The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) is organising a seminar dedicated to the operational implementation of the European cooperation on coast guard functions.

Next week aquaculture will be under the spotlights in Spain, in the framework of the Día de la Acuicultura celebrated every 30 November. This year is special as the Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (MAPAMA) launched last September the campaign "Di sí a la acuicultura sostenible".

Suite à la proposition de l'Union européenne, une série de mesures essentielles pour la conservation de l'espadon de Méditerranée ont été adoptées hier soir par la Commission internationale pour la conservation des thonidés de l’Atlantique (CICTA) au Portugal.

Important conservation and management measures for 2017 were adopted, most of them at the initiative of the EU, at the 35th Annual Meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC).

At its 20th Special Meeting from 14 to 21 November 2016 in Vilamoura, Portugal, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) under the lead of the EU took an impressive number of important decisions. Commissioner Vella said: "I welcome that at its 50th anniversary the second performance review recognises ICCAT's high performance. This means that our efforts to improve international fisheries governance are paying off. I am also very pleased that all Mediterranean countries have agreed to address the dire situation of Mediterranean swordfish by accepting to limit and reduce their catches gradually over 5 years in combination with a comprehensive package of other measures. Bringing back this emblematic species to sustainable levels will benefit many fishermen, including the small scale fleets. But I am also very happy that for the first time ICCAT has agreed to manage sharks through a measure for blue sharks. Unfortunately, though, ICCAT was not yet ready for a shark fins naturally attached policy. However, the high number of supporting countries bodes well for the future."

EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella is on mission to Vietnam and China this week and next. The Commissioner will use the visits to both countries push for more international cooperation on ocean governance, including in the fight against illegal fishing and marine litter.

An extraordinary Joint Committee, held at the initiative of the EU, took place in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on 15-16 November in the framework of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Mauritania. The Parties reviewed the implementation of EU support for the Mauritanian fisheries sector, introduced new fishing opportunities for EU trawlers, and discussed the MACAPEL investment project.

The Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries has developed an innovative method for producing tilapia and tomatoes that saves resources and is almost emission free.