» Fisheries



Yachtsman describes the Pacific Ocean as “dead”

The Guardian reports, 21st October 2013: “An Australian sailor has described parts of the Pacific Ocean as “dead” because of severe overfishing, with his vessel having to repeatedly swerve debris for thousands of kilometres on a journey from Australia to Japan. Ivan MacFadyen told of his horror at the severe lack of marine life and […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Fly larvae “factory” to manufacture food for fish farms

The Guardian reports, 4th October 2013: “South Africa is building a massive insect-rearing factory where thousands of flies will be fattened on food industry leftovers — animal manure, blood and brains from abattoirs — to produce food for farmed fish that will ultimately be eaten by people. When the factory opens in spring 2014, thousands […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Independent professional panel says health of oceans is “declining fast”

BBC News, 3rd October, 2013, reports: “The health of the world’s oceans is deteriorating even faster than had previously been thought, a report says. A review from the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO), warns that the oceans are facing multiple threats. They are being heated by climate change, turned slowly less […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Collective rights “offer hope for global fisheries” says scientist at ICES conference

BBC News reports, 24th September 2013: Collective community-based rights could put the world’s fisheries on a sustainable footing after decades of over-exploitation, an expert suggests. Previous management regimes had failed to protect both the industry and fish stocks’ long-term future, explained Ragnar Arnason from Iceland University. Communities would act like “shareholders”, ensuring stocks were protected […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

EU proposal for ban on deep sea trawling makes uncertain progress

Fish2Fork reports, 5th September 2013: “A marine expert has accused the fishing industry of talking “bunk” in its efforts to stop deep sea trawling being banned. Professor Les Watling, of the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu, hit out at the industry as moves to ban deep sea trawling and deep sea gill-netting enter […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

MEP defends delay on vote for deep sea fishing ban

Fish2Fork reports, 4th April 2013: “Moves to ban deep sea fishing across Europe have been delayed by just three weeks, an MEP has said [in April 2013], despite fears among environmental campaigners that the proposal has in effect been killed off. Struan Stevenson was one of the MEPs who held up the proposed ban by […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Conflicting views on whether NE Atlantic fish stocks are recovering

BBC News reports, 18th July 2013: “Many European fish stocks are on the road to recovery from overfishing, according to a major new study. Findings from an international effort to assess the status of dozens of fish stocks are published in the journal Current Biology. The research found that many stocks in the north-east Atlantic […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

What real CFP Reform means, and must achieve : Marinet Statement

In a statement to the Westminster Forum meeting on 10th September 2013, convened to consider “Next steps for UK fishing — consumer attitudes, sustainability and implementing the Common Fisheries Policy”, David Levy, Marinet chairman, said: “Marinet believes that CFP reform means very little unless the reforms lead to a re-establishment of fish food security for […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

World ‘has used up 2013 resources’

Peter Waller sent us a copy of the Yahoo News of Tuesday, 20th August, 2013 which heralds an item entitled .”World has used up 2013 resources” which resides at http://uk.news.yahoo.com/world-used-2013-resources-001916409.html#6z7ZWg4 Peter points out that it is not just the sea bed and marine harvest that is being over exploited, but most other natural resources also. […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

NFFO claims the the “North Sea is teeming” with fish once more

In a Press Release dated 22nd July 2013, and titled “New Data Reveals North Sea Is Teeming”, the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) says that there has been a dramatic recovery of fish species across the North East Atlantic which is “nothing short of remarkable”. We provide here the full text of the NFFP […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Eating fish could “halve the risk of arthritis”

The Guardian reports, 12th August 2013: “Eating a weekly portion of salmon or regular servings of other fish such as cod could cut the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by more than half, research shows. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish, especially oily fish, explain the dramatic drop in someone’s chances of developing the chronic […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

EU Commissioner says sustainability and data collection are at the heart of fishing subsidies reform

In a reply to Marinet’s letter of 20th May 2013 the EU Fisheries Commissioner, Maria Damanaki, has informed Marinet that environmental sustainability is at the heart of the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and reform of the newly named European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) which disburses fishing subsidies. Commissioner Damanaki also informs Marinet that the Commission […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Marinet seeks accountability and transparency in the recording of EU fishing subsidies

Marinet has written, 6th May 2013, to the President of the European Commission, Manuel Barroso, and the Fisheries Ministers of Member States to request transparency and accountability in respect of subsidy payments made to vessels in the EU fishing fleet from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF). These subsidies total over 1 billion Euros annually. Following […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Marinet launches Reform of EU Fishing Subsidies campaign

Marinet has launched a major campaign, running between now and December, to secure far-reaching reform of EU fishing subsidies. These subsidies are widely recognised as a key cause of over-fishing. The campaign is explained by a short 3 minute film and is supported by a petition to Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

New Marine Conservation Development

Becky Ingham, who worked with the RSPB, is now General Manager of Hookpod Ltd, tells us that her company has designed, developed and are now trialling a unique fishing device called the Hookpod that should prove to be a great asset to marine conservation as it can be employed to stop albatross and other seabirds […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Isle of Man scallops on the way to being fished sustainably

The Guardian reports, 27th June 2013: “Locals in the pretty seaside village of Port Erin on the Isle of Man will be celebrating. Their annual Queenie festival is taking place to promote the queen scallop that thrives in their waters. With a shell that can grow up to 9cm, the species, aequipecten opercularis, provides a […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Rare marine species discovered around Rockall could lead to a fishing ban in the area

The Guardian reports, 14th June 2013: “Fishing is expected to be banned near the Atlantic islet of Rockall after a rare methane gas vent in the seabed and two new shellfish species were discovered by British scientists.” The methane, which leaks through a so-called “cold seep” vent in the ocean floor, was found last year […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

MSC say sustainable fishing of North Sea cod could soon recommence, but can it?

The Guardian reports, 8th June 2012: “Cod could be in for a revival at the fish counter as stocks recover after being overfished for decades. Eating cod has been regarded as close to a crime by environmentalists, and consumers have been urged to opt for alternatives such as gurnard. But a survey by the Marine […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

New study suggests the modern ecological structure of fisheries is dangerously unstable

C.O.A.S.T. report on a new study from the University of York: “It is well documented that the increase in demand for fish, combined with advances in fishing technology has led to the decline of many large bodied finfish fisheries around the world. As a result, catches of shellfish such as prawns, scallops and lobsters have […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Greenpeace apprehensive and “disappointed “about EU negotiations on CFP Reform

Greenpeace reports, 15th May 2013, Brussels: “Another marathon session of negotiations on the reform of EU legislation on fisheries has ended in disappointment, said Greenpeace. The ministers have been meeting in Council since Monday to revise their position on the main points of the reform before going into final negotiations with the European Parliament. Commenting […]

Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS