The Pew Foundation reports, 21st October 2014: “On the 10th and 11th November EU fisheries ministers are scheduled to decide on fishing limits for deep sea stocks in 2015 and 2016. This will be done for the first time under the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The deep sea is the area of the ocean […]
» Legislation
- EU set to license deep-sea fishing under the CFP
- Marinet informs the EU Commission of the need for a “strong working definition” of MSFD Descriptor 3
- EU Commissions asks ICES to review MSFD Descriptor 3
- The Global Oceans Commission has a Petition addressed to the UN
- Pew Trust urges EU Commission to end over-fishing and to set quotas according to scientific advice
- Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee publishes English MCZ report
- Parliament critical of the Government over English MCZ delivery
- EU backs out of full protection for Atlantic bluefin tuna
- Marinet responds to “Castle Debate” on CFP Reform
- “Neither EU nor UK has displayed competence in fisheries management” says Marinet
- Can the new reformed CFP protect fish stocks?
- OSPAR announces increased protection for iconic biodiversity in NE Atlantic
- UK Fisheries Minister is reported to be contesting ICES fisheries advice
- Will the discards ban be enough to rebuild EU fish stocks?
- Defra has a new Minister for fisheries, and initiates a public consultation on the EU’s impact on fisheries
- European Parliament provides advice on what was agreed in the recent EMFF vote
- Ocean2012 takes a positive view of the European Parliament’s fishing subsidies (EMFF) vote
- EU proposal for ban on deep sea trawling makes uncertain progress
- MEP defends delay on vote for deep sea fishing ban
- What real CFP Reform means, and must achieve : Marinet Statement
Marinet informs the EU Commission of the need for a “strong working definition” of MSFD Descriptor 3
The EU Commission has recently announced a review of the “good environmental status” Descriptors in its Marine Strategy Framework Directive. This review may possibly lead to their “revision” i.e. a new definition of “good environmental status”. As a result, Marinet has written to the EU Commission, letter dated 26th September 2014, in order to record […]
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The European Commission is undertaking a review (Hugh of all the Descriptors (aspects of the marine environment) which define “good environmental status” in the EU’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), and has indicated to Marinet that this review may even lead to a “revision” of the legal terms of each Descriptor. To see the advice […]
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The Global Ocean Commission is seeking protection under law via the United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOSUNCLOS The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty.) for greater protection of the planet’s high seas (the area of the […]
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Following the EU Commission’s announcement of a public consultation on “fishing opportunities for 2015”, the Pew Trust has given clear advice to the Commission on the principles which the CFP must observe during 2015. Pew states, 25th June 2014: “The European Commission today published its Communication on Fishing Opportunities for 2015, which serves as a […]
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The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) published on 21st June 2014 a report of its investigation into the delivery of marine conservation zones (MCZsMCZ Marine Conservation Zone) to date in English seas by the UK Government. The summary of the EAC report reads: “In November 2013 the Government designated 27 Marine Conservation Zones […]
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The Guardian reports, 21st June 2014: “Four years since the launch of the government project to create a national network of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZsMCZ Marine Conservation Zone) designed to protect sea life and give fish stocks space to recover, only 27 of the 127 sites recommended by experts and stakeholders in the government’s own […]
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Undercurrentnews reports, 2nd May 2014: The European Union has backed out of implementing the full version of an electronic bluefin catch documentation system that was hoped could combat the trade in illegally-caught tuna, according to Pew Charitable Trusts. After many years of delays and adjustments to the new electronic bluefin catch database (eBCD), the system […]
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Marinet has responded to the debate and evidence presented at the “Castle Debate” (organised by Pamela Castle OBE) in London on 4th March 2014 This debate considered the outcome and consequences from the recent reform process of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Marinet’s response can be seen here.
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The UK Government (Defra) consultation on the “balance of competence” between the EU and UK with respect to fisheries management has just closed for public submissions of evidence. The purpose of the consultation has been to seek opinion so as to arrive at an assessment of the balance of advantages and disadvantages between the UK’s […]
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We publish here the introduction to a discussion initiated by the journalist, Karl Mathiesen, in The Guardian on 17th December 2013, along with a link to the comments that this discussion generated online, concerning the question whether the reformed Common Fisheries Policy is capable of protecting fish stocks. Mr. Mathiesen opened the discussion by stating: […]
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The Oslo Paris Commission for the Protection of the NE Atlantic (OSPAROSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic made up of representatives of the Governments of the 15 signatory nations.) has announced, 19th December 2013, increased protection for species and habitats in the North East Atlantic. Their press release […]
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The Independent, 15th December 2013, reports: “The Fisheries Minister, George Eustice MP, is preparing to defy scientists by demanding higher cod quotas — in the latest instance of the Government going against expert environmental advice. George Eustice argues that reducing quotas will result in more fish being discarded — at least until 2016, when a […]
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The Guardian reports, 11th November 2013: “Banning the wasteful practice of discarding edible fish at sea will not be enough to save dwindling fish stocks, a group of scientists have warned. The ending of discards is a key European Union fisheries policy, and after a hard-fought battle over the past three years with the fishing […]
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As a result of recently announced ministerial changes in the Westminster Government, Mr. George Eustice MP has taken over from Mr. Richard Benyon MP as the Minister in charge of fisheries and marine conservation, including the current marine conservation zone (MCZMCZ Marine Conservation Zone) delivery programme. Also, in a press release dated 21st October 2013, […]
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The European Parliament press release, 23rd October 2013, reports on what was agreed in the recent European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) vote under the headline: “Fisheries Policy reform: MEPs agree on rules for €6.5 billion EU aid fund.” Draft rules for allocating European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), aid to help fishermen to comply […]
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Ocean2012 reports, Strasbourg, 23rd October 2013: “Today members of the European Parliament agreed a position on the proposed European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, EMFF. The EMFF is worth over €6.5 billion between 2014 and 2020. Effective implementation of the recently agreed reform of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, including its targets for the ending […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
