Last–ditch effort to save EU fisheries approved by Parliament - discards no more! - will this be enough save the fish stocks in Europe?

 

Today,the European Parliament voted for the largest overhaul of EU fisheries policy in decades, designed to cut fishing to sustainable levels and ending the practice of throwing away fish that is over quota.

Find more details in this press release @ http://eplinkedin.eu/CFP_Vote.

The new rules will set catch limits in line with maximum sustainable yields, meaning vessels won't harvest more fish than a stock can reproduce. They will also ban fishing discards and ensure better long–term planning based on reliable scientific data.

A major reform of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) which aims to cut fishing to sustainable stock levels, end dumping at sea, and base long-term planning on sound scientific data, was approved by Parliament on Wednesday. Overfishing is widely seen as the worst failure of the current CFP, dating from 2002. The new one is to take effect in 2014.

For a more in–depth look into the new EU Common Fisheries Policy, check the EP Library briefings @

http://eplinkedin.eu/cfpreform_1

http://eplinkedin.eu/cfpreform_2.

Parliament now has to negotiate with member states – this time as full co–legislator – before the changes can become EU law.

This is the fourth round of fishery reform since 1983, aiming to close the growing gap between fishing capacity and resources. Check out what Members say about it on the EP Newshub @ http://eplinkedin.eu/cfpreform :

will this be enough save the fish stocks in Europe?

Plenty more fish in the sea? MEPs to decide on best way to tackle...

europarl.europa.eu

 

All the latest news from the Press Service of the European Parliament: votes, resolutions, debates, parliamentary committees and the plenary.

Mackerel wars reminder - a fiver each way!

Yesterday's seemingly bizarre news that bookmaker Ladbroke's is taking bets on the long term viability of fish stocks like mackerel owe's its existence to a dispute going back nearly three years.

A look at how Iceland and the Faroe Islands have started a Mackerel fishing war by fishing more fish than what all their neighbours are, damaging the fish stocks in the north Atlantic region. 

 Recording courtesy of Channel 4 News, 26 August 2010.

Here's the latest exchange of views twixt the UK and Iceland as reported in the Sunday Herald, Scotland at the weekend:

Iceland was today accused of taking an excessively large share of mackerel from the sea, despite its decision to cut its quota for the year. The North Atlantic country has announced it will reduce the amount of mackerel it takes in 2013 by 15%, the Scottish Government said. But ministers and fishing industry bodies said the stock will continued to be damaged and they called for further action to manage it in a sustainable way.

The Faroe Islands and Iceland have both set themselves large quotas of mackerel in recent years, prompted by Atlantic populations of mackerel moving further north west into their waters. Their stance has provoked an ongoing dispute with other countries that target the fish. Responding to Iceland's decision to cut its quota, Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "It is disappointing that Iceland remains intent on taking an excessively large share of the TAC (Total Allowable Catch), a greater share than Scotland, despite their short history in the fishery. "This will continue to damage our most valuable stock and an opportunity has been missed to show willingness to help bring this dispute to end. It is now clear that further steps have to be taken to manage this stock in a sustainable manner. "I believe that the best way this can be achieved is by the appointment of an independent mediator who can facilitate co-operation in an objective and neutral manner. I am also calling on the EU (European Union) to deliver on promised action. "We await the Faroes' announcement of their quota and I hope they will carefully consider their position, although the best outcome would be for them and Iceland to come back to the negotiating table with realistic proposals on which we can base an agreement."

Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association, said: "Whilst Iceland is following the lead of the EU and Norway who have already reduced their mackerel quota by 15%, it is an inescapable fact that Iceland is still taking an excessively large share that is fished unilaterally and outwith any international management plan. "It is important to highlight that while Iceland's share allocation demands are based on 15% of the total catch, the actual quota they have set themselves is close to 23%. "This is an issue that can only be resolved by negotiation and the onus is on both Iceland and the Faroes to table a realistic counter offer so as to get the negotiating process rolling again." Mackerel is worth millions each year to the Scottish economy and is the fleet's most valuable stock.

Last month, conservationists warned that mackerel is no longer a sustainable choice for a regular fish supper, in the face of overfishing of the stock. The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said it had removed mackerel, an oily fish packed with omega 3, from its latest version of its "fish to eat" list and it should be eaten only occasionally.

Bernadette Clarke, fisheries officer at the MCS, said at the time: "The stock has moved into Icelandic and Faroese waters, probably following their prey of small fish, crustaceans and squid. "As a result, both countries have begun to fish more mackerel than was previously agreed. "The total catch is now far in excess of what has been scientifically recommended and previously agreed upon by all participating countries."

University of Exeter explore the impact of the Wave Hub off Hayle, Cormnwall

Video courtesy of Matthew Witt

The University of Exeter use baited remote underwater video systems to help describe mobile marine species diversity in Cornish waters. Here we show red gurnard in the cameras field of video. You will see other fish species including haddock and lesser spotted dogfish.

There are a number of other videos showing the range of fish swimming around the hub

Red Gurnards are now so popular that many are being sold for consumption at home - here's how to fillet these mega tasty fish - despite their rather vicious appearance! - courtesy of Sue and Duncan Lewis at Passionate About Fish!

The enemy within - Greenpeace poised to launch major attack on UK fishing organization

Greenpeace poised to launch major attack on U.K. fishing organization, writes Cormac Burke, Editor of Fishing News.

The attitude of the environmental group Greenpeace towards the international fishing industry has been well documented in recent years. What began as a respected challenge against illegal fishing, human rights abuses of crews and a general ideology in protecting the world's oceans has become an apparent direct assault on the commercial fishing industry in a bid to halt any and all developments.

In Europe for example, no matter how severe the quota reductions passed every December by the European Union's Council of Ministers, Greenpeace will release statements describing it as a 'cop out' by ministers and that the EU are guilty of continuing to encourage plundering of stocks.

While more forward thinking and progressive conservation groups, such as PEW and WWF, accept that quota reductions and voluntary technical fishing gear changes can eventually lead to a sustainable fishing industry, Greenpeace have repeatedly proven that they are not interested in such a future.

Next Monday (Feb. 4) Greenpeace are to launch the results of a study that they have undertaken into the operations of one of the United Kingdom's biggest and most respected fishing industry groups -- the National Federation of Fishing Organizations (NFFO).

This so called 'big story' is to be released to all of the UK's national news media and apparently reveals that the NFFO membership includes 57 percent foreign investment and also that the NFFO advised the EU Commission that non official inshore fishermen's groups should not have a voice on Europe's Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) -- an ongoing hot topic in the UK in relation to quota share-out between the inshore and larger sector fishing fleets.

Personally, I believe that if a member of the NFFO who is an owner of a large trawler, chooses to sell a portion of his business venture to someone outside of the UK, then that is neither the fault nor the responsibility of the NFFO.

Also, in relation to the RACs and unofficial inshore groups, the NFFO is only echoing the already stated policy of the EU Commission and this is not a 'leaked document' as Greenpeace are trying to dramatically claim. No, there is a much bigger picture here – one that presumably will not be included by Greenpeace in their press release next week. Early last year, Greenpeace made much noise about the fact that they were going to help the UK's inshore fishermen by forming by an alliance with the inshore group NUTFA (New Under Ten Fishermens Association). NUTFA and NFFO have been at odds for quite some time over quota allocations and UK Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon has intervened several times to attempt to calm the debate.

And now, surprise surprise, we see Greenpeace launching a very public attack on the NFFO.

The question arises “just who is using who here?” While NUTFA may, in their innocence, have thought that getting the weight of a major group such as Greenpeace behind them would help their cause, they have merely opened the door and given the world's most recognized anti fishing industry group a foothold inside the UK's industry where they can attempt to dismantle it from within.

NUTFA should be aware that Greenpeace would launch a similar attack on them in the morning if it suited their purpose.

Even if the NFFO is guilty in some way of a misdemeanor, which they aren't as far as this journalist can see, then this is a case for the UK fishing minister and his officials to deal with.

It has nothing to do with overfishing, abuse of quotas, breaking any regulation that the public needs to be urgently made aware of. In short, it is simply none of Greenpeace's business and one can only wonder if this is the first of many attacks planned against the industry for the coming year.

Article courtesy of Cormac Burke, Editor of Intrafish publications Fishing News and Fishing News International.


And here is the said article from GreenPeace:

At a time when we’re all concerned about what goes into our food, the phrase "it's not what it says on the tin,” has never been more appropriate. Our latest investigation into one of the most powerful and influential fishing industry bodies in the UK has exposed a clique of foreign fishing barons, including companies linked to illegal and destructive fishing.

It’s a classic case of smoke and mirrors, and at stake is one of our greatest national assets – fish.

This is likely to be the first time anyone has scrutinised the claims and membership of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) despite its role as one of the government’s main industry advisory bodies on fishing matters. I'm sure the government will be as surprised as I was at what we uncovered.

The NFFO claims to be "the representative body for fishermen in England, Wales and Northern Ireland," looking out for the interests of boats both small and large. An ambitious role we thought, so we decided to investigate how true this was.

Over many long months looking into the secret membership of the NFFO, by analysing complex company accounts and shipping registers, we were all astonished to discover that:

1. Over half of the NFFOs fleet is controlled by foreign fishing interests. This means that, whilst these boats sail under the Union Jack, they are ultimately controlled by companies or individuals from other countries. This means they use the UK's fishing quota, and will often fish in UK waters; however, they probably contribute next to nothing to the UK economy. The kicker here is that these boats are some of the largest and most powerful in the fleet.  
2. The NFFO is inflating its claims as to how many fishermen’s associations it actually represents. We were able to verify that 11 out of 20 listed on the NFFO's website are in fact not members. These include associations that are no longer members, have never been members or don’t even exist anymore.
3. The NFFO is working against the interests of small-scale fishermen. In a letter leaked to our investigators, we discovered that the NFFO is trying to deny small-scale fishermen wider representation on key political forums in Europe. This is really significant at a time when the overarching rules governing fishing in Europe are being reformed.
4. The NFFO represents vessels involved in illegal fishing on a large scale. For example, the O Genita and its Spanish Vidal family owners – who we exposed in another investigation last year – is an NFFO member and was central to the largest illegal fishing case in British maritime history with penalties of £1.62m.

What does this all mean?

Our investigation reveals that the more sustainable part of our fishing fleet is being shut out of the very system that dictates whether they prosper or go bust. The NFFO is giving the impression that it represents most of the fleet and that it's a friend of small scale boats, but this investigation shows that their membership is dominated by large powerful, often foreign controlled vessels, and they just pay lip service to the interests of the small scale fleet.

In a situation where about two-thirds of Europe’s fish stocks are overfished, it is crucial we defend the interests of those that fish in a more sustainable way and with a lower impact on the environment. Over three-quarters of the fishing boats in the UK fleet are considered small scale. They are vital to our fishing industry as they support more jobs – in England this fleet represents 65% of jobs at sea – and they help to maintain the social cultural and economic fabric of the coastal communities we all love so much.

This sector is desperately trying to forge itself better representation at a political level to try to match the might of the NFFO, so it's simply shocking that the NFFO is trying to prevent this.

Of course, fisheries minister Richard Benyon could reassure everyone that he isn't simply taking his cues from a one-sided lobby group. What he should be looking for from the NFFO is transparency: a public list of members, for instance, or corrections for the false claims it's made about various fishermen's associations it represents.

What’s in the tin really matters, and it seems we really have opened a can of worms with this one.

Help our small scale fishermen by emailing your MEP ahead of this week’s crucial vote on the future of Europe’s fishing laws.

Fancy a bet?

Ladbrokes is gambling with fish extinction – and so is the government

While all our commercial species teeter on the edge of collapse, the government will only heed to the fishing industry's interests

Story courtesy of George Monbiot at the Guardian

I've come across some odd ways to make a living, but few as strange as this. The gambling company Ladbrokes has been offering odds on theconservation status of various fish species. Earlier in the week it was taking bets on mackerel after it was taken off conservationists' "fish to eat" list last month. Recently it has encouraged people to punt on the survival prospects of stocks of yellow fin tuna, swordfish and haddock. You can, if you wish, gamble on extinction. (Ladbrokes' link was live yesterday, but dead this morning.)

It'll be a while before I put my money on the recovery of any species in British waters.

Just before Christmas (which could explain the paucity of coverage the story received), the British government gleefully tore up the scientific advice, trampled the evidence, ignored the pleas of conservationists and gave two fingers to common sense by fighting to prevent the European Union from cutting the catch in the seas surrounding this country.

Thanks to British lobbying, a proposed 55% cut in the tonnage of haddock caught in the Celtic Sea was reduced to 15%, while off other parts of the British coast, plaice, sole, scampi, whiting and herring quotas were increased, though the stocks are at a tiny fraction of their historic levels. All our main commercial species are constantly teetering on the edge of ecological collapse, as the industry fishes right up to and often beyond the point at which they can sustain even their desperately depleted numbers.

All this was accompanied by what the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) called "another major success, achieved during the first day of negotiations, when the UK successfully stopped a cut in the number of days that fishermen are allowed to spendfishing at sea". The cut was to have been a central feature of the EU's cod recovery plan. Defra boasts that it "overturned this agreement". Another triumph for British diplomacy, seeing off the dark forces of science and reason.

The minister responsible, Richard Benyon, describes this idiocy as "the best possible deal for the UK fishing industry". For 2013 perhaps. And the worst possible deal for its future prospects, let alone for the health of our marine ecosystems.

Last month the UK topped this madness by successfully resisting the other means by which cod stocks were to have been allowed to recover: a 20% cut in the quota. Thanks to the UK government, there is now no cut at all. The owners of the trawlers are delighted: once again they'll be allowed to destroy their own prosperity.

The chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, Bertie Armstrong, who plainly has a lively sense of humour, called it "a good outcome based on the science". To show how badly this industry has been rolled up in its own nets, he added that "the decision [by the EU] to set our overall share of the mackerel at the traditional level was also a sensible move."

What he is celebrating here is the EU's refusal to resolve the mackerel dispute with Norway, Iceland and the Faroes. All four players insist on awarding themselves a quota way in excess of what the stock can tolerate, with the result mackerel, until a year ago one of the few species not in serious trouble, is now being fished at a completely unsustainable rate. That, dear reader, is a "sensible move".

Again and again over the past few decades, our fishing industry has clamoured noisily to cut its own throat, then responded with astonishment and fury when it collapses as a result. Is there a clearer example of being blinded to your long-term interests by short-term greed?

All this has been accompanied by the government's failure to establish the 127 marine conservation zones it promised, and even more astonishing refusal to exclude industrial activities (principally commercial fishing) from any of the 31 it deigns to designate. (I'll write about this next week). The fishing industry - principally the owners of the biggest industrial trawlers - is the only interest this government will heed. It too is gambling with extinction.

www.monbiot.com

Inshore fish fetch good prices on a very slack Monday markett

A handful of cod were just some of the top quality whitefish fetching premium prices on a fish starved Monday market after a prolonged period of poor weather passed over the UK...

mackerel were probably by weight the most abundant species...

whereas John Dorys were a little thin on the ground...

best bass were never going to be cheap this morning...

as the harbour woke up to a relatively calm look, though somewhat deceiving as the strong North westerly winds have little effect in the harbour coming off the top of the surrounding land...

nearing completion, Sapphire II is almost finished her MSC safety work which has delayed her fishing career far longer than the skipper and owners might have wished for!

Rugby star and son of Newlyn fisherman going places

Chief's full-back Jack Nowell heads for the touch line .

Destined for greater things, Jack Nowell, sone of Michael Nowell skipper of the beam trawler Louisa N graces the cover of yesterday's programmes for the Exeter Chiefs' in their game against Northampton. Unlucky not to be awarded Man of the Match (again), a try scoring young Jack played an outstanding game of rugby as the Pinkun's crushed the Saints 28-19 to secure a top place in the table. Young Jack, who should have been playing for England U20s against Scotland will remember one moment in the match when he took out opposite number Ben Foden with a crunching tackle. Newlyn, born and bred, England's future full-back is in the making.