International Conference CFP: The External Dimension as a driver for change

International Conference

CFP: The External Dimension as a driver for change

16^th-17^th September 2015

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

Long Distance Advisory Council leads the debate on how the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy’s focus on international fisheries can benefit

global governance, transparency in African fisheries and social, economic and environmental sustainability.

 “As fishers, it is in all of our interests to see the sea managed sustainably by our counterparts overseas. The European industry is happy to have the chance to talk about positive changes we can contribute towards in long-distance fisheries which help provide our livelihood” – Michel Goujon, Orthongel (Organisation des producteurs de thon tropical congélé et surgélé).

Twitter: @LDAC_EU / Hashtag: #CFPED

The Long-Distance Advisory Council (LDAC) is set to hold a lively two-day workshop (16^th – 17^th September, 2015) focusing on the ‘external dimension’ (ED) of the reformed EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Delegates will examine the role that this policy can play in promoting sustainable fisheries development in African countries . The conference will be held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: an emblematic port for the region’s fleet activity and a gateway for fish imports into the EU market.

Fishing sector representatives from across the EU, Africa and long-distance fisheries worldwide are expected to meet for a range of discussions with cooperation agencies, NGOs, trade unions, and high-level national and international policy makers.

With free registration for all delegates, the event will offer in-depth panel discussion and interactive workshop sessions, exploring how the CFP External Dimension can be a driver for positive change. Delegates will learn how they can contribute practically to implement the policy, through greater cross-sector collaboration and bottom-up involvement.  Speakers from across the globe will bring concepts to life with real-life case studies of sustainable change.

Béatrice Gorez, from the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (Coalition Pour Des Accords De Pêche Equitables) commented: “This event will be a great opportunity to discuss how EU policies - including fisheries and development cooperation - can be made coherent, by providing an enabling environment for sustainable fisheries development in Africa, rooted in transparency and the promotion of fishing communities participation.”

The Long Distance Advisory Council is a unique fisheries stakeholders’ body which act as the consensual voice of the European long-distance fleets and other groups of interest, advising the European Commission and Member States on questions related to external fisheries. Speaking in anticipation of the event, LDAC Executive Secretary, Alexandre Rodriguez, remarked: “We are particularly looking forward to welcoming guests and colleagues from Africa, and sharing some of our best-practice case studies and projects focused on that region to extract lessons for the future.”

The event will begin with a drinks reception on the evening of the 15^th of September, followed by an intense day-and-a-half conference programme, which will include a field trip to the port and control centre of Las Palmas on the 16th, and a gala dinner on the 17th. 

Find out more about the event, and registration, HERE. 

The European Commission has today announced a further proposal aimed at halting the decline of sea bass in the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea, Channel and North Sea.

The European Commission has today announced a further proposal aimed at halting the decline of sea bass in the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea, Channel and North Sea. The Commission’s proposal is the third of a series of proposals in relation to this stock this year.

This proposal is addressed to the Council of Fisheries Ministers and will enable the ministers to decide about catch limits for particular fishing gears in order to protect sea bass. The Commission's proposal would also allow extending a prohibition, currently applied to Irish fishing vessels, to all Member State vessels in waters adjacent to Ireland. Sea bass is a high value, iconic species for recreational and commercial fishermen; we need to act to address the declining state of the stock, to protect jobs and livelihoods.

If the EU does not act decisively now, the risk for greater and long term losses to this valuable fish stock and to coastal communities will be increasing. Scientific advice has clearly identified the need to drastically reduce catches of this species, following an increase in the fishing pressure and a reduction in reproduction.

 Previously the Commission has implemented a short term ban on pelagic trawling until 30th April, preventing the targeting of this species during spawning aggregations. A previous amendment of the fishing opportunities regulation has already introduced a 3 fish bag limit for recreational fishermen.

This latest proposal envisages a maximum catch per month by gear type, limiting the targeting of the vulnerable stock but allowing for incidental catches. Ireland in the 1990’s introduced a ban on commercial fishing for its flag vessels.

This prohibition is proposed to be extended to other Member States in the Waters adjacent to Ireland outside of the UK 12 nm limit by the latest. It is now up to the Council of Ministers to decide on the Commission's proposal.

Infographic

Not so breezy today in Mount's Bay.

A penny for the view...

the Trinity vessel Galatea is still in the Bay set against the Lizard in the background...

just a little ray of sunshine on the new railings...

with some work still to be done...

the Girl Pamela heads away to a day's work on the pots...

one derrick is used to heel the WSS into the quay...

the old Kairos now the Ajax - the boat previously owned by the skipper of yesterdays loss off the Scillys...

looks like a sunnyish day is in store for the west of Cornwall...

two of the big Scottish prawn boats are still in port...

they draw so much water they are berthed well down the quay to stay afloat and clear of the bottom during low water...

bow detail showing the Nereus' crest...

more fuel for the beam trawl fleet...

the WSS was towed in yesterday by the Billy Rowney 

prime John Dory caught west of the Scillys by one of the prawn trawlers...

along with a good run of whole monk...

this huge fish showing its clever 'fishing lure'...

Falmouth registered inshore trawler  Millie G...

two more visiting stern trawlers at rest...

the largely Filipino crew heave the stocking out of the power block...

 after they run the second trawl ashore...

so that's where he comes from...

the Twilight makes her way to the gaps...

as the good ship Bess makes her way to sea...

passing the light...

and headed for the iceworks...

as another punt heads for her berth.

Kairos crew safe and well in Castletownbere.

Skipper Alan Bolt and Filipino crew members safely ashore - photo courtesy of Niall Duffy.

The Kairos’ five crew were recovered from the raft by the vessel Cu Na Mara and are on their way to Castletownbere in Ireland. Falmouth Coastguard coordinated the operation, which involved two Irish search and rescue helicopters, an RNLI lifeboat, several fishing local vessels and two nearby commercial ships. Jim Morrison, senior maritime operations officer for the UK Coastguard, said: “Thankfully all the crew were rescued. “Using the information from the distress alerts we were able to locate the fishing vessel’s last position quickly and deploy resources to the scene.” Banff councillor Michael Roy said the rescue was a reminder of the dangers faced by fishermen every day.

Video courtesy of STV News.

He said: “I’m just pleased on this occasion everything worked out well and everyone was rescued. But I’m sure the experience will stay with them for a long time. “It’s a stark reminder of the dangers of the sea. Every time these guys go to their work there are unknown factors which may affect their safety. “They’re extremely lucky that these rescue facilities are in place – it is a slight reassurance that they are.” Fellow Banff councillor John Cox added that he was pleased all the crew had made it to safety. He said: “A boat can be replaced, but a life can’t. “The fishing industry has been designated the most dangerous job there is, and we can only be thankful that everyone was recovered and is safe.” The 21m Kairos operates through the Westward Fishing Company. No one at its Fraserburgh office was available to comment yesterday. The crew raised the alarm around 11.45pm on Monday.

Maracestina repairing her trawl.

Scottish trawler Kairos BF190 sinks west of the Scillys - all hands safe and well.

Kairos in Newlyn after landing prawns

Five fishermen have been rescued by the crew of the Cu Na Mara from a life raft after the Kairos - BF 36", 125 gt, sank 75 miles west of the Isles of Scilly. The UK Coastguard received two distress calls on May 18, 2015, just after 11:45 p.m. including an EPRIB from the Kairos that gave a GPS location for the vessel. 

The Falmouth Coastguard coordinated the search that involved two Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue helicopters, #RNLI St Mary’s lifeboat, fishing vessels and two commercial vessels that were in the area. After the Scottish skipper and four Filipino were recovered from the life raft they were making their way to Castletownbere. 

All were safe and well. (2 hours ago, by Timsen )

The Kairos is one of five Scottish prawn trawlers working from Newlyn on grounds west of the Scillys. The boat was skippered by Zander Jack Jnr whose previous vessel (also Kairos) is now the Ajaz PZ36 currently fishing from Newlyn. Zander's father is currently fishing west of the Scillys with the Vision III.

The  Kairos was fishing west of the Scillys...

on the prawn grounds...

the rest of the small fleet of Scottish prawn boats (highlighted) landed in Newlyn this morning.

Tiz a miserable mizzly Monday morning

Sunday afternoon's nigh on perfect Mare's Tail cloud...

contrasted with Monday morning's heaviness in the Bay, a mizzle barely leaves the Trinity House bota Galatea and the Scottish prawn trawler Maracestina visible...

a full market means there's a big sample of fish need going through fpr Cefas...

with most of the boat's fish stacked two high...

the Sapphire III and the Filadelfia both had big shots of monk...

and a few boxes of cod to keep local fish merchants like Rob Wing smiling...

the western end of the market was full of net fish...

with big trips of hake and turbot...

and something that will put a smile on a few faces - Cap'n Cod had a solid weekend's fishing on the bass it seems...

high water and most of the fleet are in port...

these days supplying the crab fleet with enough bait to keep them at sea is something of a logistical challenge...

all hands will be looking for the weather to give local artists a chance to capture more scenes like this coming up for auction at WH Lanes...

if not, there's an excellent course running at Penlee Park over the next few months.