The European Commission is ready for the 2012 bluefin tuna fishing campaign. In close collaboration with the Member States concerned, all necessary measures are being taken to ensure that the EU fishing fleet fully respects the rules during the main fishing season.

Tourism is undoubtedly an economic backbone of coastal regions. At present about 2.36 million people are employed in the coastal tourism sector, representing 1.1% total EU employment.

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) will meet in Morocco, Marrakesh from 14 to 19 May 2012. The European Commission represents the EU at the meeting.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting of May 2012 will take place in Brussels on 14-15 May 2012, under the presidency of Danish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Ms Mette Gjerskov....

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Conference CFP: Which Future for Aquaculture?, Salzburg, Austria

Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries together with Nicolaus Berlakovich, Austrian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management are hosting a high-level conference on the future of European Aquaculture.

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the AGROBALT Exhibition "For a Healthier Life", Vilnius

European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki will visit Lithuania on May 9 & 10, 2012.

European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, will be in Tallin, Estonia, on May 3, 2012 to discuss the on-going reform of the Common Fisheries Policy with the Estonian government.

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) 16th Annual Meeting (22-26 April 2012, Australia)

The Agriculture & Fisheries Council will meet in Luxembourg on 26 and 27 April. The meeting will be chaired by Mrs Mette Gjerskov, Danish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries....

Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime affairs and Fisheries, will visit the European Seafood Exposition at the Brussels Exhibition Centre, Heysel, on 25 April. During her visit, the Commissioner will participate in the debate "Netgains. How can EU funds support a sustainable seafood supply" with the Alliance for CFP reform. The debate is open to the press.

The European Commission has decided to close the pelagic fishery by EU vessels in the waters of Mauritania as of today, as the annual EU quota set at 252,654 tonnes is nearly exhausted.

Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, was in Rabat, Morocco, on 20-21 April to launch the the process of negotiations for a new EU-Morocco fisheries agreement protocol.

Measures for enhanced monitoring are a step in the right direction, but, overall, the 8th plenary session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) falls short in guaranteeing sustainable exploitation of tuna stocks: the European Commission will continue to work for the adoption of stronger conservation at the next WCPFC plenary session.

On 14 March, the Commission presented a Staff Working Paper on the "Common Strategic Framework" (CSF) which sets the main investment priorities and key actions for programmes for the 2014-2020 period. 

The Agriculture & Fisheries Council will meet in Brussels on 19 and 20 March. It will be chaired by Mrs Mette Gjerskov, Danish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries....

Speech by Commissioner Maria Damanaki at the Hearing at the Italian Parliament

Today, the European Commission has adopted the detailed rules for deduction of fishing quotas of Member states who have overfished their quotas.

Speech by Commissioner Maria Damanaki at the Hearing "the new EMFF in the view of the CFP reform" organised by European People's Party Group at the European Parliament

Speech by Commissioner Maria Damanaki at the Conference organised by the EP Intergroup “Climate change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development” of the European Parliament

Speech by Commissioner Maria Damanaki at the Symposium "A Blueprint for Oceans and Coasts" at the European Parliament

Keynote address by Commissioner Maria Damanaki on Common Fisheries Policy reform to Inter-Parliamentary Committee meeting (European Parliament - National Parliaments)

What did the catch composition rules intend to achieve?
The catch composition rules were put in place in 2009 to reduce fishing mortality by preventing a targeted fishery for cod, haddock, and whiting. The catches of all three stocks had substantially reduced, and they were considered to have collapsed. The rules were to allow for stocks to recover, but only the haddock stock has improved since.

The European Commission today used emergency powers, under Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 to reduce and avoid excessive discarding of haddock in the West of Scotland.

The European Union and Mauritius initialed today a new Fishery Partnership Agreement (FPA) and Protocol.

Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, on behalf of the European Union, and Lisbehth Berg-Hansen, Minister of Fisheries, on behalf of Norway, have expressed their disappointment and grave concern following the inconclusive outcome of the meeting on mackerel fishery in the North-East Atlantic, held in Reykjavik from 14 to 16 February 2012 between the EU, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands (the so-called coastal states).

Speech by Commissioner Maria Damanaki at a visit to the European Fisheries Control Agency, Vigo

Keynote address by Lowri Evans, Director General, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at the European Parliament

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Fish Summit, London, UK

Baltic: a new ecosystem approach; Controls: European Union inspectors; Illegal fishing: DNA as evidence; EFF: taking stock of the territorial approach

The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Regulation which would authorise the Commission to impose a range of measures against third countries that allow unsustainable fishing.

The Agriculture & Fisheries Council will meet in Brussels on 15 and 16 December. It will be chaired by Mr Marek Sawicki, Polish Minister for Agriculture & Rural Development....

Today, the European Commission welcomed the report, by the European Court of Auditors, evaluating whether EU measures have contributed to adapting the capacity of EU fishing fleets to available fishing opportunities.

The European Commission welcomes the adoption of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on sustainable fisheries.

A new agreement for the management of shared fish stocks in the North Sea has been concluded between the European Union and Norway after a week of negotiations.

The European Commission has proposed a new fund for the EU's maritime and fisheries policies for the period 2014-2020: the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)....

What is the EMFF? EMFF is the new financial instrument that will help deliver the growth, jobs and sustainability objectives of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and support the implementation of the EU Integrated ...

The European Commission has presented its proposal for fishing opportunities for fish stocks in the Black Sea for 2012.

New study on-line

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Seminar: Renewal of the EU Fisheries Policy – minimised bycatch and ban on discards

European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki will be in Stockholm on November 23, 2011 to present the reform of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy and discuss specific aspects of the Commission's proposal with Swedish stakeholders.

The European Commission tabled today its annual proposal on next year’s guide prices for fresh and frozen fisheries products, and the EU producer price for tuna processing.

The Agriculture & Fisheries Council will meet in Brussels on Monday 14 November (starting at 10.00 am). It will be chaired by Mr Marek Sawicki, Polish Minister for Agriculture & Rural Development.

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the European Policy Center event on CFP Reform, Brussels

A delegation of the European Commission and a delegation of the Union of Comoros met within the framework of the Joint Committee to discuss issues linked to the implementation of the Fisheries partnership agreement between the EU and the Union of Comoros.

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Conference "New Challenges and Opportunities facing Marine Fisheries Science", London, United Kingdom

The CFCA has adopted its sixth work programme for 2012, the first one within the mandate of his new Executive Director and has elected a new Chairman. Moreover, the budget adopted in the meeting for 2012 is of €9,31million, subject to the definitive adoption of the EU Budget for 2012 by the Budgetary Authority in the coming weeks.

Under the leadership of the EU Delegation, the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) adopted a number of conservation measures at its 8th Annual session held in Windhoek, Namibia, on 10 – 14 October.

Commissioner Maria Damanaki, in charge of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, will meet Norvegian ministers and stakeholders during a two day visit to Norway starting Monday 17 October.

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Brainstorming event on maritime affairs and fisheries in the Black Sea

European Commission presented today its first proposal for 2012 fishing opportunities for certain stocks in the Atlantic and the North Sea....

Thanks to the continued commitment of the European Union to follow scientific advice and its close cooperation with partner countries, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) adopted science-based, precautionary measures...

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Institute of International and European Affairs, Dublin

Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, will visit Dublin and Galway from 22 to 23 September 2011 to present and discuss with Irish stakeholders the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), proposed by the Commission in July.

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Workshop "Protecting Cetaceans in the EU" in the European Parliament, Brussels

New study on-line

New study on-line

The European Commission today tabled its proposal on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2012. Based on scientific advice, the Commission proposes to increase TACs (total allowable ...

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Conference on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fisheries at John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Washington

On 8 September, the European Commission will host a one-day seminar on the state of fish stocks in European waters. The seminar aims to have open discussions on the latest scientific research on EU fisheries and how it should be applied in practice for the 2012 fishing season and in the long term.

Reform: sustainable fisheries for a prosperous sector, Seafood 2011: a one-of-a-kind marketplace, European Maritime Day in Gdańsk

Updated version now online

The Agriculture & Fisheries Council will meet in Brussels on Tuesday 19 July (starting at 10 a.m.). It will be chaired by Mr Marek SAWICKY, Polish Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development....

In its proposals for a major reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the European Commission has set out a radical approach to fisheries management in Europe....

The overall objective of the Commission's proposals for a modern and simpler Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is to make fishing sustainable - environmentally, economically and socially....

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the press conference on the Common Fisheries Policy reform package

Commissioner Damanaki will be on Twitter, on Thursday 14 July, from 11:00 AM to midday to reply to your questions on the Common fisheries policy reform.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will meet in Luxembourg on Tuesday 28 June, under the presidency of Mr Sandor Fazekas, Hungarian Minister of Rural Development. Maritime Affairs & Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki, ...

Two recent reports by the European Commission add further weight to calls for significant structural change within the EU fish catching sector and a far reaching reform of the Common Fisheries ...

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Conference "No fish left on the plate – why a radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy is needed" organised by Fish of the Future Group

On June 22, the 'Fish for the Future' group in the European Parliament is organising a lunchtime presentation to explain the need for urgent reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. The Conference aims to raise awareness about the urgent need for a radical Common Fisheries Reform, ahead of the Commission's forthcoming proposal.

Executive summary now online

Introductory remarks by Commissioner Damanaki at the GLOBE World Oceans Day Forum, London

Lecture by Commissioner Damanakiat the Baltic Academy of Fishery Fleet, Kaliningrad

Today the European Commission published its report on progress achieved in the Common Fisheries Policy over the last few years and its suggestions for fishing opportunities in EU waters in 2012....

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the press conference, BERL Press Room, Brussels

Updated version now on-line

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Roundtable on Food at Green Week, Brussels

Updated version now online

Commissioner for maritime affairs and fisheries, Maria Damanaki today said that she expects Member States to take all necessary measures to ensure full compliance by their vessels during the main fishing season for bluefin tuna, which started on 15 May.

Today, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki is meeting Ministers from several third countries with which the EU currently has fisheries partnership agreements. This is the first time such a meeting is convened, and was deemed necessary by the Commissioner to discuss the future of such agreements in view of the upcoming reform of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.

At the margins of the Ministerial meeting on the Future of fisheries partnership agreements, Commissioner Maria Damanaki, Mr Tamás Bardócz, Hungarian Director General for fisheries on behalf of the EU Presidency, and Mr Agostino Quaresma Dos Santos Fernandes, Minister of Planning and Development for São Tomé and Príncipe, signed the renewal of the partnership agreement.

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Ministerial Meeting -The Future of Fisheries Partnership Agreements

Modern tools for effective control, Study: women in maritime sectors, Discards: new rules on the drawing board

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the European Parliament, S&D Group Hearing : "Ways of securing the future of our  fisheries resources"

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the European Parliament - Greens/EFA Group Hearing: "How much fish can be safely caught?"

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Stakeholders' hearing on discards

New study on-line

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the European Parliament plenary session

Video

Extracts from the intervention of Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at the extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament PECH Committee, dedicated to the so-called "structured dialogue" with the Commission, on the political and legislative priorities for 2012: reform of the European Common Fisheries Policy (discussion in College on 13 July 2011),  long term management plans and response to the nuclear accident in Japan. 

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the meeting on Common Fisheries Policy at the EC Representation in Berlin, Germany

"Flag State Notification" has been updated

"Flag State Notification" has been updated

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the European Parliament plenary session

"List of approved economic operators" has been added under "additional information".

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the High Level Meeting on banning discards

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the Committee of Senior Officials of the Adriatic Ionian Initiative, Ancona, Italy

"Requirement of a validated EU catch certificate for transhipment within a non-EU port" has been added.

Speech by Commissioner Maria Damanaki at the 6th International Forum on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing

On 22 December, the European Commission on behalf of the European Union initialled a new three-year protocol under the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) with Cape Verde setting fishing possibilities for EU vessels in Cape Verde's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), along with other conditions. The new protocol foresees a total EU financial contribution of EUR 435,000, and will come into force when the present protocol expires, on 1 September.

Final report

Deadline for submission of bids: 14/02/2011

The European Commission has tabled its annual proposal on next year’s guide prices for fresh and frozen fisheries products as well as the EU producer price for tuna for processing. The market for fisheries products appears to be recovering, following the dramatic drops in first-sale prices in 2009.

(organised by the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament)

Speech by Commissioner Damanaki at the conference "International Year of Biodiversity: The Day After and the Greek Reality", Athens, Greece

Issue 49 of the magazine Fisheries and aquaculture in Europe focuses on stock management: success stories

Speech by Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Environment, at the conference on the Common Fisheries Policy Reform, Belgium

Speech by Commissioner Maria Damanaki at the conference "Another Future for Fisheries", Brussels, Belgium

Three European Commissioners and a wide range of stakeholders will speak at the conference entitled "Another Future for Fisheries" tomorrow, 16 November in Brussels. The event, hosted by European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki, will feature speeches by Commissioner for Research and Innovation Ms Màire Geoghegan-Quinn and by Environment Commissioner Mr Janez Potocnik.

The European Commission wants to eradicate the practice of shark finning completely from EU waters and fishing vessels from the EU wherever they operate in the world. Finning consists of cutting off and keeping the fins of sharks while throwing the shark body overboard to die.

What are TACs and quotas?
A TAC – which stands for total allowable catch – is a legal limit on the overall amount of fish of a particular species that can be taken from the sea in a given area and brought ashore over a specified period (usually one year). A quota is a share of the TAC that can be fished by one Member State.

The European Commission has adopted its fishing opportunities proposal for 2011 setting levels of total allowable catch (TAC) and fishing effort for the Atlantic, the North Sea, and international waters regulated ...

On 9 November 2010 the European Commission adopted a proposal for the EU position on bluefin tuna at the upcoming meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). At the meeting,  ICCAT Parties will be called to agree on a bluefin tuna recovery plan for the period 2011-2013. Commissioner Damanaki has issued the following statement:

Speech by Commissioner Maria Damanaki at the Symposium on "Improved Fisheries and Science Partnerships as Policy Drivers", Ostend (Belgium)

List of flag state notifications - now including the flag state notification of United Arab Emirates.

Requirement of a validated EU catch certificate for processing activities carried out in a third country, different from the flag State

Speech by Commissioner Maria Damanaki at the INTERFISH Business Forum meeting in Moscow (Russia) on 28 October 2010.

The Commission is satisfied that – as a result of the good cooperation with the Belgian Presidency and the member states – agreement has been reached on several important Baltic Sea fish stocks.

It has been for several years now that the state of the bluefin tuna stock remains a cause for major concern. Despite the efforts made so far, in particular by the EU, and the progress achieved, there are still open questions regarding how we can ensure the long sustainability of the species. This, in turn, is the only way by which our fishermen can keep on with their activity.

Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki will start a two-day visit to Russia on 28 October.

European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki will host a one-day conference entitled "Another Future for Fisheries", which will officially close the consultation on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, before the Commission starts drawing up concrete proposals for the new policy. It will take an unusual format in that the key note speakers will not be the customary interested parties or politicians, but rather people who, by working in the fisheries sector, have come up with remarkably effective and ground-breaking projects.

The Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA) based in Vigo, Spain, has adopted its multiannual work programme for 2011-2015 as well as the annual work programme and budget for 2011.

Register now to the Commission’s conference on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in Brussels on 16 November 2010.

European Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki arrives in Germany today for a series of engagements in Berlin and Hamburg.

The European Commission today expressed its grave concern at the unilateral mackerel quota of 85,000 t set by Faeroe Islands for 2010. It pointed out that this level amounted to three times the level of Faeroese traditional quota entitlement under multilateral management arrangements between the EU, Norway and Faeroe Islands in force from 1999 to 2009.

On 4 August 2010, the European Commission paid € 64 million as part of the annual financial contribution of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) with Mauritania. This contribution includes a first component to pay for the cost of access of EU vessels to Mauritanian waters (€ 55 million) and a second component to support the partner country's fisheries sector (€ 9 million).

Issue 48 of the magazine Fisheries and aquaculture in Europe focuses on traceability, labelling and certification.

The European Union is now a signatory to an important regional fisheries management convention which, once it enters into force, will ensure that fishing from western Australia to South America is subject to agreed international rules.

The Member of the European Commission responsible for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Mrs. Maria Damanaki, met in Athens today with the Greek Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Mrs Tina Birbili.

The European Commission today proposed a total allowable catch (TAC) of 15 600 tonnes of anchovy in the Bay of Biscay for the fishing season 1 July 2010 - 30 June 2011.

Tomorrow, the European Commission will be holding a large stakeholder seminar focussed on "The Reform of the Market Policy on Fishery and Aquaculture Products".

Today, the Commission has adopted a Regulation to modify the 2010 fishing possibilities for sandeel in the North Sea and Skagerrak.

European Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki has welcomed the election of Mr Gerard van Balsfoort as new chairman of the EU's Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (ACFA).

Organic farming is one of the most dynamic food production sectors in the European Union and from today, with the entry into force of new rules for organic aquaculture production, the potential for growth of this sector is set to be unleashed. 

The European Commission is sending a letter to five member states on the implementation of the Mediterranean Regulation, recalling that all the rules fully apply as from 1 June 2010 while specifying what is further needed from each Member State to make their national management plan operational.

Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries decided to close the bluefin tuna fishery to purse seiners in the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic, due to the exhaustion of the quotas allocated to them.

The protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Republic of Seychelles has just been renewed for a 3-year period starting in January 2011.

The EU and other fishing nations from around the world met at the United Nations Headquarters in New York last week to assess the progress made in implementing the United Nations Convention on the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks...

The EU and other fishing nations from around the world met at the United Nations Headquarters in New York last week to assess the progress made in implementing the United Nations Convention on the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks.

A l'issue de la commission mixte qui s'est réunie dans le cadre de l'Accord de partenariat de pêche entre l'Union européenne et l'Union des Comores, la délégation comorienne, conduite par Monsieur Idi Nadhoim, Vice Président de l'Union des Comores en charge du Ministère de la Pêche, et la délégation de l'Union européenne conduite par Monsieur Constantin Alexandrou, Chef d'Unité à l'Unité des accords bilatéraux de la Direction Générale des Affaires Maritimes et de la Pêche de la Commission européenne, ont mené la négociation d'un nouveau protocole, en présence des représentants de la France et de l'Espagne.

European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, arrived in France this morning for a two-day visit, during which she will attend the fifth Global Oceans Conference at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and hold a series of meetings in Brittany.

On May 2 and 3 over 230 people with an interest in fisheries (from Member State administrations, RACs and ACFA, industry, NGO's, members of the European Parliament or representatives of the main EU institutions) gathered in La Coruna, Spain, to take part in a broad stakeholders’ conference discussing some of the main pillars of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

On May 2 and 3, over 230 stakeholders took part in a broad conference on the future reform of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.

La Commissaire Maria Damanaki a signé une Décision de la Commission de ne pas soulever d'objections à l'encontre de l'Aide d'Etat N 119/2010 - France - Plan de soutien exceptionnel aux conchyliculteurs et pisciculteurs des départements touchés par la tempête Xynthia dans la nuit du 27 au 28 février 2010. 

Today and tomorrow, the European Commission and the Spanish Presidency are holding two seminars in Madrid on the marketing and supply of fishery and aquaculture products on the EU market.

L'Union européenne s'est déclarée très satisfaite du résultat positif de la réunion de la Commission Mixte entre la République Islamique de Mauritanie et l’Union européenne, tenue à Nouakchott du 21 au 25 mars 2010.

Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Mrs Maria Damanaki made clear yesterday that there will be no postponement in the implementation of the Mediterranean Regulation no. 1967/2006.

Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, arrives in Spain this evening for a three-day visit to Madrid and Vigo. During her visit, the Commissioner will meet with political leaders, industry representatives, shipowners and other stakeholders to gauge their views on a range of issues. She will also meet staff at the Community Fisheries Control Agency, based in Vigo, and see a number of local projects at work.

Strides forward were made last week by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission for the protection of the fish stocks in the Indian Ocean, such as tropical tunas and shark stocks. The parties agreed among others on an enhanced system for control and compliance, on introducing a time/area closure and on forbidding sharks from the thresher family from being taken or kept on board.

After lengthy consultations over recent months, the European Union and Norway have struck a crucial long-term agreement on mackerel management in the North-East Atlantic, which provides both for stable quota shares and for agreed access arrangements for their respective fleets over a ten-year period.

The European Commission, negotiating on behalf of the European Union, and the Faeroe Islands have agreed on the levels of fishing possibilities in each other's waters, as well as access provisions for blue whiting for 2010.

The European Commission has signed an administrative cooperation agreement with Faroe Islands which marks a new step in the parties' efforts to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The political situation in the Republic of Guinea prompted the European Commission to withdraw its proposal on the signing of a fisheries partnership agreement between the European Union and Guinea (see MEX/09/1021 ). Commissioner Joe Borg, responsible for maritime affairs and fisheries, informed the EU Presidency and the European Parliament of this intention and received their backing.

The European Commission has just signed two administrative cooperation agreements with Canada and Iceland which mark a new step in the parties' efforts to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The European Commission has adopted its annual proposal on next year’s guide prices for fresh and frozen fisheries products as well as the EU producer price for tuna for processing.

At their Council meeting in Brussels today, fisheries ministers addressed a wide range of issues.

On the conservation of fisheries resources through technical measures, the Council reached agreement on a Presidency compromise.

Today, at the 2009 Regular Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) currently taking place in Brazil, the EU will present a new proposal which would lead to substantial progress in the conservation and management of swordfish in the Mediterranean.

Last week, the European Commission signed two administrative cooperation agreements with New Zealand and the United States which mark a new step in the parties' efforts to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The European Commission has welcomed the positive outcome of the annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which has now concluded its deliberations in Tasmania, Australia.

This morning, I informed the EU fisheries ministers at the Council meeting in Luxembourg that, in the light of the recent tragic events in the Republic of Guinea, I would be asking the Commission to initiate the necessary procedures to withdraw the proposal to adopt the current Fisheries Partnership Agreement and Protocol with Guinea.

What are TACs and Quotas?

Ideally, fishing activities would take from each stock no more fish than can safely be removed without inhibiting the stock's capacity to spawn and to bring in young fish to the stock.

Yesterday, the Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA) adopted its work programme and budget for 2010.

The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, has initialled a new Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Solomon Islands. This agreement replaces the current  one between the two Parties, which entered into force in October 2006. The new agreement covers a period of 3 years and provides fishing possibilities exclusively for tuna for EU vessels fishing in the waters of the Solomon Islands.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a worldwide phenomenon with disastrous environmental and socio-economic impacts, threatening the sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources and marine biodiversity. It also has serious overall consequences for coastal countries, which lose out on their marine resources to illegal operators.

Ministers for Fisheries meeting today in Council in Brussels have extended their support to the Commission's plans for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.  Joe Borg, Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime affairs, welcomed the frank and open discussion held in the Council today which demonstrated the support of the Council to take courageous steps to have a real and meaningful reform of the CFP.

The European Commission today adopted a proposal for a long-term plan for the sustainable management of horse mackerel across the eastern Atlantic from the Iberian Peninsula to the northern North Sea.

The Commission is disappointed that the significant steps taken in some areas by the 13th session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) in Bali (Indonesia) from 30 March to 3 April 2009 have been offset by a failure to make progress in others.

The European Commission has welcomed with mixed feelings the outcome of the meeting of Heads of Delegation of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) held in London last week, attended by the European Union, Iceland, Denmark in respect of  the Faeroe Islands and Greenland, Norway and the Russian Federation.

The European Commission has expressed its serious concern at the recent action by Iceland to declare a unilateral mackerel quota of 112 000 tonnes for 2009.

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), which met in Tunis last week for its annual session, adopted a number of recommendations towards sustainable fisheries management.

The EU has tabled ambitious proposals in view of this year's annual meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), which will take place in Bali from 30 March to 3 April 2009.

At the initiative of the EU, the Heads of Delegation of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) meet in London this week to consider concrete NEAFC measures to implement the UN General Assembly resolution on vulnerable marine ecosystems.

The EU has put forward a set of ambitious proposals for this year's annual meeting of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) in Tunis from 23 to 27 March 2009.

The Commission has received the Ombudsman's draft recommendation wherein he asks the Commission to rectify an administrative error concerning fishing quotas in the West of Scotland allocated for the year 2007.