Press releases/news articles

Commissioner Karmenu Vella, responsible for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, today announced a set of actions that will include a major political initiative on international ocean governance next year. Based on a wide public consultation and listening tour, this initiative reaffirms the European Commission's commitment to better international ocean governance and will strengthen the EU’s external action in this regard.

The Commission today confirmed its zero tolerance policy against illegal fishing worldwide by warning the Comoros and Taiwan that they risk being identified as uncooperative countries in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. At the same time, the Commission is lifting the yellow cards from Ghana and Papua New Guinea, which have significantly reformed their fisheries governance system.

European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, has intensified dialogue with international maritime stakeholders on how to improve ocean governance globally. To take advantage of the opportunities offered by this global outreach, the Ocean governance consultation period ends on 15th of October.

In the frame of the European Year of Development 2015, October is dedicated to Food Security issues. See the short animated video about the co-operation of EU with developing countries in fisheries for the sustainable management of seafood resources that enhances food security and offers opportunities for trade and growth.

European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, is in Washington this week to convey the EU's commitment to sustainable development.

The European Commission welcomes the decisions during the 37th annual meeting of NAFO (North Atlantic Fisheries Organisation, 21-25 September 2015, Halifax, Canada), which contain a strong commitment of its Contracting Parties to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, by adopting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for a number of stocks taking due account of scientific advice and by taking further measures to improve the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems.

Today, the United Nations is set to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, setting out a global framework to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals also include a goal to "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources."

The European Commission is organising a conference on maritime spatial planning (MSP) as a tool to address challenges and develop opportunities in maritime economic activities and environmental protection, in the context of growing and competing uses of marine space.

The speeches and presentations are now on-line.

The 7th European Coastguard Functions Forum conference is held in Helsinki on 22-24 September, with participants from the EU Coastguard Function Authorities, the European Commission and EU Agencies. The forum –currently chaired by Finland- will present the work done during 2015 and prepare the work plan for 2016.

A vast majority of respondents to a recent EU consultation believes that the EU and other public bodies could play a role in ecolabelling – but views on their required type of involvement are less clear. This is one of the main findings from the European Commission's recent consultation on an EU ecolabel for fisheries and aquaculture products.

EU funds can be used in various ways to support local maritime projects, participants at an EU conference in Brussels discovered today.

Commissioner Karmenu Vella outlined his Ocean Governance plans at European Union Committee of the Regions today. Central to his message was the need for sustainable blue growth. Maritime regions can benefit significantly from advances in ocean energy and litter clean-up projects, ocean surveillance programmes and other blue growth initiatives, the Commissioner said.

Nearly all scientists and engineers involved in analysing our seas and oceans agree on the need for a more coordinated approach to observing and surveying the ocean.

On his latest stop on the listening tour on international ocean governance, EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella visited Tromsø, Norway, following an invitation by Norwegian Fisheries Minister Elisabeth Aspaker.

"We would like to put on record a sincere thanks to the European Parliament and in particular Mr João Ferreira and the Members of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, for this very extensive and welcome report on the potential of research and innovation in the Blue Economy to create jobs and growth, which also takes account of the opinions of the Committees on Fisheries and on Employment.

The aim of the consultation is to gather input on how the EU could contribute to achieving better international governance of oceans and seas to the benefit of sustainable blue growth.

After the positive vote of the plenary session of the European Parliament today of the protocols to the bilateral Fisheries Partnership Agreements between the EU and Madagascar, the EU and Cape Verde and the EU and Guinea Bissau, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella said:

What can EU funding do to foster jobs and growth in the maritime economy? Register now for our "Blue Invest" conference to find out!

The European Commission today tabled its proposal on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2016.