Elements with tag fishing
Since December 2017, the international community is elaborating an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine Biological diversity of areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), under the auspices of United Nations (UN). These areas comprise 95% of our oceans. The treaty aims to implement area-based management tools, including marine protected areas (MPAs), and to regulate human activities in the High Seas. The United Nations will convene a resumed fifth session of the BBNJ from 20 February to 3 March 2023, in New York City, to try to reach a final agreement.
Recommendations are a wish-list of unrealistic and unachievable targets far from the fisheries realities. An unworkable EU Taxonomy will impact on the ability of operators to attract funding for their sustainable fishing activities.
European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and Europêche have published new Guidelines on the medical examinations of fishers, paving the way for the harmonisation of standards for health and fitness checks across Europe and worldwide.
Today, the Fisheries Council has reached an agreement on the fishing opportunities in the Atlantic, North Sea, the Mediterranean and Black Sea for 2021, and for deep-sea stocks for 2021 and 2022. The catch limits are set in the background of the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the COVID-19, for which this and next year will be one of the most difficult periods for EU fishers. Despite the Council’s efforts to mitigate the predominantly austere proposal from the European Commission, the fishing industry is still left with several quota reductions and restrictive measures adopted concerning key species for the livelihoods of many fishermen and women in the sector.
On Wednesday 10 May the European social partners* on sea-fisheries signed a resolution inviting the European Union (EU) to take up its responsibility and end forced labour practices in EU waters. Investigations executed by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) revealed serious infringements of fundamental principles at work and social protection rights of migrant fishers in a part of the EU’s fishing sector. The social partners expect the EU to ensure fulfilment by Member States of their obligations and to adopt guidelines for flag state and port state inspections to prevent such practices.
Europêche, the representative body of the EU fishing sector and EAPO, the European body representing the producer organisations, have expressed their outrage at the decision taken by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to set an ambitious target with the aim of closing off 30% of all marine areas from extractive activities by 2030.
Los interlocutores sociales europeos para la pesca, Europêche y la Federación Europea de Trabajadores del Transporte (ETF)*, llamaron a todos los Estados miembros de la UE a ratificar con urgencia el Convenio de la OIT ** que proporciona normas mínimas para proteger a los pescadores en todos los aspectos de su trabajo. En una declaración conjunta firmada el 14 de abril en La Haya, Países Bajos y los interlocutores sociales recordaron también las instituciones europeas sobre sus responsabilidades en este proceso. Los interlocutores sociales se han felicitado de la volontad de la Presidencia del Consejo de la UE para trabajar en el acuerdo de los interlocutores sociales (SPA), que ha sido firmado en 2012, pero aún no ha sido presentado ante el Consejo.
Almost three years after submitting the Social Partners’ Agreement (SPA) on implementing the ILO* Work in Fishing Convention C188, the European Commission (EC) presented today, 29th April 2016, the agreement before the Council of the EU. The European Social Partners for Fisheries, Europêche, Cogeca and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF)**, have warmly welcomed this step but regret the considerable delay with implementing the SPA that ensures a high level of protection for fishermen in all aspects of their work. The Social Partners call upon all EU Member States to support the proposal for a Council Directive and urge them to ratify ILO Convention 188.
During a meeting held on 28 January in Sofia, Bulgaria, the European Social Partners in Fisheries*, the ETF and Europêche, promoted together with the ILO ** the swift ratification of the ILO Work in Fishing Convention C188. The event was also attended by high-level representatives of the Bulgarian Ministries of Labour, Transport and Agriculture, who share competence over the ratification of the Convention.
Europêche and Chairman of the Fisheries Committee, Alain Cadec MEP, co-hosted their second triumphant Seafood Showcase reception yesterday evening. The event, attended by new DG MARE Director General Joao Aguiar Machado, was held in the European Parliament and exhibited fisheries products from all across Europe detailing the sustainable way in which they were caught.
The reformed Common Fisheries Policy (which came into force in January 2014) established a legal framework for EU vessels to fish outside European waters. Sustainable Fishing Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) allow EU fleets to fish in foreign waters in accordance with scientific advice for surplus stocks that would otherwise go uncaught while providing a raft of benefits to that country. The European Union fleet operating off the coast of Africa consists of around 400 vessels. This is less than one per cent of the EU fleet.
Une nouvelle étude sur les consommateurs à travers le continent met en valeur la conviction des européens que le secteur de la pêche est vital pour l’alimentation de la population mondiale en pleine croissance mais ils estiment cependant que les gouvernements échouent à en faire assez pour soutenir le milieu.
Le Conseil Pêche est arrivé hier soir à un accord sur les possibilités de pêche pour 2015 pour certains stocks en eaux profondes, c’est la première fois depuis les décisions sur l’interdiction des rejets et du Rendement Maximal Durable (RMD) décidées sous la réforme de la Politique Commune de la Pêche.
Europêche a publié aujourd’hui une déclaration affirmant que la taille des navires de pêche devient non-pertinente lorsque l’on parle des stocks de poissons car à un tel niveau les petits et grands bateaux sont en fait interdépendants.
Bruxelles : Europêche, l’association des organisations nationales d’entreprises de pêches de l’Union européenne, a nommé Kathryn Stack en tant que Directrice Générale en vue de booster le soutient de l’organisation envers une pêche durable et de promouvoir plus largement la voix du secteur dans les prises de décision européennes.
Europêche, the voice of the European fishing industry, commends the European Commission's proposal to strengthen EU regulations designed to combat unsustainable fishing practices by non-EU countries. The Commission's legislative action, which seeks to amend Regulation (EU) 1026/2012, marks a significant step forward in safeguarding shared fish stocks and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our oceans and EU companies.