Archives: publications

  • Briefing Paper: Decarbonising the EU Fishing Fleet – Lessons from Today’s Shipping Industry

    Briefing Paper: Decarbonising the EU Fishing Fleet – Lessons from Today’s Shipping Industry

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

    Fishing is an energy-intensive activity that produces vast amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In a recent scientific study published in Marine Policy, it was found that fishing vessels released approximately 207 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere in 2016 alone (Greer et al., 2019). And yet, marine fisheries are excluded from global assessments of GHG emissions. To tackle this, decarbonising the fisheries sector must become a priority, as is currently the case for the shipping industry. The transition to cleaner energy required by the European Green Deal and the legislation being developed to make that transition possible (including the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive) offer an opportunity to decarbonise the fisheries sector in the European Union (EU).

    At the global level, in 2018, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted a set of targets to reduce GHG emissions from international shipping by 50% compared to 2008 levels. As part of this, the IMO sets out to reduce the carbon intensity of international shipping by 40% in 2030 and 70% in 2050.4 Although these objectives only apply to the shipping industry, nothing is stopping decision makers and the fishing sector from adopting them for the global fishing fleet.

    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.

    Download PDF: Decarbonising the EU Fishing Fleet: Lessons from Today’s Shipping Industry

     

  • Joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2023

    Joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2023

    Joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2023

     

    Download PDF: Joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2023

    In October 2022, EU fisheries ministers will agree on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2023. As the deadline to end overfishing by 2020 at the latest as legally prescribed by Article 2(2) of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has passed, all fishing limits must be in line with sustainable exploitation rates.

    Last year, the EU AGRIFISH Council set four out of ten Total Allowable Catches (TACs) in the Baltic Sea exceeding the best available scientific advice for 2022, thereby contravening the CFP deadline. The European Commission proposals exceeded scientific advice for the four TACs – eastern Baltic cod, western Baltic herring, salmon in the main Baltic basin and the Gulf of Finland salmon. Fisheries ministers further increased some catch limits above what was proposed by the European Commission3

    However, behind all of the numbers, the real problem is that scientific advice and the models underpinning it are not delivering ecosystem-based management options. Setting TAC based on single species advice omits the need to consider sub-populations at risk and misses consideration of size and age distribution. ICES can produce more comprehensive advice but the decision-makers must request this and until they do, they must set TACs with much greater caution.

    The results of the holistic assessment by the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (Helsinki Commission, HELCOM) on the state of the Baltic Sea reflect that several action areas lag behind in implementation, despite the deadline for achieving Good Environmental Status (GES) of the marine environment by 2020 according to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and by 2021 according to the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). The European Green Deal commits the EU to tackle the impacts of climate change and protecting and restoring biodiversity. Specifically, the EU Biodiversity Strategy commits to ecosystem-based management, a transition to more selective and less damaging fishing methods, and to set all fishing limits at or below Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) levels, to restore ocean health. The Action Plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems noted as a deliverable in the Biodiversity Strategy must become a crucial strategy to improve implementation of, and fill obvious gaps in, EU policies to put European fisheries management on a path where the full ecosystem and climate impacts of fishing are properly measured and mitigated.

    The Commission and Ministers must reconsider the current approach by requesting new and different scientific advice that, for example, adequately reflects ecosystem considerations, safeguards vulnerable sub-populations and prioritises a healthy size and age distribution, or we will face more stocks faltering. The solution here and now is to take a more precautionary approach by staying in the lower bounds of the TAC advice ranges.

    The October AGRIFISH Council provides the Commission and fisheries ministers with a clear and attainable opportunity to deliver on their commitments in the updated HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan and the Our Baltic Declaration from 2020 initiated by Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, as well as on their legal obligation according to the CFP to end overfishing. It is also an opportunity to begin to realise the ambition of the Biodiversity Strategy.

    The European Ombudsman has confirmed that fishing opportunities documents contain ‘environmental information’ within the meaning of the Aarhus Convention, and made recommendations to improve the transparency of the Council when setting fishing opportunities. The Ombudsman further confirmed a finding of maladministration in April 2020, expressing disappointment that Council decision-making contravened key democratic and transparency standards. We therefore urge the Commission and decision-makers to make the decision-making process of setting fishing opportunities fully transparent.

    The following text outlines the joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2023 in the context of environmental regulations, EU fisheries legislation, scientific advice on catch limits, and the sharing of stocks with third countries.

    Download PDF: Joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2023

     

  • The untrawled truth: Why EU fisheries policy should strengthen discard monitoring, control and reporting within an implemented landing obligation

    The untrawled truth: Why EU fisheries policy should strengthen discard monitoring, control and reporting within an implemented landing obligation

    The untrawled truth: Why EU fisheries policy should strengthen discard monitoring, control and reporting within an implemented landing obligation

     

    Download: The untrawled truth: Why EU fisheries policy should strengthen discard monitoring, control and reporting within an implemented landing obligation

    Discarding unwanted catches of regulated species has been illegal throughout EU fisheries since 2019. However, appropriate fisheries control measures are still missing. New research now reveals which parts of the EU fishing fleet have the biggest problem with recorded discards.

    The analysis exposes the scale of problems associated with implementing the landing obligation in different EU fishing fleet segments based on the official discard reporting. The findings aim to inform the current revision of the EU fisheries Control Regulation, particularly the debate on the scope and future implementation of the requirement to install remote electronic monitoring (REM), with the purpose of enabling reliable and effective monitoring, control and enforcement of the landing obligation.

    This analysis shows that vessel length is not the appropriate basis to decide which vessels need to be monitored and controlled through the use of REM to safeguard the effective implementation of the landing obligation. Instead, the most common factor for large amounts of discards is the type of fishing gear in use.

    While the Council of the EU, representing EU Member States, is contemplating REM only on certain vessels over 24 metres in length, and the European Parliament (EP) only on vessels over 12 metres in length, the European Commission has proposed an REM requirement without a vessel length criterion. The analysis compares the potential outcomes of the two proposals which would see REM required only on vessels above 12 or 24 metres. Publicly available data published by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) was used to calculate the total amount of reported discards for different vessel length classes, as well as types of fishing gear in 2019.

    Download: The untrawled truth: Why EU fisheries policy should strengthen discard monitoring, control and reporting within an implemented landing obligation

  • Letter: Request for a meeting to discuss the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive (ETD)

    Letter: Request for a meeting to discuss the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive (ETD)

    Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies

     

    Letter:

    We are writing about the ongoing revision of the Energy Taxation Directive (ETD)[1]. This legislative reform will determine how and to what extent energy taxation will contribute to the decarbonisation of our economy.

    We strongly support the Commission’s proposal to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies in the revised ETD. However, we consider that some aspects of the proposal have not been ambitious enough when it comes to setting price signals consistent with the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that we must achieve in the coming years.

    Taxation must be aligned with the climate objectives of the European Green Deal and the Polluter Pays Principle. A report released by the European Court of Auditors on 31 January 22[2] shows that energy taxation can support efforts to combat climate change but that current tax levels do not reflect the extent to which different energy sources pollute. The report highlights that even though renewable-energy subsidies almost quadrupled over the 2008-2019 period, fossil fuel subsidies “have remained relatively constant over the last decade despite commitments from the European Commission and some Member States to phase them out”.

    The EU agreed to transition to a sustainable Europe that achieves climate neutrality by 2050, which will not happen without the elimination of all subsidies to fossil fuels (exemptions, fiscal advantages and rebates). Most recently, the Glasgow Climate Pact at global level and the European Climate Law[3], committed to eliminate “inefficient” fossil fuel subsidies recognising that if this does not happen all other climate actions will be negated.

    The UN Sustainable Development Agenda and the Paris Agreement set out precise goals to end harmful subsidies and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Yet, EU governments continue to provide billions every year in fossil fuel subsidies that degrade the ocean and the land environment, pollute the air, make people sick and exacerbate the climate crisis. Lower taxes or full exemptions, for instance, are in place for commercial kerosene in the aviation sector, bunker fuel in the fisheries and maritime sectors, and for the production of coal, gas and oil electricity.

    The fisheries sector is a worrying example of how taxation can affect energy and environmental performance. Recent scientific studies show that CO2 emissions from the global fisheries sector are much higher than previously believed, emitting as much as global aviation.[4] Annual emissions from the EU fishing fleet are equal to those of all of Malta.[5] Particular fleets, such as bottom trawls which drag heavy gear along the seafloor, are extremely destructive to biodiversity and ecosystems, and release carbon from vital ocean sinks. These destructive fishing fleets benefit the most from fossil fuel subsidies, as their gear is heavy, so they use more fuel.

    Similarly, the lack of kerosene taxation has contributed to aviation being the fastest growing polluting mode of transport up until Covid-19. Taxing kerosene is not only essential from an environmental point of view, but also when it comes to social equity. While other sectors and citizens are paying their fair share and taking strong action to decarbonize, airlines are receiving billions of subsidies from taxpayers despite causing a growing share of climate warming. Secondly, it also creates competitive distortions with other cleaner modes of transport that are subject to taxation (rail) or cleaner fuels that are currently under-utilised (synthetic fuels). Taxing kerosene will correct this and result in many other benefits including raised revenue for Member States to decarbonise the sector.

    Reducing financial subsidies to these extremely polluting and destructive parts of the sector would allow the EU to more efficiently fulfil four key European Green Deal promises: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least net 55% by 2030, to achieve net emissions by 2050, to decouple economic growth from resource use, and to do no significant harm to the environment in the process.

    Real and effective fuel taxation would free up to 1.5 billion euro of subsidies[6] for fishing and almost 7 billion euros for aviation[7] that could be reinjected into the economy. It would rebalance the industry towards cleaner energy and modes of transport as well as small scale and low-impact fishing, which have been pushed out by taxation that favours the polluting modes of transport and industrial fishing that most Europeans would find excessive. This rebalancing is a triple win and would deliver social, economic and environmental benefits.

    We would like to meet you to present our priorities on the file and offer support to achieve this necessary change in the taxation policy of the EU.

    Yours sincerely,

     

    [1] Council Directive 2003/96/EC of 27 October 2003 restructuring the Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity, OJL 283, 31.10.2003, p. 51.

    [2] European Court of Auditor report, Review 01/2022: Energy taxation, carbon pricing and energy subsidies,

    [3] Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’), OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, p. 1–17 ;

     

    [4] Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate, Nature 17 March 2021, Enrich Sala and other authors; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03371-z

    [5] REPORT: CLIMATE IMPACTS & FISHING INDUSTRY PROFITS FROM EU FUEL TAX SUBSIDIES, Our Fish, September 2021 point 8 of Executive summary; https://stopfossilfuelsubsidies.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/FUEL-SUBSIDIES-EXEC-SUMMARY_V4.pdf

    [6] Climate Impacts & Fishing Industry Profits from EU Fuel Tax Subsidies https://our.fish/publications/report-climate-impacts-fishing-industry-profits-from-eu-fuel-tax-subsidies/

    [7]Aviation Taxation Report, for DG TAXUD European Commission

     

     

  • Request for an administrative inquiry into fisheries catch data in the Netherlands

    Request for an administrative inquiry into fisheries catch data in the Netherlands

    Request for an administrative inquiry into fisheries catch data in the Netherlands

    Letter from NGOs to Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries European Commission  – a request for an administrative inquiry into fisheries catch data in the Netherlands.

    “We urgently call on the Commission to instruct the Netherlands to act on the irregularities described above by conducting an administrative inquiry in accordance with Article 102.2 of the Control Regulation, in order to determine the actual quantities landed by Dutch-owned pelagic freezer trawlers in the Netherlands and elsewhere since 2010. This is the only way to remedy the situation, while also shedding full light on the extent of the fraud which has presumably been taking place over several years.”

     

    Letter: Request for an administrative inquiry into fisheries catch data in the Netherlands

  • Targeted consultation on the 2022 Report on the Functioning of the Common Fisheries Policy

    Targeted consultation on the 2022 Report on the Functioning of the Common Fisheries Policy

    Targeted consultation on the 2022 Report on the Functioning of the Common Fisheries Policy

    The European Commission is preparing a report on the functioning of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), as required under Article 49 of the CFP by the end of 2022. Our Fish made a submission to the Commission’s targeted consultation which highlights:
    • there is still potential to make much bigger improvements in restoring fish populations in the EU and sustainable fisheries management by fully implementing the CFP
    • if fully implemented, the CFP could help mobilise a just transition to low-impact, climate-smart fishing by prioritising access to fishing opportunities (such as quota) to those who fish the most sustainably and responsibly
    • where there are gaps, such as managing the climate impacts of fishing, the EU can use the ‘Action Plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems’ to set out a pathway forward

    Download PDF: Targeted consultation on the 2022 Report on the Functioning of the Common Fisheries Policy

  • Open letter from NGOs asks French presidency to support a strong and ambitious revision of the Control Regulation

    Open letter from NGOs asks French presidency to support a strong and ambitious revision of the Control Regulation

     

    Open letter from NGOs asks French presidency to support a strong and ambitious revision of the Control Regulation

    ClientEarth, the Environmental Justice Foundation, Oceana, Our Fish, Sciaena, Seas at Risk and WWF have sent a letter to French Fisheries minister Annick Girardin asking them to ensure stronger rules are set to accurately report how much seafood is landed in ports, better monitor what is happening at sea and efficiently deter illegal fishing activities.

    As the EU Fisheries Control Regulation is being revised, the NGOs call on France to use its French presidency mandate to reach a strong and ambitious agreement – failing to do so would jeopardise the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy to end overfishing and undermine the power of our ocean to mitigate climate change.

     

    Read letter: Open letter from NGOs asks French presidency to support a strong and ambitious revision of the Control Regulation

  • Joint NGO email to MEPs on the EMFAF Delegated Regulation

    Joint NGO email to MEPs on the EMFAF Delegated Regulation

    Email to MEPs ahead of plenary vote on EMFAF DA

    On Monday 14th February, the European Parliament will vote on a motion for a resolution rejecting the European Commission Delegated Regulation on the implementation of the EMFAF Regulation. ClientEarth, Oceana, Our Fish, Sciaena and Seas At Risk are calling on all MEPs to reject that resolution and support the text proposed by the Commission.

    Download the full letter (pdf)

  • Open Letter: Revision of EU Fisheries Control Regulation can make a big difference for biodiversity and climate if done right

    Open Letter: Revision of EU Fisheries Control Regulation can make a big difference for biodiversity and climate if done right

    Open Letter: Revision of EU Fisheries Control Regulation can make a big difference for biodiversity and climate if done right

    In an open letter addressed to the three EU institutions, NGOs called on the French Presidency of the EU Council and on Member State governments, along with Members of the European Parliament and the European Commission, to ensure that the revised EU Fisheries Control Regulation contributes to sustainable fisheries management that reduces the impact of fisheries on the marine environment and promotes the protection of species and ecosystems. 

    Open Letter: Revision of EU Fisheries Control Regulation can make a big difference for biodiversity and climate if done right