Press release - December 18, 2008
Brussels, Belgium — In what is traditionally the EU’s curtain call after a busy year of successful and less successful negotiations, European ministers have begun their annual pre-Christmas haggle over fishing quotas. Greenpeace calls for a substantive reform of the way Europe’s governments manage fisheries and their impact on the marine environment.
"The EU's common fisheries policy has failed to deliver sustainable fisheries and has resulted in the destruction of marine ecosystems. Sadly, we have no reason to believe that this week's meeting will set a different tone," said Saskia Richartz, Greenpeace EU oceans policy director.
"Reducing fishing quotas is not about penalising fishermen, it is a necessary measure to ensure that there will be fish left in the sea. This is the only way to recover the resource and guarantee future jobs in fishing," said Richartz.
The Council is unlikely to change its tune and encourage environmentally sustainable fisheries to help fish stocks recover and save the industry from collapse.
"Last year, Greenpeace temporarily shut down the Council by walling up the entrances, precisely to jolt decision-makers into action. A long fishing year later, ministers are still legitimising overfishing against all scientific advice," said Richartz.
The fisheries Council meeting today and tomorrow is likely to agree total allowable catches for most Atlantic and North Sea fisheries, such as cod and herring, and endorse already agreed quotas for, among others, tuna caught by the EU fishing fleet in the Mediterranean and the Pacific Ocean.
In most cases, current catch limits are set well above scientifically recommended levels. Greenpeace calls on ministers to support the creation of large marine reserves across the world to allow fish stocks to recover and protect the marine environment.
Other contacts:
Mark Breddy - Greenpeace EU communications manager:
+32 (0)2 274 19 03, +32 (0)496 15 62 29 (mobile) 