Competition for maritime space. To some, it could invoke references to the 17th century Anglo-Dutch wars, fighting for control over trade routes, but in fact it is a very topical – though much more civilized – affair today.
Fisheries
The blue biotechnology sector is a fascinating niche in the European blue economy. It uses living marine organisms – algae, bacteria, fungi, shellfish – to develop new, sustainable applications for a variety of sectors, ranging from pharmaceuticals and textiles to chemicals, packaging, fuel and more.
When you think about marine pollution, probably you imagine floating debris such as plastic bottles, straws and bags, or discarded fishing nets trapping marine animals. Maybe you picture an oil spill. But would you think of mercury?
The European Commission has published a new action plan to accelerate the development of the organic sector. The plan will boost the production and consumption of organic products, in order to reach 25% of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030, as well as a significant increase in organic aquaculture, as set in the EU’s Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies.
With the implementation of the new long-term EU budget, some EASME managed programmes are moving to the new European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).
Today an important step is taken in further developing the mandate set out in the 2016 European Border Coast Guard Regulation.
The trilateral arrangement on jointly managed fisheries stocks in the North Sea for 2021 establishes the total allowable catches (TAC) and quota sharing covering over 636,000 tonnes of fish. In parallel, the EU and Norway have concluded bilateral consultations for the shared stocks in the North Sea, Skagerrak and quota exchanges.
The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) discussed how to rebuild the yellowfin tuna stock in the Indian Ocean during a special session, which took place from 8 to 12 March.
The Commission’s Joint Research Centre has released a new section on its Knowledge for Policy pages, specifically dedicated to algae. The webpage contains facts and figures about algae biomass production in Europe, including a dashboard with production locations. It also links up to ongoing research projects, recent publications and other useful information.
On 3 and 4 March 2021, the EU and Seychelles met to review the implementation of the first year of application of the new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) and its six years implementing Protocol, and to discuss mechanisms to strengthen their cooperation and common efforts towards sustainable fisheries.
The UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) has just released a new guidance on blue finance to help banks, insurers and investors take action on the transition of ocean sectors to a sustainable future.
Capraia is a small island in the upper Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park between Italy and the island of Corsica. Measuring just 8 km by 4 km and located about 70 km off the coast of Tuscany, the Capraia is home to about 300 people.
The Cabo de Palos Marine Reserve is the oldest marine reserve in the region of Murcia, Spain. Its status as a protected area since 1995 has favoured a thriving marine life. Murcia is a region of exceptional marine biodiversity, which enjoys a high level of protection, including 12 Natura 2000 sites and two Marine Protected Areas (MPA).
Small-scale fisheries (SSF) account for 50% of the global catch and 95% of the world’s fishers. In the EU, SSF make up 85% of all fishing vessels and have a fundamental role to play from a biodiversity, economic and social perspective.
The European Union’s request to accede to the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) was accepted at its sixth annual session, which closed on Thursday 25 February 2021.
With the European Union stepping up efforts to address overfishing in the Mediterranean, the latest episode of Ocean visits the Fisheries Restricted Area (FRA) of Jabuka/Pomo Pit, a success story in the Adriatic established to protect essential fish habitats.
International Ocean Governance (IOG) plays a crucial role in fostering healthy oceans, halting the loss of biodiversity and fighting climate change. The EU is committed to strengthening the resilience of ocean and of the societies and economies depending from them.
The Commission, leading the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing worldwide, has issued a warning (so-called yellow card) to Cameroon that it should step up its actions against IUU fishing.