Commission proposes new system to grant and manage authorisations that will allow authorities to better monitor both EU vessels fishing outside Union waters and international vessels fishing in our own waters.
FAO has published the Vacancy Announcement for the IOTC Executive Secretary on its website. Deadline for applications: 11 January 2016
EU has committed many Sustainable Fisheries Partnerships with third countries to enhance sustainable exploitation of fisheries. The annual contribution from the EU to these countries is € 180 million.
This year's annual meeting of the South-East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation was held in Swakopmund, Namibia, from 30 November to 4 December. The outcome is very satisfactory for the EU, which was again a driving force behind the adoption of the main measures - notably the updating of the system of Observation, Inspection, Compliance and Enforcement as well as all Scientific Committee recommendations, notably the TAC of Patagonian Toothfish and Deep-sea Red Crabs.
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) aim to create a partnership to promote sustainable fisheries, based on the best available scientific advice. In this context a Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) of highly qualified scientific experts needs to be established under the EU-Mauritania SFPA in order to ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific advice available.
A new report is on-line (in French only)
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.
On 16th November, a new Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between EU and Mauritania has been signed.
A new report is on-line
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.
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.
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.
Wang Hong, Administrator of the State Oceanic Administration of the People’s Republic of China, and Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries met and held the High Level Dialogue on an integrated approach to Ocean Affairs in Beijing on 13th October 2015.
Qu Dongyu, Vice-Minister of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, and Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries met in Beijing on 14th October 2015 and exchanged views in reinforcing their concrete cooperation on fisheries.
The members of the South Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) held an extraordinary meeting in Brussels (12 - 16 October 2015) in which they agreed on a number of important administrative and financial issues, including the Rules of Procedures, the Terms of Reference for subsidiary bodies, as well as the roadmap and the procedures for the recruitment of the Executive Secretary.
On 14-16 October 2015, the Joint Committee under the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement Protocol met in Brussels, issuing a number of recommendations and taking note of the conclusions of its first meeting which update the status of the fish stocks with the latest scientific information.
The North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) has adopted several measures to help it manage North-East Atlantic waters more effectively, following the results of an independent performance review carried out at its request. The decisions were taken at an extraordinary NEAFC meeting in London from 5 to 7 October 2015.
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.
Short animated video about the importance of fisheries for food security, health and growth in developing countries, highlighting the commitment of the EU with 3rd countries to help promote sustainable management of seafood resources and inclusive opportunities for trade and growth.
A new study is on-line
