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On July 19th the Our Fish campaign presented a petition signed by 17,296 people to the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, calling on the EU to take urgent action to prevent and reverse the climate and nature crisis by ending destructive overfishing, and to support a just transition to ecosystem based fisheries management.

In September 2021 the EU Commission wrote a letter back to Our Fish to be shared with the petition signers.

Click here to read the Commission’s letter. 

Below is our analysis of the letter, the good the bad – and the absent:

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)

In the letter, the European Commission highlights that the full implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) would create sustainability in fisheries. However, the CFP, which all EU member states signed up to in a promise to end Europe’s addiction to overfishing and to end the wasteful practice of throwing dead or dying fish back into the sea, has never been fully implemented. In fact, the EU missed both the CFP’s original deadline of 2015, and its backup deadline of 2020, for setting fishing limits within scientific advice. Across European waters, many species are fished to breaking point and ecosystems are disrupted. This overfishing continues, all with the consent of fisheries ministers from EU countries, who routinely set fishing limits beyond scientific advice, ignoring the guidance laid out in the CFP.

In addition, the CFP does not even mention climate change, making it insufficient for delivering the solutions we need to both prevent the ocean from worsening climate change from destructive and polluting fishing, and for protecting the ocean from the impacts of climate change and restoring the ocean’s health so that it can continue to protect us against further climate breakdown.

Unless implemented in full, and complemented by an Action Plan* that limits the climate and ecosystem impacts of fishing, the rules and agreements set out by the EU the CFP will be too little, too late to protect and restore the ocean’s health. *As part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the EU committed to an Action Plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems , to limit the most harmful fishing impacts on marine biodiversity and the seabed.

Profitability

A familiar argument pops up in the Commission’s letter that Our Fish often sees being made by politicians; that they have to balance environmental considerations with industry profitability. Of course it is important to consider livelihoods and history shows us that destruction favours a rich few in the short term, but profitability actually goes up when fish populations are healthy. The best way to secure the profits and future of the fishing industry is to secure the health of the ocean and fish populations.

Fishing gear and fleets

Our Fish welcomes the Commission’s commitment to limit the most harmful fishing gear, however restoring ocean health requires more than just limiting some harmful fishing gear. We need a plan to transition the whole EU fishing fleet to a low-carbon, low-impact fishing fleet. Where the fishers who benefit the environment and community are rewarded with access to the resource, and given a level playing field by removing all fuel tax subsidies.

Our Fish’s campaign to end overfishing and achieve sustainable fishing in EU waters continues: in the coming months, expect more exciting opportunities to achieve real change for the benefit of our ocean’s future. If you’d like to campaign with us, please sign up at https://save.our.fish/.

Seaspiracy, Netflix’s hugely popular documentary, has done wonders to shine the light on the destruction of our ocean, especially from overfishing. 

The problems facing our ocean are clearly covered in the film. But the solutions… not so much. If you’ve watched Seaspiracy and want to take action to save the ocean, read on!

It’s not just about eating less fish

Sure, eating less or different fish can be a part of the answer to restoring ocean health, but saying we can fix the ocean by simply adapting our diets is like saying switching off the lights when leaving a room is the most effective way to tackle the climate crisis. It’s a good thing to do – but it misses much bigger opportunities that could have real impact. 

If we want systemic, lasting change, we need to think bigger, and to act together. We need to hold our leaders to account. When we campaign together, we can achieve great and positive changes, whether locally, nationally or across continents. And frankly, we need to change the system, not just our individual behaviour, as climate scientist Michael E. Mann has written. 

“Individual efforts to reduce one’s carbon footprint are laudable,” writes @MichaelEMann in The New Climate War. “But without systemic change, we will not achieve the massive decarbonization of our economy that is necessary to avert catastrophic climate change.”

— David Williams (@ddub_news) April 17, 2021

Holding politicians to account

Overfishing is the biggest cause of ocean destruction. By taking out more fish than can be replaced, fish populations are reducing every year. As fish get harder to find, industrial fishing vessels are burning more fuel and using more and more destructive fishing methods to find what’s left. 

EU politicians have the power to end overfishing and protect the ocean. The solutions are so simple - all they’re missing right now is the will to do it. It’s time that we stand up together and demand action.

Get active

Here’s how you can make your voice heard. 

1. Join the movement!

Join a growing movement of passionate ocean protectors by signing the Our Fish petition calling on EU politicians to end overfishing. After joining the campaign we’ll keep you up to date with the latest actions to save the ocean, including participating in a key EU consultation this summer.

Sign the Petition now!

2. Write to your representatives about bottom trawling

Members of the European Parliament will have to make several important decisions this year that will affect the health of the ocean. They represent you in the EU, so they care about what you have to say. Find your MEP(s) here then call or email them to ask for their support to ban bottom trawling, a highly destructive way of fishing that’s doing enormous damage to biodiversity, ecosystems and the climate.

3. Get involved in a local campaign

There are lots of fantastic campaigning groups across Europe. We recommend checking out Ocean Rebellion, who are a part of the wider Extinction Rebellion Movement. Or the youth-led movement Fridays for Future. 

4. Vote. 

Perhaps the most obvious one but never to be overlooked. Vote locally, regionally and nationally. Find out which candidates are demanding real action to protect the ocean and speak to candidates about why this issue matters to you. 

5. Get your friends and family involved! 

There’s strength in numbers so we need as many people as possible fighting for the ocean. Why not host a film night (in person when possible, or remotely when not), attend talks, webinars and workshops. 

On the other side of this fight is the very wealthy international fishing industry, which makes billions of Euros every year exploiting our common ocean. By using big budgets and influence, they pressure politicians to continue their reckless overfishing. To win, we’re going to need to stand together and make our collective voices even more powerful than the fishing industry’s money. Will you join us?

Want to read more?

1. ‘Seaspiracy shows why we must treat fish not as seafood, but as wildlife’ - George Monbiot, The Guardian
2. ‘OP-ED: Seaspiracy or Conspiracy? Truth and Hyperbole Behind the Controversial New Netflix Exposé on Fishing’ Alex Rogers, ECO
3. ‘What Netflix’s Seaspiracy gets wrong about fishing, explained by a marine biologist’ Daniel Pauly
4. Overfishing explained

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By Prof. Dr Rashid Sumaila, Dr Karina von Schuckmann and Rebecca Hubbard

During September, we have had three opportunities to present our work on the interplay between climate change, the ocean and fisheries. These webinars were aimed at helping Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), members of EU Commissioners’ Cabinets, and engaged members of the public and media to better understand the challenges facing the ocean and to spell out the readily available actions that European citizens can take to protect it. We explored how the European Union and its member states can lessen the impacts of climate change on Europe’s seas, by ending the practice of destructive overfishing.

During the same period, commitments made by world leaders on climate action at the UN General Assembly, and the Pledge for Nature at the UN Biodiversity Summit, have highlighted both the global momentum and need for such action to be taken.

These new, increasingly urgent pledges are the culmination of the acknowledgements and ambitions that have been building among the global community for decades, and are most holistically represented by the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030, which embrace the three pillars of sustainable development: environment, society and economy. In fact, the success of all 17 goals rely, to some extent on the success of one, i.e., SDG14 – Life Below Water, which is the critical component of the founding pillar, the environment. Ocean resources, data, science and services are critical for successful and healthy human life on the planet: it is actually a matter of life or death.

Planet Earth is warming. Or, as our planet is 71% ocean – perhaps we should say Planet Ocean. We are nothing without the ocean – it provides us with roughly every second breadth, a reservoir for biodiversity and all the services it provides humans, and a source of over 90% of freshwater. Yet we are treating our ocean with contempt – as well as overexploiting its natural riches, the ocean is warming due to emissions of heat-trapping gases resulting from human activities; it has taken up 20-30% of the global emissions from human activities over the past three decades inducing ocean acidification, and more than 90% of the excess heat in the climate system, making climate change irreversible. Without the ocean, our air would be an extra 35 degrees warmer.

Despite a multitude of promises from a succession of world leaders, we are clearly struggling to limit the future increases in average planetary temperature to the 2^oC agreed (despite the fact that scientists have repeatedly warned that 1.5^o should be the target). While enormous efforts must be made to limit emissions, there are ways we can ensure that the ocean can continue to absorb carbon emissions and be stronger in the face of future climate change impacts.

With climate change, the ocean is becoming more acidic, less oxygenated, warmer and sea level is rising; it sounds as bad as it is. This is making life harder at all levels in the ocean – from the individual fish, to marine populations, and ecosystems – which in turn, is making it harder for fisheries.

Humanity has a long history of overexploiting fish – the lifeblood of the ocean on which we depend. This never has a good outcome – no fish means no fisheries, jobs, seafood or incomes for coastal communities. Conversely, well managed fisheries means an ocean that teems with life – this life not only provides us fish, it can also play an important role in climate mitigation and adaptation. A healthy ocean ecosystem ensures that high levels of carbon can be sequestered below the waves – a healthy ocean is crucial to bolstering our planet against the worst impact of climate change.

All of these new pledges show that global leaders still aim to get us out of this planetary crisis we have created. But the European Union, and governments worldwide, must match that ambition with action – they must eliminate carbon emissions, effectively protect at least 30% of marine areas by 2030, and reduce destructive overfishing and publicly-funded subsidies that undermine our other efforts – very quickly we will be rewarded with higher catches for more fishers, a healthier ocean, and a stronger defence against climate change.

Healthy fish are like a healthy person; a healthy person is more likely to survive an epidemic than a person who is unwell. Overfishing has severely weakened the ocean’s immune system, and climate change will only make things worse. If we continue to destroy the health of the ocean with destructive overfishing, it will have severe impacts on life in the ocean and on all our lives. The risks and the opportunity here are clear, just as the science is. It is time for EU governments and the European Commission to start delivering on their commitments – and that means fishing within nature’s limits.

Dr Karina von Schuckmann, Mercator Ocean International and IPCC Special Report on the Ocean Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC) author

Professor Rashid Sumaila, Director of the Fisheries Economics Research Unit, Global Fisheries Cluster, University of British Columbia

Rebecca Hubbard, Programme Director, Our Fish

As climate change begins to bite, ending overfishing will safeguard our oceans’ health first appeated on Euronews View, 19 October 2020.

Today’s endorsement of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 by the EU Environment Council is a welcome sign that the EU’s 27 Member States are ready to act on the nature crisis. Member states specifically acknowledged the serious risk to marine biodiversity, and committed to increased action, including with urgently advancing marine protection and addressing major threats such as ending overfishing.

Member states acknowledgement of the biodiversity crisis and the threat this poses to us, must be followed up with real life action – otherwise it will end up in the ever higher pile of useless political rhetoric. Member states can act decisively in the coming weeks by setting fishing limits for 2021 not exceeding scientific advice, and so finally end EU overfishing.

Now is the time to put aside short-term profiteering, and to make the tough decisions needed to stop the collapse of the ecosystems that support life on the planet.

What is this and why does it matter?

Today’s EU Environment Council conclusions represent Member States’ support for the European Commission’s EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The Strategy outlines pathways for alleviating the biodiversity crisis by 2030, and will inform the EU’s ambition for upcoming global meetings such as the Convention on Biological Diversity COP, as well as providing the basis for member state policy on issues such as fisheries.

Rebecca Hubbard, Our Fish Programme Director

The ocean doesn’t just nourish us with food, it provides our every second breath and has absorbed 90% of the excess heat we have created in the last 50 years. Healthy humans need a healthy ocean. The ocean is under pressure from climate change, pollution, plastic and overfishing. This is not a secret – any policymaker who breathes the same air we do is aware of the enormous pressure we are putting on our oceans and climate. Yet for all the political promises being made on countering the climate and nature emergency, we have yet to realise meaningful, large-scale political action. We need this action to restore ocean health, so that we can all breathe easier.

During her recent State of the Union speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “We need to change how we treat nature, how we produce and consume, live and work, eat and heat, travel and transport.” I could not agree more. This sea change is what scientists have – for decades – been saying is needed to halt biodiversity loss and climate change. These changes are crucial to secure our air, water and food sources; and to protect ourselves from the worst ravages of ecosystem collapse.

There is a genuine appetite for change in Europe, exemplified by the impact on our lives from the COVID pandemic, and the increasingly cataclysmic effects of the climate and nature emergency, but there is a great deal of political inertia holding us back. We seem to have transitioned to acknowledging that green is good, but the political realm is still largely devoid of true-blue action.

The ocean under the EU’s watch is a case in point. The recent European Environment Agency report, Marine Messages II, describes in shocking detail how the EU has not honoured any of the commitments it made to safeguard marine ecosystems by 2020. It has not stopped overfishing, it has not created effective protected areas in the sea, and it has not halted the decline of marine biodiversity due to human activities. This is a catastrophic failure by the EU and its member states, and exemplifies the reasons we are in this crisis. If we are serious about creating a different future, we must change how we do things in the ocean. Rhetoric is redundant in 2020.

In her speech, President von der Leyen said, “We know change is needed – and we also know it is possible. The European Green Deal is our blueprint to make that transformation.” That transformation doesn’t just need new legislation and strategies, it needs the Commission to deliver on the commitments it made years ago. Striking children have said they will go back to school when adults assume their responsibility; President von der Leyen and the adults around her, need to start acknowledging these failures, or any new green commitments will fall on deaf ears.

In the Commission’s defence, many of the refusals to deliver on commitments have been perpetrated by EU member states. For decades fisheries ministers have been addicted to overfishing, unwilling to break their annual habit of setting fishing limits exceeding scientific advice. Overfishing is like burnout for the ocean – too many fish are taken out and the system can’t cope. Unfortunately, the European Commission has enabled this addiction to burnout: they have proposed fishing limits in excess of the scientific advice, knowing that ministers would increase them even further.

This year has been no different – despite President von der Leyen’s impressive rhetoric  on the need for a “transformation agenda”, just days before her speech, her colleague Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, published the Commission’s proposal for fishing limits in the Baltic for 2021. It contains several good suggestions for enhanced ecosystem management, but proposes continued overfishing for the already over-exploited Western Baltic herring. This is not a transformation agenda, it is business as usual.

The Commissioner explained his rationale as, “We are adopting today a realistic proposal, which I am convinced will work for both fishers and fish.” But the only thing realistic about continued overfishing is suffering – there will be less fish, less money, and fishers’ struggles will worsen. We know how this addiction to overfishing ends, and it’s not happy.

The Commissioner is clearly seeking to placate those with an interest in Western Baltic herring – not the herring. This is not the true-blue transformation agenda that President von der Leyen talked of; it is the tired agenda of overfishing and self-destruction. Breaking an addiction is hard, and the Commission needs to push member states to do that, or we will push the ocean beyond its limits with horrifying impacts on human health. While the Commission works on new legislation, it also needs to correct the many failings identified by the European Environment Agency. That would be a real green transformation – acting like adults and honouring the commitments made.

Rebecca Hubbard is the Programme Director of Our Fish, which is working to end overfishing and restore a healthy ocean ecosystem.

Everybody in the EU, and all around the globe, depends on the ocean: it generates every second breath we take; has absorbed 90 percent of the excess heat generated in the last 50 years and has sequestered up to thirty percent of all carbon emissions. Yet this role of supporting life on the planet and regulating the climate has been overlooked. The 2030 Climate Target Plan consultation is an example of this, as it fails to mention the impact from destructive fishing or the contribution that fish populations make to ensuring  a healthy ocean ecosystem. It’s time that the EU woke up to the crucial role this ecosystem plays, by developing corresponding targets and ending destructive overfishing.

We should not be overlooking the ocean’s capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change, we should be celebrating it. The 2019 IPBES report identified fishing as the largest threat to marine biodiversity and ecosystem services. Ending overfishing is a clear, achievable action that would have a significant, far-reaching, positive impact on the ocean and the climate – and our lives.

Here’s six policies and actions that the EU could take to include fish and the fishing industry in its Climate Target Plan 

1. End overfishing, increase fish biomass and sequestration of CO2 by marine life: the role of fish in the biological pump of the ocean is critical.
2. Cut overcapacity of the fishing fleet; fewer vessels produce fewer emissions (the fishing industry produces one percent of CO2 emissions globally).
3. Prioritise access to fishing resources for those who have less impact on the marine ecosystem.
4. End fuel subsidies and other direct and indirect subsidies that worsen CO2 emissions and perpetuate overfishing and overcapacity of the fishing fleet.
5. Include ending overfishing as an achievable action in states’ Nationally Determined Contributions; prioritise the development of other ocean–focused NDCs as well.

The 2030 Climate Target Plan consultation for public submissions closes at midnight on Tuesday 23 June.

Rebecca Hubbard is the Programme Director of Our Fish

The EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 sends a strong signal that a just transition to low-impact fishing, ecosystem-based management, and ensuring no fishing is carried out above Maximum Sustainable Yield levels, are crucial to ending the destructive impact of fishing on ocean health. These are good signs that the Commission has an appetite for more ambition when it comes to preserving our marine resources and restoring our ocean. The next step is for member states to progress from prioritising the interests of a select few, to prioritising our life support system and the future of dependent coastal communities.

In contrast, the EU’s Farm 2 Fork strategy lacks appreciation of the critical role that a healthy ocean plays in a safe and sustainable future for all Europeans, and is bereft of the ambition necessary to transform current fisheries management into a more just and successful model. It appears that a flawed old-world view of fish as a resource to be extracted still pervades, which is completely at odds with the European Green Deal; correcting this will require strong leadership to deliver on the Commission’s commitment to transform it’s relationship with nature and become climate neutral.

So, while Farm 2 Fork lacks direction, the Biodiversity Strategy adds much-needed grease to the wheel of the existing Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which is struggling to deliver on its objectives to end all EU overfishing, improve data collection, and integrate ecosystem and social considerations to quota allocation. But on its own, the Biodiversity Strategy cannot change the world as we know it – the wheels of the bicycle are going in opposite directions. It is now up to the Parliament and Council to confirm and adopt this strategy, and for the Commission to start delivering the low-hanging fruit. It can start by proposing fishing limits for 2021 that lie within the boundaries recommended by scientists.

Rebecca Hubbard is the Programme Director of Our Fish