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  • COP27 Side Event: Fish are Carbon Engineers

    COP27 Side Event: Fish are Carbon Engineers

    COP27 Side event: Fish are Carbon Engineers 11 November 2022

     

    Watch now on Facebook Live!

    Press release: COP27: Call for UNFCCC and UN to Recognise Fish as “Carbon Engineers”

    Fish, like whales and plankton, are keystones of the ocean’s biological pump, the system constantly at work capturing and storing excess carbon from the atmosphere. Fisheries Management can help to conserve that system and in turn combat climate change. The Ocean & Climate Change Dialogue 2022 made clear that we must protect our ocean AND value its potential as a place for sustainable climate solutions and action. The UNFCCC must now acknowledge and mainstream good fisheries management as good carbon management. 

    Representatives from civil society, government and the scientific community will discuss the evidence in support of fisheries management as carbon management and what opportunities exist for maximising this to deliver on climate action commitments. 

    Panellists: Professor Hans-Otto Poertner, Dr Emma Cavan, Rebecca Hubbard.

    What: Breakfast and panel discussion 

    Where: Ocean Pavilion, COP27  

    When: 8-9am EET, Friday 11 November 

    Who: Our Fish

    Livestream: Yes – on Facebook Live. Contact events@our.fish – video will be posted here after the event.

    Paper: Fish are Carbon Engineers

    Fish are Carbon Engineers

     

    Video – Recording from Facebook Live

     

    Interview
    Rebecca Hubbard, Programme Director for Our Fish explains – at the COP27 The Nature Positive Pavilion – the crucial role that fish play as the ocean’s carbon engineers and calls for UNFCCC & UNto mainstream good fisheries management as good carbon management

  • Join Us: Mysterious Pyramid Puzzle at the European Parliament

    Join Us: Mysterious Pyramid Puzzle at the European Parliament

    Build Climate Action Through Better Fisheries Management

    What: Mysterious Pyramid Puzzle Appears outside the European Parliament

    Really? Yes, really. We will have a large puzzle outside the European Parliament for MEPs and other passersby to figure out – and to help grow understanding of the crucial role of fish and the ocean in protecting our climate.

    Why? Because COP27 will have just kicked off in Egypt and the EU needs to grasp that good fisheries management is good carbon management  – and that is climate action. Fish, like whales and plankton, are keystones of the ocean’s biological pump, the system constantly at work capturing and storing excess carbon from Earth’s atmosphere.

    Who? Members of the European Parliament, The Our Fish campaign and friends. All are welcome!

    When: 11-13:00 Tuesday 8th November

    Where: In front of the Station Europe building, near the European Parliament

    Will there be cake? Yes there will be baklava and dates, coffee and mint tea! Like in Egypt! 

    How can I learn more?

    Healthy fish populations are a vital component of a healthy marine system. They help power the ocean’s biological pump that captures and stores carbon. 

    We need to conserve that system and the natural carbon engineers – like fish – that make it possible. 

    Good fisheries management does that: it stops us taking too many fish out of the ocean; it means enforcing the rules that exist thoroughly; and banning practices which damage the whole system. That’s why tackling overfishing is a practical climate solution.

    Regardless of what happens at COP27, the EU has the means and the power to take action on climate change by putting its fisheries on a pathway to becoming low-impact and low-carbon. This must include a clear requirement for Ecosystem & Climate Impact Assessments of fishing activities: good fisheries management is good carbon management.

    Contact us

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  • Workshop: Decarbonising the EU Fishing Sector

    Workshop: Decarbonising the EU Fishing Sector

    The EU has committed to reducing emissions by 55% by 2030 and to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. And while fish as protein may have a smaller carbon footprint than terrestrial farming, many methods use excessive fuel and employ destructive methods.

    The EU is currently reviewing the Energy Taxation Directive, providing a critical opportunity for the EU to turn commitments into action by removing fuel subsidies for the fishing industry and driving a transition to low-carbon fishing that does not cause environmental destruction, is not reliant on foreign sources of fossil fuels, and is not heavily dependent on fish imports.

    Watch this recording of our workshop, which explores how the EU can decarbonise the fishing industry. The speakers include experts sharing the latest research and progress in maritime decarbonisation, while the workshop investigates the opportunities to apply international experience in the EU, and help identify gaps in achieving decarbonisation of the EU fishing fleet.

    Presentations:

     

    Briefing paper: Decarbonising the EU Fishing Fleet – Opportunities, Challenges and Critical Elements for a Necessary Transition

    On the 14th of June 2022, we held a workshop during which experts presented the decarbonisation solutions available in the maritime sector, followed by a discussion with various stakeholders on what is needed to decarbonise the EU fishing sector. This paper is aimed at sharing recommendations and resources developed as a result of the June 2022 workshop, and to instigate action on the necessary path to decarbonisation.

    Decarbonising the EU Fishing Fleet. Opportunities, Challenges and Critical Elements for a Necessary Transition

     

    See also:

    Read the briefing paper: Decarbonising the EU Fishing Fleet: Lessons from Today’s Shipping Industry

    While the journey to decarbonisation is in its primary stages, progress already made within the maritime sector has provided momentum and offers an incremental pathway for the decarbonisation of the fishing fleet. In order to align itself with the objectives of the EU Green Deal and other relevant international agreements, the global fishing industry will need to switch to new sources of energy. The purpose of this briefing paper is to present a feasibility analysis of batteries, synthetic fuels and wind propulsion for fishing vessels by examining examples from the shipping industry, while also considering the advantages and challenges presented by each source of energy.

    Decarbonising the EU Fishing Fleet. Lessons from Today's Shipping Industry

  • ‘Save the Ocean to Save the Climate’: Activists Take Icy Dip near Glasgow During COP26 Climate Talks

    ‘Save the Ocean to Save the Climate’: Activists Take Icy Dip near Glasgow During COP26 Climate Talks

    ‘Save the Ocean to Save the Climate’: Activists Take Icy Dip near Glasgow During COP26 Climate Talks

     

    Activists took a chilly swim in the North-East Atlantic Ocean this morning to demonstrate the importance and value of the ocean in mitigating the effects of climate change, at Ardrossan Beach, near Glasgow where the 26th UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, is currently being held, on 4 November 2021. 

    The event was organised by the Our Fish campaign, which works to end overfishing in European waters, which apart from securing fish populations for the future, is essential to address the biodiversity and climate crisis.

    “Freezing our asses off in the Atlantic this morning isn’t just a great way to fortify yourself for the coming days of COP26, it’s a hardy reminder that we need to save the ocean to save the climate”, said Our Fish advisor Mike Walker, who was one of the swimmers. “Decision makers at COP26 must embrace the power of the ocean to fight climate change – and as the largest carbon sink on the planet, climate action plans must include ending destructive activities like bottom trawling and overfishing”.

    How you can help: Save the Ocean to Save the Climate

    In Glasgow? Join our COP26 Event: Save the Ocean to Save the Climate – Blue Carbon Breakfast Briefing on November 9th

    Today’s swim followers an earlier event in Marseille, during the IUCN World Congress

    Download high resolution photographs here.

     

    ‘Save the Ocean to Save the Climate’: Activists Take Icy Dip near Glasgow During COP26 Climate Talks ‘Save the Ocean to Save the Climate’: Activists Take Icy Dip near Glasgow During COP26 Climate Talks ‘Save the Ocean to Save the Climate’: Activists Take Icy Dip near Glasgow During COP26 Climate Talks ‘Save the Ocean to Save the Climate’: Activists Take Icy Dip near Glasgow During COP26 Climate Talks ‘Save the Ocean to Save the Climate’: Activists Take Icy Dip near Glasgow During COP26 Climate Talks 

    Photos: Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Our Fish

  • COP26 Event: Save the Ocean to Save the Climate – Blue Carbon Breakfast Briefing (Video)

    COP26 Event: Save the Ocean to Save the Climate – Blue Carbon Breakfast Briefing (Video)

    When? This event took place from 0800-0900 (UK Time), Tuesday 9th November

    Where: Ottoman Coffee house, 73 Berkeley St, Glasgow, UK 

    COP26 is a vital point in the response to the global climate emergency. One of the biggest carbon stores is our seas, yet it is not included in nations’ climate change plans, and emissions or sequestration from it are not yet counted in the UK, the EU, or any nation’s annual emissions statistics. This briefing aims to provide an introduction to the role our seas play in addressing the climate crisis and what more should be done to manage activities taking place in them.

    Join our Blue Carbon Breakfast Briefing with:

    • Dr Rashid Sumaila, Professor and Director of the Fisheries Economics Research Unit at the University of British Columbia Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
    • Dr Emma Cavan, Research Fellow, Imperial College London
    • Claudia Beamish, former Member of Scottish Parliament and Special Advisor to the Scottish Labour Group on COP26
    • Mike Walker, Our Fish 

    Moderated by Phil Rhodri Taylor, Open Seas

    More reading:
    Fish and the Ocean Play A Crucial Role In Regulating Our Climate and Should Not Be Consigned to COP26 Sidelines – by Emma Cavan, Erica Ferrer and Rashid Sumaila

    Press release: COP26: Not a Moment to Waste: Ocean Climate Action Needs to be Counted Now

     

    Organised by Our Fish and Open Seas

  • Webinar: Mobilising Ocean Climate Action

    Webinar: Mobilising Ocean Climate Action

    On Monday, September 27, 2021, we brought together a fascinating panel in this online discussion as they answer your questions on the science of our ocean, why its health is key to our climate, and how we can drive political action to stop overfishing before it’s too late. Watch the video to learn more (above).

    Presented by Our Fish, Klimaat Actie Netwerk Maastricht and Maastricht University.

    The expert panel:

    • Dr Alex Rogers, Science Director at REV Ocean & Professor at Oxford University
    • Friederike Leppert, Climate Activist, KAN Maastricht
    • Dr Francesca Colli, Assistant Professor of European Politics, Maastricht University
    • Ms Veronica Manfredi, Director of Directorate C, Quality of Life of the Directorate General of Environment, European Commission
  • Dive into Climate Action Swim – Marseille, September 4, 2021

    Dive into Climate Action Swim – Marseille, September 4, 2021

    Register for: Dive into Climate Action – Marseille, September 4, 2021

    Dive into Climate Action with an Ocean Swim, 08:00 Saturday, 4th September, Plage du Prado, Marseille, France during the IUCN World Conservation Congress.

     

    Dive into Climate Action, Marseille

    Marseille, 4 September, 2021:- Dozens of people dived into the Mediterranean Sea today during the IUCN World Conservation Congress to celebrate the power of the ocean to fight climate change, and to call on political leaders to take climate action by ending destructive fishing.

    Dive into Climate Action saw big-wave surfing champion Maya Gabeira and European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius, join members of the public for an early morning swim on Marseille’s Plage du Prado.

    Dive into Climate Action, Marseille
    European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius counts down the Dive into Climate Action

    The event, organised by Our Fish, Seas at Risk, Oceana and WeMove Europe, took place during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille, France, which brings scientists, conservationists and world leaders together to discuss and decide how to restore nature, in the context of crucial negotiations to adopt a new global framework to reverse biodiversity loss by 2050 [1].

     

    Dive into Climate Action
    big-wave surfing champion Maya Gabeira addresses the crowd and calls on the commissioner to protect the ocean.

    “Today we’re diving into the sea to celebrate the awe and wonder of the world’s ocean”, said Rebecca Hubbard, Program Director of Our Fish. “The power of the ocean to fight climate change is enormous – as the largest carbon sink on the planet it must be protected from destructive activities like bottom trawling and overfishing”.

    “Bottom trawling is a devastating practice that destroys the seafloor, kills marine life and releases huge amounts of carbon. It is horrendous to think that this destruction takes place everywhere, and even inside European so-called ‘protected’ areas” added Maya Gabeira, big-wave surfer and Oceana Board member.

    Close to 150,000 people have already signed a petition to stop bottom-trawling, starting with marine protected areas, and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) recently recommended a ban. Now, it’s up to Commissioner Sinkevičius to follow-through.

    “The Ocean is the largest carbon sink of our planet, absorbing more than 25% of all CO2 emissions. But overfishing, pollution and biodiversity loss critically weaken the ocean to play this role. Saving the Ocean is saving the climate” said Tobias Troll, Marine Policy Director of Seas At Risk.

     

     

     

     

  • Symposium: Delivering on Climate & Biodiversity Targets Through Better Fisheries Management

    Symposium: Delivering on Climate & Biodiversity Targets Through Better Fisheries Management

    Symposium: Delivering on Climate & Biodiversity Targets Through Better Fisheries Management

    Our Fish invites you to join us for Delivering on Climate & Biodiversity Targets Through Better Fisheries Management, a four-day virtual symposium exploring how ending overfishing is critical for realising the EU’s response to the biodiversity and climate emergency. The EU has a unique opportunity to play a leading role on the world stage during both the UNFCCC COP 26 in Glasgow and the Convention on Biological Diversity COP 15 in Kunming. In advance and in preparation for these global events, we would greatly value your participation in the following:

    Note: It is necessary to register for all events separately.

    Monday 22nd March 2021, 16-17.30 CET/ 08-09:30 PST
    Science webinar: Ending overfishing delivers for climate mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity and people
    Click presentation title to download.


    Tuesday 23rd March 2021, 16-17.30 CET / 08-09:30 PST
    Science webinar: Ecosystem-based fisheries, building resilience and helping small-scale fishers

     

    Wednesday 24th March 2021, 15:00-16:30 CET / 07-08:30 PST
    Workshop on climate guidelines for fisheries – policy-makers and fisheries managers only
    A range of evidence will be presented by scientists during the first two scientific webinars, while this third workshop will give a brief overview of that science, before breakout groups will explore the policy pathways and workshop a proposed checklist for realising climate action through better fisheries management.

    • Prof. Alex Rogers, Director of Science at REV Ocean: The carbon cycle, life in the ocean and climate mitigation
    • Ivonne Ortiz, Senior Research Scientist and Associate Director, Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington: A checklist for policy-makers to realise fisheries management as climate action
    • Workshop in breakout groups with scientists and policy-makers

     

    Thursday 25th March 2021, 14:00-15:00 CET / 06-07:00 PST
    Fireside-chat with EU decision-makers

    This fireside-chat is the fourth event in a four-day virtual symposium exploring how ending overfishing is critical to realising the EU response to the biodiversity and climate emergency. The fireside-chat will present both the science and pathway to decision-makers to help pave a way forward as they prepare for UNFCCC COP 26 in Glasgow, and the CBD COP 15 in Kunming.

    • Rashid Sumaila, Professor and Director of the Fisheries Economics Research Unit at the University of British Columbia Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
    • Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans & Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevicius
    • Ska Keller, Member of European Parliament, Co-President of the European Greens/EFA
    • Farah Obaidullah, Ocean Advocate, Founder of Women4Oceans

    Got a question? Get in touch via register@our.fish

  • Webinar Recording: Fishing for Solutions to the Climate Crisis?

    Webinar Recording: Fishing for Solutions to the Climate Crisis?

     

    This webinar took place on Monday 28th September 2020

    During Fishing for Solutions to the Climate Crisis?, Our Fish welcomed Dr Karina von Schuckmann, Mercator Ocean International and IPCC Special Report on the Ocean Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC) author and Professor Rashid Sumaila, Director of the Fisheries Economics Research Unit, Global Fisheries Cluster, University of British Columbia,  for a webinar which 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.

    Speakers: 

    Dr Karina von Schuckmann, Mercator Ocean International and IPCC SROCC author – Presentation: The fundamental role of the Ocean

    Professor Rashid Sumaila, Fisheries Economics Research Unit, Global Fisheries Cluster, University of British Columbia – Presentation: Overfishing climate connections

    Rebecca Hubbard, Programme Director, Our Fish:Rebecca Hubbard – Presentation: Fishing for Solutions to the Climate Crisis?