About: common fisheries policy
Has the world reached ‘peak fish’?, fish experts ask
This week’s meetings of the European Parliament’s committee on fisheries (11-12 July) saw fish experts tackling the growing issues of overfishing, small-scale fisheries and fish dependence.
The EU must take the lead on international fisheries governance
As the largest seafood market in the world, importing more than 60% of its seafood from other countries, the EU has a responsibility to tackle illegal fishing, writes Dr Samantha Burgess.
UK vows to play hard-ball with EU over fishing waters
The UK outlined plans to overhaul its fishing policy on Wednesday, insisting that it would decide unilaterally how much access to give to EU boats after it leaves the bloc next March.
Time to take fish welfare more seriously
Fish are often seen to be at the bottom of the pile when it comes to how we view animals. The general assumption is that fish are not furry and pettable, and therefore, they fall outside citizens’ scope of moral concern, write Reineke Hameleers and Philip Lymbery.
EU opportunity to make fish discarding history
On World Ocean Day (8 June), it is important to bring back to the forefront the debate of overfishing which is undermining the health of our oceans. Five years after the reform on the EU Common Fisheries Policy nothing much has changed, and discarding at sea is still common practice, writes Rebecca Hubbard.
Ireland emerges as big winner of fisheries Council
Fisheries ministers pulled an all-nighter to reach an agreement on fishing limits for 2018, giving Ireland more a €20m windfall. The Council says progress has been made to achieve sustainable management of fish stocks but NGOs say the new limits are above scientific advice. And the industry was caught gate-crashing, again.
Council and Parliament agree on ‘flexible’ fishing limits for North Sea
EU member states and Norway reached a preliminary agreement with the European Parliament late on Thursday night (7 December) on fishing limits in the North Sea ahead of next week's Fisheries Council.
Mystery of the eel: Europe’s own ivory trade
The European Commission has proposed a ban on eel fishing in the Atlantic, in an attempt to recover the dwindling stock of the European eel, a critically endangered species that is traded illegally by an industry that is worth millions of euros.
Commission puts EU fishermen in catch-22 situation
The European Commission has proposed new fishing quotas for 2018 but new rules create a paradox whereby fishermen won't actually be able to cast off and go out to sea.
Denmark warns of ‘severe’ Brexit impact on fishermen
Denmark's fishing fleet will suffer “severe” economic consequences unless business-as-usual continues after the UK leaves the EU, the Danish government said in a recently published in-depth impact assessment of Brexit on its fishing industry.
Britain moves to ‘take back control’ over fishing in its waters
Britain will withdraw from an agreement that allows some other European countries to fish between six and 12 miles from its coast in a move to "take back control" of fishing policy, Environment Secretary Michael Gove said on Sunday (2 July).
Vella: ‘By 2020, Mediterranean fish stocks should be subject to data collection’
The collection of accurate fish stock data in Mediterranean waters is a necessity for small-scale fishermen’s long-term survival, Karmenu Vella told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Shetland Islands toy with idea of post-Brexit independence
Of all the consequences of the Brexit vote, the fate of the Shetland Islands in the North Atlantic and their oil fields and fisheries may not top the list for negotiators in Westminster and Brussels. But it soon might.
EU auditors slam Commission’s food waste policies
In a report published today (17 January), the EU Court of Auditors heavily criticised the European Commission for its failure to contribute to a resource-efficient food supply chain by effectively tackling food waste.
Iceland tempted once more by EU membership bait
Iceland could hold a referendum on joining the EU if new negotiations on forming a coalition government are successful, the head of one of the three parties involved in the political talks said today (2 January).
EU court casts doubt on Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara
Two deals between Morocco and the European Union do not apply to Western Sahara, the EU's top court said during a raft of rulings made yesterday (21 December), in a decision that a group seeking the disputed territory's independence said was a victory for its cause.
The EU adopts a global fishing authorisation system
Almost 60% of fish resources are at the limit of sustainability. The global fishing fleet is far too large to ensure sustainable fishing and the overall picture is alarming around the world, writes Linnéa Engström.
Why don’t Denmark and Germany want to save Baltic cod?
Western Baltic cod is on the brink of collapse while politicians shirk responsibility, writes Lasse Gustavsson.
Commission accused over Baltic cod fishing limits
Conservationists have blamed the European Commission for being “picky” regarding the scientific advice it used to propose fishing limits in the Baltic Sea.
Mauritania fisheries deal receives mixed response
The European Union has renewed a four year fishing agreement with Mauritania that will allow over 100 EU vessels into Mauritania’s waters in return for funding that will support local fishing communities. But the deal has its critics. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Galician fishermen share concerns with MEPs
MEPs that travelled to the north-western Spanish region of Galicia have presented their findings and concerns about the area’s all-important fishing industry to the fisheries committee of the European Parliament. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Environment is main challenge for Luxembourgish Presidency
Air quality, energy policy, the Circular Economy and the new Common Fisheries Policy are among the main challenges facing Luxembourg, which assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July. Journal de l'environnement reports.
EU’s Baltic fishing plan is a first step, but with serious flaws
The EU's new multi-year plan for managing Baltic commercial fish stocks is an important step towards more sustainable fisheries, but with flaws that need urgent attention, write researchers at the Baltic Eye think tank, at Stockholm University's Baltic Sea Centre.