommet rapporter, som tyder på, at uønskede fisk fortsat bliver smidt ud, at fiskeriet ikke bliver væsentligt mere selektivt, at fangststatistikker, der anvendes til videnskabelig rådgivning og fiskeriforvaltning, bliver mindre pålidelige, og at regeringerne nægter at øge overvågningen til havs for at håndhæve de nye regler. [2]

    Ikke alene er løftet om at sætte en stopper for overfiskningen ved at glide os af hænde: Der er oven i købet fare for, at situationen bliver endnu værre. Men det kan vi gøre noget ved. Lad os sammen stoppe overfiskningen: Kræv, at dit lands fiskeriminister handler nu!

    [1]    COM (2011), Commission Staff Working Paper Impact Assessment accompanying the document Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common Fisheries Policy [repealing Regulation (EC) N° 2371/2002].

    [2] Our Fish (2018), Ulovligt udsmid i Østersøen rammer miljøet, samfundet og fiskeriet selv

    Ref: COM (2011). Commission Staff Working Paper Impact Assessment accompanying the document Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common Fisheries Policy [repealing Regulation (EC) N° 2371/2002].

  • Raining Fish: Let’s End the Waste

    Raining Fish: Let’s End the Waste

    People go about their daily life in the bustling city; then the fish start falling. First one by one, then a deluge – a busker, a policemen, customers queuing for hotdogs are whacked by fish falling from the sky. What is going on?

    Each year, around 1.7 million tonnes of fish are dumped back into EU seas dead or dying. Call for an end to this waste.

    Take Action now!

    Some commercial fishing in the seas around Europe is indiscriminate and highly wasteful, resulting in the waste of tens of millions of fish. The most recent official estimate put the waste of unwanted fish and marine life in EU fisheries at an incredible 1.7 million tonnes every year! [1]

    This widespread destruction means that large numbers of juvenile fish are caught before they even have had time to breed, while low-value or unwanted fish – often vulnerable species – are also thrown back, mostly dead or dying.

    In 2013, the EU introduced its discard ban (also known as the Landing Obligation) as part of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy, in order to stop this unnecessary waste of fish and to stimulate the use of more selective fishing methods. This new law requires almost all catches to be fully documented and counted against catch limits , then brought ashore. The ban is being phased in between 2015 and January 2019.

    However, reports suggest discarding is still continuing, fishing selectivity is not being significantly improved, catch data used for science and management is becoming less reliable, and governments are refusing to increase at-sea monitoring to ensure the new laws are respected. [2]

    The promise to end overfishing is not only slipping through our fingers; the situation may be worsening.  But we can do something about it. Let’s end overfishing togethersend a message to EU fisheries ministers now.

     

     

    [1] COM (2011), Commission Staff Working Paper Impact Assessment accompanying the document Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common Fisheries Policy [repealing Regulation (EC) N° 2371/2002].

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

     

  • Fischregen

    Fischregen

    Das alltägliche geschäftige Treiben in einer belebten Stadt; dann fallen plötzlich die Fische vom Himmel. Erst einer nach dem anderen, dann eine Sintflut – ein Straßenmusiker, ein Polizist, Kunden, die sich für Hotdogs in der Warteschlange befinden, werden von Fischen getroffen. Was ist da los?

    Jährlich werden rund 1,7 Millionen Tonnen Fisch tot oder sterbend in die europäischen Meeren über Bord geworfen. Setzen Sie sich JETZT für ein Ende dieser Verschwendung ein

    Einige Fischfangmethoden sind wahllos und sehr verschwenderisch, was zum unnötigen Tod von mehreren zehn Millionen Fischen führt. Die jüngsten offiziellen Schätzungen ermittelten 1,7 Millionen Tonnen unerwünschte Fische und andere Meereslebewesen pro Jahr, die in den EU-Fischereien weggeworfen werden! [1]

    Eine große Anzahl von Jungfischen wird getötet, bevor sie Zeit zur Reproduktion haben, und minderwertige oder unerwünschte Fische (von denen viele auch gefährdete Arten sind) werden tot oder sterbend zurück ins Meer geworfen.

    Das Rückwurfverbot („Landing Obligation“) wurde 2013 als Teil der reformierten GFP eingeführt, um die unnötige Verschwendung von Fisch zu verhindern und den Einsatz selektiverer Fangmethoden zu fördern. Dieses neue Gesetz schreibt vor, dass fast alle Fänge (für Fische mit Fangbeschränkungen oder solche im Mittelmeer mit minimalen Referenzgrößen) vollständig dokumentiert und auf die Fangquoten angerechnet und dann an Land gebracht werden müssen. Das Verbot wird zwischen 2015-2019 schrittweise eingeführt.


    Berichte deuten jedoch darauf hin, dass die Rückwürfe noch andauern, die Selektivität nicht wesentlich verbessert wird, die Fangdaten immer unzuverlässiger werden und die Regierungen die Überwachung auf See nicht erhöhen, um sicherzustellen, dass die neuen Gesetze auch wirklich greifen. [2]

    Die Möglichkeit, die Überfischung zu beenden muss jetzt genutzt werden; sonst ist eine Verschlechterung der Situation nicht mehr aufzuhalten. Aber wir können etwas dagegen unternehmen. Schluss mit der Überfischung: Senden Sie jetzt eine Nachricht an die EU-Fischereiminister.

    Ref: COM (2011). Commission Staff Working Paper Impact Assessment accompanying the document Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common Fisheries Policy [repealing Regulation (EC) N° 2371/2002].

  • How did we get from following scientific advice to seahorse-trading of fishing opportunities?

    How did we get from following scientific advice to seahorse-trading of fishing opportunities?

    In 2013, EU member states committed to ending overfishing by 2020 at the latest. In their Communication, the Commission claims progress in doing this, but fails to note that it is not enough to meet that deadline. Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) – the point at which fish stocks are able to reproduce at a consistent level, whilst allowing for regular catch rates – is the foundation of the reformed CFP. It promises to end decades of overfishing, and in return provide better catch rates for fishers > a win-win.

    But MSY is a limit, based on nature’s capacity. If the limit is exceeded, fish stocks will struggle to maintain themselves, let alone recover. Overexploited fish stocks diminish fishing opportunities and hence viability of fishing, and the EU has been over-exploiting fish stocks for decades.

    Fishing limits, Total Annual Catches (TACs), should ideally be set under MSY – would you walk right on a cliff edge? Ending overfishing means changing how things are done – making difficult decisions now, in order to deliver greater benefits in the medium-term. This is the experience of numerous fisheries around the world.  So why is the Commission and member states finding it so hard – it’s a no-brainer.

    The Commission talks about setting fishing limits for shared stocks with other coastal states like Norway as though sustainable limits are optional – they are not. These stocks must meet the same MSY obligation as domestic EU stocks – ‘trying to advance the MSY objective’ is not good enough. It must be met … just do it.

    In the next six months, there will be a number of key moments when the Commission and member states can demonstrate how committed they are to delivering the healthy fisheries that were promised in 2013.

    The Commission will propose fishing limits for stocks in the Baltic Sea and Deep Sea in September, and then they will be negotiated by ministers at the Agrifish Council in October and November respectively. The Commission will then propose fishing limits for North Sea and Atlantic stocks, which will be decided in December – the annual late night pantomime, performed behind closed doors and where every minister is a national star. These will be Karmenu Vella’s last Agrifish Council meetings as Commissioner, when fishing limits are set. So he has the chance to make history in overseeing an end to overfishing, or not…

    (1) COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on the State of Play of the Common Fisheries Policy and Consultation on the Fishing Opportunities for 2019. COM(2018) 452 final. 

  • Seaweb, Barcelona: The Fish Fight campaign and Common Fisheries Policy aimed to eliminate discarding in Europe – five years on, are we succeeding?

    Seaweb, Barcelona: The Fish Fight campaign and Common Fisheries Policy aimed to eliminate discarding in Europe – five years on, are we succeeding?

    A video message from Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall flashed up on the screen –  with Hugh describing how shocked he was to learn, in 2010, that more than half the fish being caught in the North Sea were being discarded. The growth of the Fish Fight campaign helped to mobilise vast public support to end this waste, and the resulting Landing Obligation that was introduced in the reformed Common Fisheries Policy of 2013. Today, five years down the track, there are reports of widespread illegal, unreported discards, as EU member state governments back away from their legal obligations.

    The global Seaweb Seafood Summit panel, which took place this morning in Barcelona, brought together four different perspectives on this issue in an event The Fish Fight campaign and Common Fisheries Policy aimed to eliminate discarding in Europe – five years on, are we succeeding? – Miguel Nuevo from the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), Ally Dingwall of UK retailer Sainsbury’s, Danish fisherman Verner Jensen, and WWF EU marine leader Samantha Burgess. While there were some different views on how to get there – it was clear that collaboration between civil society, the fish catching and retail sector, and government agencies, was necessary to achieve an end to (now) illegal and wasteful discarding, and to ensure fully legal and sustainable fisheries in EU seas.

    Miguel Nuevo reported on the extensive program that EFCA  conducts across numerous seas, regional groups, and EU countries, to assist with monitoring and control of the landing obligation. While there were two infringements issued to Danish vessels in 2017 for illegal discarding, and numerous fishing fleets receive high and very high risk ratings for non-compliance from EFCA, Miguel believes there has been an improvement in selectivity and reporting of discards.

    Ally Dingwall of the UK retail sector Sainsbury’s recalled that discards had been an issue for EU fisheries for over ten years, far before the Fish Fight even began. For retailers, there is a fundamental requirement to demonstrate legal and responsible sourcing. There has been no change in public opinion in the UK with respect to discarding, regardless of Brexit, and there is an expectation that all retailers will ensure their suppliers are compliant. The risk to the supply chain, of illegal unreported discards, has driven UK retailers to engage in dialogue with the industry and government to take action to address the issue. They are supporting innovation projects to develop solutions for improved selectivity; and have signed up to a joint retailer statement with the UK Seafood Industry Alliance and others to support remote electronic monitoring and other initiatives to ensure successful implementation of the landing obligation.

    Danish fisherman Verner Jensen shared his view on how fishermen want to minimise discards  – many are trying new gears and innovating, so that they can avoid landing fish, which either give them low profit returns or cost them money to dispose of. Verner was one of the innovators in Denmark that introduced CCTV cameras as part of a remote electronic monitoring pilot project in 2008, and significantly decreased his discards to just two  percent of catch. Verner believes that remote electronic monitoring (using CCTV cameras) can show consumers that they are fishing sustainably, complying with the rules, and lead the way forward to a better fishing future.

    Samantha Burgess of WWF in Europe reported that we are still failing to implement the landing obligation, and despite having some strong players in the industry and retail sector, there was still a lot of  resistance to change from the industry, and unwillingness to collaborate with others to eliminate discards. Samantha made clear that without proper transparency, and documentation of all catches, including discards, we will not have sustainable fisheries management. Remote electronic monitoring (REM), with CCTV and net sensors on board vessels, provides a holistic system to enable transparency. It can be implemented according to a risk-based approach, is cost-effective, provides more data for fish stock management, and can support fishermen demonstrating best practice. On the other hand, the cost of not implementing REM is that we will never have a level-playing field, sustainable management, or full transparency – and without transparency there is no market.

    Audience members questioned what the inhibitors to adopting REM were in the EU – to which a number of panel members agreed that lack of political will was a key block, with inconsistent support from fisheries ministers at a member state level. Many panel members also agreed that fishermen are very innovative towards improving selectivity, but a lack of political will had also prevented scaling-up and mainstreaming of some successful selectivity projects.

    Ally Dingwall of Sainsbury’s: If you can’t eat it, don’t catch it. We need stronger, wilder innovation to achieve this.

    Rebecca Hubbard is Our Fish Programme Director