Press releases/news articles

Advertising fish products from the EU in the rest of the world has never been easier. Beside the promotional measures contemplated by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, new funds are being released to producer organisations, trade organisations and public bodies to sponsor their products and disseminate information abroad on the goodness of European fisheries products, both wild and farmed. Campaigns need to include at least another European food product, and products will feature the label: Enjoy, it's from Europe". Calls to be launched early in 2016.

The Commission has proposed fishing opportunities for 2016 for the Black Sea.

The annual meeting (Malta 10-17 November 2015) of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas adopted a number of important proposals suggested by the EU toward more sustainable tuna fisheries. See a special infographic on EU and ICCAT.

The European Commission has adopted a key investment package for the Spanish maritime, fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The roughly € 1.6 billion available under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) for the period 2014-2020 include about € 1.2 billion of EU funding.

On 16th November, a new Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between EU and Mauritania has been signed.

Ministers of Maritime Affairs from 43 Mediterranean countries agreed to work more closely together and promote growth, jobs and investments in the marine and maritime sectors. Read the joint declaration.

The European Commission has adopted a key investment package for the Bulgarian maritime, fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The roughly 113 million EUR available for the period 2014-2020 include more than 88 million EUR of EU funds.

The Common Fisheries Policy obliges Member States to adjust their fleets' capacity to the fishing opportunities available to them. Member States continue to make progress to this aim, the Report shows.

The European Commission proposes fish quotas (Total Allowable Catches) for 2016 for the Atlantic and the North Sea and an increase in fishing opportunities to help fishermen in the transition to the new obligation to land all catches.

The Commission proposes to maintain or increase the fish quotas for 35 stocks, and reduce catches for 28 stocks on the basis of the scientific advice received.

The European Commission has adopted a key investment package for the Croatian maritime, fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The roughly 348.5m EUR available for the period 2014-2020 include more than 252m EUR of EU funding.

IOI-Canada offers annually an intensive 8-week training program on “Ocean Governance, Policy, Law and Management” and the next training session is scheduled for 18 May - 15 July 2016.

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has not been able to reach an agreement on the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) in Antarctica at its 34th Annual Meeting held in Hobart, Australia, from 19 to 30 October 2015.

Commissioner Karmenu Vella is visiting Brittany today to engage with various stakeholders on fisheries, the blue economy, and marine protection. Following a meeting with French Secretary of State Mr Alain Vidalies this morning, Commissioner Vella participated in the 2nd Atlantic Stakeholder Platform Conference in Brest, a city known for its dynamism in terms of blue growth.

The European Commission has adopted a €710.5 million investment package for the Polish fisheries and aquaculture sectors for the 2014-2020 period, including €531.2 million of EU investments.

The European Commission has adopted a key investment package for the Greek maritime, fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) last week published the results of an audit looking into certain EU's fisheries agreements with non-EU countries. The Commission considers this audit exercise as a positive opportunity for improving the framework of the EU's bilateral relations with third countries in the field of fisheries.

Knowledge of our seas and oceans is essential for developing the blue economy and improving marine management. Gaining this knowledge requires putting together data collected by hundreds of bodies - research institutes, geological surveys, hydrographic offices, environmental agencies - into a coherent picture. EMODnet, the European Marine Observation and Data Network is working for this task.

The agreement will expand the area of operations for the EU fleet in the Western and central Pacific Ocean - the world's most important tuna fishing grounds, providing more than half of the global tuna catch. In exchange the Cook Islands will receive significant financial contributions.