Updates to the European Union's fleet register will soon be available in real time, following the adoption of a new regulation by the European Commission on 6 February. The regulation makes it easier for EU member states to update the fleet register, while giving the Commission the necessary tools to crosscheck the data that member states submit.
On the 5th - 6th October 2017 the European Union will be hosting the fourth Our Ocean Conference, attended by Heads of State, Government Ministers, and ocean leaders.
On 26 January 2017 the European Commission published a call for proposals to implement the first phase of the Blueprint for sectorial cooperation on skills: €4 million to produce, over 4 years, a European strategy on skills.
On 30 January 2017 the Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, met on the invitation of the Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas Intergroup with eleven Members of the European Parliament and more than twenty maritime stakeholders at the European Parliament to discuss the Joint Communication on International Ocean Governance, launched in November 2016, and the upcoming report of the European Parliament.
Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries issued a statement following the positive vote in the plenary of the European Parliament today on the sustainable management of external fishing fleets:
Eliminating the wasteful practice of discarding fish at sea is one of the main aims of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy, adopted in 2014. This will not only improve sustainability, but also boost data collection, which is essential for scientists to provide reliable advice.
How can the blue economy drive sustainable development in the western Mediterranean? More than 200 participants and 70 panellists from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania will meet in Barcelona, Spain on 2 February 2017 to discuss the challenges and emerging opportunities for sustainable investment and job creation in the region's blue economy.
A new study for the European Commission compiles data and information on fisheries subsidies within six of the world's major fishing countries: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Russia and the United States.
Preparations for the EMD 2017 Conference in Poole, UK (18 & 19 May 2017) are in full swing. Following our call to maritime stakeholders launched last fall, we have received 50 proposals for workshops and project pitches under the following headings: 1) Innovation & Growth, 2) People & Skills, 3) Safety & Security, 4) Sustainability & Governance. Selected stakeholder workshops will be part of an attractive programme that we are currently putting together and which will be announced soon.
Baltic SCOPE unites national authorities around the Baltic Sea responsible for maritime spatial planning, and is supported by four research and regional organisations.
Ten blue growth projects are to receive grants under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) as part of the 'Blue Careers' and 'Blue Labs' calls for proposals. In total, 125 proposals were evaluated by the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) which manages the projects.
Commissioner Vella is travelling to Tromsø, Norway, to attend the Arctic Frontiers conference, one of the biggest Arctic gatherings of the year. The Commissioner's attendance is preparation for a midsummer arctic showcase of EU commitment to the region. That event will take place on 15-16 June in Finland and is designed to promote action to protect and support sustainable development in the region and the 4 million who live there.
The economic performance of the EU fleet improved significantly again in 2014, according to the latest Annual Economic Report. Between 2008 and 2014, the EU fleet moved from a loss-making position in 2008 to registering record-high net profits of €770 million in 2014 – up from €500 million in 2013. Forecasts for 2016 remain positive.
The majority of Europeans say they eat fish because its healthy. Fish consumption is increasing, with 42% Europeans eating fish/aquaculture products at least once a week at home. This underlines the need to ensure sustainable supply of fish to the EU market.
Which Member States are the biggest producers of cereals, tomatoes or apples? How much cow’s milk is collected by dairies in the European Union (EU)? Which Member States produce the most cheese, butter or cream? And which produce the most meat from cattle, pigs or poultry? How many people work in the agricultural sector in each EU Member State? How have prices changed over recent years? How important are the forest resources in the EU? How many tonnes of fish were caught and how large is aquaculture production?
EU ministers have reached an agreement on fishing opportunities for 2017 in the Atlantic, North Sea and Black Sea, following discussions at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 12 and 13 December. Karmenu Vella, the EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, presented the Commission's proposals, which were the basis for the negotiations.
Come January, the Commission's department dealing with maritime affairs and fisheries will be better equipped to match the challenges and priorities of today's maritime economy.
EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella will present the Commission's proposals for fixing fishing opportunities for 2017 for the Atlantic, North Sea and Black Sea to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 12-13 December.
The European Commission's yearly proposal for the 2017 fishing opportunities has now been supplemented with additional figures on stocks, where ICES has provided scientific advice after the publication of the Commission's proposal.
The Commission today proposed fishing opportunities for the Black Sea for 2017.
