Greenpeace EU: oceans

Council tables weak deal on EU fisheries reform

edavitt — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:10:00 +0200

Brussels – Another marathon session of negotiations on the reform of EU legislation on fisheries has ended in disappointment, said Greenpeace. The ministers have been meeting in Council since Monday to revise their position on the main points of the reform before going into final negotiations with the European Parliament.

Commenting on the outcome of the meeting, Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director Saskia Richartz said: “The brakes are on so tight that it’s taken months of intense talks for ministers to move just a fraction. The deal submitted today still lacks the determination needed to turn things around for Europe’s fish stocks and fishing communities, but it just about keeps the door open for final negotiations with the European Parliament. Only leadership from the parliament, which has great political and public support behind it, can now steer the reform safely home.”

Main opposition to reform came from Spain, France, Portugal, Greece and Belgium. These countries in particular objected to a target date for the recovery of Europe’s overfished stocks and insisted for loopholes to be worked into a partial ban on discards. The German minister repeatedly pushed for a better deal, while Sweden was the only country to refuse to sign up to the Council position because of a lack of ambition.

The European Parliament and its negotiator, centre-left MEP Ulrike Rodust, will need to decide whether to continue negotiations on the basis of the Council’s position. Unless ministers are willing to compromise, negotiations will be thrown off course and threaten the chances of reforming fisheries rules in 2013.

In a vote in February, the Parliament overwhelmingly supported an overhaul of the rules which have led to decades of overfishing and a decline of the European fishing industry [1]. On the other hand, EU ministers – in particular from large fishing nations – have resisted reforms [2].

Greenpeace supports a target for fish stock recovery by 2020, a trimming of the fishing fleet to sustainable levels, financial penalties for countries that fail to implement the rules, and a strict ban on the wasteful practice of discarding unwanted fish.

Note to editors:

[1] According to the European Commission, around two thirds of European fish stocks are currently fished beyond sustainable levels (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52012DC0278:EN:NOT), while one third of European fishing jobs have been lost in the last decade (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SPLIT_SEC:2011:0891%2851%29:FIN:EN:PDF).

[2] Joint NGO statement, Fisheries Council: threat of collapse hangs over fisheries reform: http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2013/threat-of-collapse-hangs-over-fisheries-reform

Contacts:

Saskia Richartz – Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director: +32 (0)495 290028, saskia.richartz@greenpeace.org

Mark Breddy – Greenpeace EU communications: +32 (0)496 156229, mark.breddy@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs, follow: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.

Tomorrow's breaking news on EU fisheries reform

mbreddy — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:15:00 +0200

Stormy outlook for European fisheries as short-termism prevails? Or will it be clear skies ahead?20130514 spoof paper fisheries Council CFP reform

A special double-sided edition on the make-or-break meeting of EU fisheries ministers.

NGOs concerned over threats to block EU fisheries reform

edavitt — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:05:00 +0200

Today, following a meeting with Irish fisheries minister and chair of the EU fisheries Council, Simon Coveney, European civil society and conservation groups expressed their concern about the threat of delays or the possible collapse of negotiations on EU fisheries reform.

A number of countries, including France, Spain, Poland, Lithuania, Greece and Romania, are resisting efforts to find common ground with the European Parliament on key issues such as fleet management and discards. Coveney must not give in to these short-sighted positions but instead re-double his efforts to win agreement with all fisheries ministers for an ambitious reform.

The only issue where the Council is currently showing willingness to compromise with the Parliament is on the subject of stock recovery to levels that can support the so-called maximum sustainable yield.

Recently, the European Parliament overwhelmingly voted for a far-reaching reform that would end four decades of overfishing and set the target to recover fish stocks by 2020. The Commission and millions of EU citizens support this reform and want to see an end to the misuse of taxpayers’ money and improvements in enforcement and fisheries control. Decisions taken by the EU fisheries Council are to blame for many of the failures of the Common Fisheries Policy and have led to a situation in which around two-thirds of European fish stocks are overexploited and almost one-third of fishing jobs have been lost in the last decade alone.

A breakdown of the fisheries reform negotiations under the Irish Presidency would only play into the hands of those countries that want to continue overfishing and avoid new measures to recover fish stocks and rebuild a sustainable fishing sector. The NGOs urge ministers to settle on a compromise that includes a timeline for stock recovery, targeted measures to eliminate excess fishing capacity and the promotion of low-impact fishing.

BirdLife Europe – https://europe.birdlife.org
BirdWatch Ireland – www.birdwatchireland.ie
Greenpeace – www.greenpeace.eu
NEF – the new economics foundation – http://www.neweconomics.org
Oceana – http://oceana.org
Ocean2012 – http://ocean2012.eu
WWF – www.wwf.eu

Press contacts:
Mark Breddy, Greenpeace: +32 (0)496 156229

Mike Walker, OCEAN2012: +353 (0)866 033002

Joint NGO letter to EU fisheries ministers on fisheries reform and stock recovery

mbreddy — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0200

As negotiations on the reform of the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy enter the final stage, over 200 groups from civil society are calling on EU fisheries ministers to support an end to overfishing and the speedy restoration of fish stocks.20130409 joint NGO letter MSY fisheries ministers

As they negotiate the shape of the reformed fisheries policy, the Council and Parliament have an opportunity to end 30 years of EU fisheries mismanagement.

The letter is available in multiple languages.

For further information, please contact:

Saskia Richartz - Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director: +32 (0)495 290028, saskia.richartz@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Greenpeace lodges legal complaint against Dutch owners of super trawler for dumping 1.5 million kilo of fish in the ocean

edavitt — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:01:00 +0100

Amsterdam – Greenpeace has lodged a legal complaint with the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authorities (NVWA) against the Dutch fishing company Parlevliet & Van Der Plas.

Greenpeace was given two parallel log books that show that a super trawler belonging to Parlevliet discarded 1.5 million kilo of dead herring during a fishing trip lasting only three weeks last year. “The fish in question were perfectly edible, but they were dumped in the ocean simply because the company knew they would come across better herring. This is illegal under EU law and highly destructive to nature. We want this case to be fully investigated by the NVWA” stated Greenpeace campaigner Pavel Klinckhamers.

Parlevliet & Van der Plas fishing vessels are obliged to provide all catch data in an official logbook. This is to ensure that that company sticks to fishing quotas. Greenpeace acquired the official and one unofficial log book from a whistleblower, who formally worked on the super trawler ‘Jan-Maria’ as second mate . The logbooks show that the official figures have been tampered with. “On several occasions, over one hundred thousand kilos of fish per day were not registered in the actual official documents, but visible in the unofficial document. During one three week trip, Parlevliet fished around one and a half million kg more fish than was officially declared. This is no longer a case of a small mistake but a case of a huge scam.”

The difference between what is actually caught by the vessel and what was landed is about 25%. The dumping of perfectly edible fish to increase profits is called 'high grading' and is prohibited under EU law. “But for these enormous trawlers it seems to be a piece of cake to hide this illegality from authorities” says Klinckhamers from Greenpeace. “What’s even worse is that Parlevliet & Van der Plas constantly emphasizes how they fish according to the rules, but in reality they are lying”

The ‘Jan Maria’ is a super trawler, which sails under German flag and is a subsidiary of Parlevliet & Van der Plas. Former second mate, Andreas Mehmecke, has lodged a legal complaint in his own right at the German Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung(BLE). Mehmecke says: "On one side of the world there are people that are struggling due to the food crisis, while here, huge quantities of good fish are being wasted. That, we cannot accept.”

EU fisheries ministers fall short of full discards ban

mbreddy — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:50:00 +0100

Brussels – EU fisheries ministers have agreed a proposal for limited restrictions on discards - the practice of throwing unwanted dead fish overboard. The Irish EU presidency will now have to negotiate a full reform of fisheries policy with the European Parliament, which voted earlier this month for a stricter ban on discards and sweeping changes to make fishing more sustainable [1].

Ministers resisted attempts by Spain, Portugal and France for further loopholes on discards, including a blanket exemption for certain fish species, but caved in to allow 7-9% discards to be tolerated. Ministers want a phased in reduction of discards to begin in 2014, starting with fish like mackerel and herring and later other species in Europe’s northern waters and ending in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Reacting to the outcome of the fisheries ministers' meeting, Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director Saskia Richartz said: "The exemption of certain fish species called for by Spain, Portugal and France was avoided, but ministers are backing a partial ban at best. It's not a ban if you allow thousands of tonnes of fish to continue to be wasted for years to come. This half-hearted approach would also make it harder to monitor and implement a ban. It is, however, encouraging that a growing number of countries are joining the European Parliament's call for a far-reaching reform of EU fisheries to stop waste and encourage sustainable practices. Negotiations over the coming months will be tough."

The Irish EU presidency has promised to wrap up negotiations on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy by June.

Note to editors:
[1] Greenpeace press release, 6 February 2013.

Contacts:
Saskia Richartz – Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director: +32 (0)495 290028, saskia.richartz@greenpeace.org
Mark Breddy – Greenpeace EU communications: +32 (0)496 156229, mark.breddy@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs, follow: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

EU ministers split over fisheries reform

mbreddy — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:30:00 +0100

Brussels – EU fisheries ministers are heading into a long night of negotiations as they clash over measures to ban fish discards (the wasteful practice of throwing unwanted fish overboard). The differences voiced during a public debate this morning revealed a rift between EU countries on the wider issue of fisheries reform.

In a vote earlier this month, the European Parliament supported a clear shift away from overfishing and destructive and wasteful fishing practices [1].

German, Danish, Swedish, Austrian and Hungarian ministers sided with the European Parliament on measures to ban discards and reform fisheries. The Netherlands and the UK also spoke out in favour of a ban to end discards, but the British minister said he was prepared to accept at least some exemptions.

Commenting on the discussions between fisheries ministers, Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director Saskia Richartz said: "The ministers’ meeting focused on the implementation of a discards ban, but separated the wheat from the chaff on overall support for fisheries reform. Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Austria and Hungary made strong statements in support of far-reaching reform proposals tabled by the European Parliament. The fisheries ministers of France, Portugal and Spain, who still stubbornly oppose progress, are facing an increasingly stiff wind of change for an ambitious fisheries reform.”

The Irish EU presidency has promised to wrap up negotiations on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy by June.

Note to editors:
[1] Greenpeace press release, 6 Feb 2013.

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs, follow: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

EU deal could discourage oil drilling in Arctic waters

edavitt — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:44:00 +0100

Brussels, 21 February 2013 – Greenpeace has welcomed a preliminary agreement between the European Parliament and the Council over an EU law on oil and gas offshore drilling. If confirmed, the law could limit or even prevent oil drilling under harsh conditions, such as those in the Arctic, where cleaning up an oil spill is impossible.

The agreement, negotiated between the representative of the European Parliament, Ivo Belet, and the Irish presidency, representing EU governments, would oblige oil companies to assess the ability to clean up an oil spill in difficult conditions, such as prolonged darkness, ice cover or rough seas, where standard response procedures cannot be used. The agreement also calls for international political action to promote the highest standards on prevention, preparedness and response to Arctic oil pollution.

However, the proposed agreement would still allow discrepancies between safety regimes in different EU countries. The European Maritime and Safety Agency (EMSA) will not have an increased role in supervision and control. Greenpeace also regrets that compensation for oil spill damages for affected fishermen or tourism operators is not included in the deal.

Greenpeace EU climate policy director Joris den Blanken said: “This deal on the EU safety law for offshore drilling would go some way to ensuring that oil companies think long and hard before they embark on a risky adventure in the Arctic. Recent incidents off the coast of Alaska show that companies like Shell should simply not operate in one of the planet’s most fragile environments. Unfortunately, this deal still leaves too much wiggle room in its implementation.”

To become law, the agreement must now be endorsed by the European Parliament and governments. Once this happens, Greenpeace urges EU governments to implement this law in the strictest possible manner, setting in place a real safety regime.

Contacts:
Joris den Blanken – Greenpeace EU climate and energy policy director: +32 (0)476 961375 (mobile), joris.denblanken@greenpeace.org

Ed Davitt – Greenpeace EU communications officer: +32 (0)476 988584(mobile), Edward.davitt@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

EU parliament votes to overhaul fisheries policy

mbreddy — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:59:00 +0100

Strasbourg/Brussels – A historic vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today has brought the prospect of a fast recovery of Europe’s fish stocks one step closer, according to Greenpeace.

Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director Saskia Richartz said: “This vote signals a momentous shift away from overfishing and is a testament to parliament’s resolve to defend the general interest. National governments that stand in the way of reform, like Spain and France, will find it increasingly hard to act as proxies for a handful of powerful companies, with no concern for the long-term wellbeing of the oceans or the majority of fishermen.”

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) supported measures to reduce fishing pressure by 2015 to allow fish stocks to recover to sustainable levels. They endorsed policies to bring the size of the EU’s fishing fleet in line with the availability of fish in the sea, to promote small-scale and low-impact fishing methods and to eliminate the wasteful practice of discarding (throwing unwanted fish overboard dead or dying). The Parliament also approved rules that would prohibit the EU’s fleet from overfishing the waters of foreign countries.

Today’s vote is the first time the European Parliament has been allowed to weigh into the legislative process on EU fisheries reform since it gained new powers as a co-legislator under the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. The Irish EU presidency has promised to wrap up negotiations on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) by June. After decades of overfishing, fuelled by a bloated and heavily subsidised EU fishing fleet, industrial fishing powers, including Spain and France, are now the main obstacles standing in the way of comprehensive fisheries reform, said Greenpeace.

Current fisheries policy favours destructive, large-scale fishing operations and has led to an unsustainable growth in the fishing capacity of the EU fleet, which in turn is fuelling overfishing. While the most powerful vessels catch most fish, small-scale fishing vessels (around 12 metres or less) make up about 80% of the European fishing sector [1] and usually cause less environmental harm. In November 2012, small-scale fishermen from across Europe signed a joint declaration calling for an equitable reform of the CFP [2].

Note to editors:
[1] Facts and figures on the Common Fisheries Policy 2012, European Commission, page 12: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/documentation/publications/pcp_en.pdf
[2] https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLWXUzVXpocDkzeXc/edit (English)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLUS1rT0MxUjF3dUk/edit (French)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLRzI4d3dXX29jMkU/edit (Spanish)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLSnNBNE1rd2tpanM/edit (German)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLQzkweG1xa0JXMmM/edit (Greek)

Contacts:
IN STRASBOURG: Saskia Richartz – Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director: +32 (0)495 290028, saskia.richartz@greenpeace.org
Mark Breddy – Greenpeace EU communications: +32 (0)496 156229, mark.breddy@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs, follow: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Greenpeace comment on the release of the Irish EU presidency programme

mbreddy — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:15:00 +0100

The Irish government has released the detailed programme at the start of its six-month presidency of the European Union.

In an initial reaction after the publication of the programme, Greenpeace adviser for the Irish presidency Dónall Geoghegan said: "There is certainly a lot to do for Ireland on the environment and this programme reflects that. We're particularly pleased to see that the presidency will seek agreement on legislation to make cars more fuel efficient by reducing their carbon emissions. We also welcome that the presidency recognises the need to manage European fisheries more sustainably in order to preserve our seas for future generations. The European Parliament has already signalled that overfishing cannot continue and we hope that the Irish government will follow this approach in its work towards the adoption of reformed fishing rules in the EU."

On energy and climate change policy, Geoghegan added: "We certainly also expect the presidency to lay the foundations for the next set of 2030 objectives on climate change and for the uptake of renewables. Steady progress is needed to secure the environmental and jobs potential in the energy sector."

The full Irish EU presidency programme is available here.

Contacts:

Dónall Geoghegan: +353 87 222 5691
Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Fisheries Council comment

edavitt — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:57:00 +0100

Brussels, 20 December 2012 - Greenpeace is critical of last night’s deal on fish quotas for 2013, as it allows more fish to be caught than is sustainable. However, ministers for the first time have shown a level of discipline that has not been evident in the horse-trading over previous quota negotiations.

“On Tuesday, the European Parliament showed its determination to end decades of unsustainable fishing by the EU’s oversized fishing fleets. This morning’s deal on quotas for 2013 shows that the Council of fisheries ministers has also finally understood that steps towards sustainable fisheries will require a level of discipline in setting fishing quotas. But their measures remain too timid, with many quotas still set above the recommended levels” said Saskia Richartz, Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director. “Science must form the basis of decision making on quotas by the Council, as it now will for the Parliament. Short-term vision and the industrial fisheries lobby must not dictate a result that will endanger the long-term health of our seas.”

This year, scientists have expressed particular concerns about overfishing of fish stocks around Ireland, including the Irish Sea, North West of Scotland and in the wider Atlantic waters West of Ireland. For instance, they have warned that there should be no fishing at all for herring West of Scotland and Ireland, no fishing for sole in the Irish Sea and 50% cut for most haddock stocks in the waters of the North East Atlantic.

On Tuesday Greenpeace was outside the Council to demonstrate with artisanal fishermen from across Europe to challenge ministers to back low-impact fishing and put science and sustainability at the heart of the decision making.

Greenpeace have also released a new animation calling on ministers to tackle fleet overcapacity - one of main drivers of overfishing - and setting realistic catch limits to preserve the health of our oceans.

Contacts:

Saskia Richartz: +32 (0)2 2741902, saskia.richartz@greenpeace.org

Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Members of the European Parliament back extensive reform of EU fisheries policy

mbreddy — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:15:00 +0100

Brussels – The European Parliament’s fisheries committee has endorsed sweeping reforms of EU fisheries policy that could help bring back fish stocks from the brink and reverse decades of overfishing by a bloated EU fishing fleet, said Greenpeace.

The Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) today supported an objective to recover fish stocks to sustainable levels – and the so-called maximum sustainable yield. They also recognised the excessive fishing capacity of the European fleet in relation to the state of stocks, and put forward measures to reduce it. Finally, MEPs backed measures to reduce discards, the wasteful practice of throwing unwanted dead or dying fish overboard.

Commenting on the outcome of the vote, Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director Saskia Richartz said: "The vote today marks a turning point after decades of complacency for overfishing. The European Parliament has injected some much-needed ambition in the reform of EU fishing rules and challenged European governments to follow suit. At this stage, fisheries ministers are the main obstacle standing in the way of the recovery of our oceans and a sustainable future for fishing. Greenpeace and small-scale fishermen from across Europe call on them to back strong measures to scrap overfishing, promote low-impact fishing and preserve our oceans for generations to come."

European fisheries ministers are also meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday to decide how much fish can be caught next year. The Commission and marine scientists have called for substantial reductions in catches to allow stocks to recover [1].

Representatives of small-scale fishermen and Greenpeace campaigners staged a joint demonstration outside the building where the quota negotiations are taking place. They displayed a 3D banner depicting a healthy sea emerging from under the pavement outside the Council building in Brussels. Artisanal fishermen from France, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium and Greece held banners, in different languages, reading: "Fishing quotas: take from the big, give to the small."

Small-scale fishing vessels (around 12 metres or less) make up about 80% of the European fishing sector, but are only granted a fraction of fishing quotas [2]. Last month, small-scale fishermen from across Europe signed a joint declaration calling for an equitable reform of the CFP [3].

Note to editors:
[1] Latest advice from the EU's main advisory body, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea: http://www.ices.dk/advice/icesadvice.asp
[2] Facts and figures on the Common Fisheries Policy 2012, European Commission, page 12: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/documentation/publications/pcp_en.pdf
[3] https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLWXUzVXpocDkzeXc/edit (English)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLUS1rT0MxUjF3dUk/edit (French)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLRzI4d3dXX29jMkU/edit (Spanish)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLSnNBNE1rd2tpanM/edit (German)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLQzkweG1xa0JXMmM/edit (Greek)

Contacts:
Saskia Richartz – Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director: +32 (0)495 290028, saskia.richartz@greenpeace.org
Mark Breddy – Greenpeace EU communications: +32 (0)496 156229, mark.breddy@greenpeace.org

Photo and video footage of the protest: Hugo Duchesne: +33 1 80 96 97 56, hugo.duchesne@greenpeace.org

www.greenpeace.eu
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs, follow us on Twitter: @GreenpeaceEU
For news from the demonstration, follow: #fairfishing

Small-scale fishermen and Greenpeace call on EU ministers to end quota madness

edavitt — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 08:06:00 +0100

Brussels, 18 December 2012 – European small-scale fishermen and Greenpeace have joined forces to warn EU fisheries ministers not to favour Europe’s destructive industrial fishing fleet, ahead of annual negotiations to decide how much fish can be caught next year.

Fishermen and Greenpeace campaigners displayed a 3D banner depicting a healthy sea emerging from under the pavement outside the Council building in Brussels, where the negotiations will take place until 19 December. Artisanal fishermen from France, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium and Greece held banners, in different languages, reading: “Fishing quotas: take from the big, give to the small.” The campaigners distributed to delegates folded paper boats with a message calling for meaningful reform of EU fisheries rules.

By Wednesday, ministers will agree the amount of fish that can be caught in areas of the North, Irish, Celtic and Iberian Seas and wider Atlantic region, and the resulting shares for each country. Their decisions will determine whether fish stocks will be overfished, i.e. fished beyond limits which the fish populations can sustain, or fished sustainably, allowing fish stocks to replenish themselves and support local fishing communities. Annual EU fishing quotas are regularly set above levels recommended by scientists [1].

Members of the European Parliament’s fisheries committee will also vote today (Tuesday) on proposals for a wider, once-in-a-decade reform of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The vote marks an important step in the reform process and is expected to be extremely tight [2].

Imanol Ugartemendia, a French fisherman from the Plateforme de la petite pêche artisanale, said: “If ministers do the right thing, there can be a future in our seas, but there is no future in overfishing. We need to fish less and fish smart to protect our heritage and keep the seas healthy for our children. But cuts to quotas must not penalise those who use sustainable fishing practices, like hand-lines, traps or coastal nets. We should be given priority when quotas are distributed because we have the lowest impact on the environment and because we contribute most jobs and benefits for local communities.”

Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director Saskia Richartz said: “The EU’s mantra of more and better jobs is just a con if politicians do not back those that operate sustainable businesses. In fishing this means making sure that the most sustainable fishermen are allowed to fish, while the most destructive vessels and the most damaging fishing activities are scrapped. It is time to knock some sense and science into European fishing rules.”

As part of the ongoing reform of the CFP, environmental organisations and the sustainable and small-scale fisheries sector have called for a new approach to quota allocations, granting preferential access to fishing to the most environmentally and socially beneficial fishermen.

Small-scale fishing vessels (around 12 metres or less) make up about 80% of the European fishing sector, but are only granted a fraction of fishing quotas [3]. Last month, small-scale fishermen from across Europe signed a joint declaration calling for an equitable reform of the CFP [4].

Note to editors:
[1] Latest advice from the EU’s main advisory body, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea: http://www.ices.dk/advice/icesadvice.asp
[2] A separate comment on the outcome of this vote will be issued by Greenpeace and will be available at www.greenpeace.eu
[3] Facts and figures on the Common Fisheries Policy 2012, European Commission, page 12: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/documentation/publications/pcp_en.pdf
[4] https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLWXUzVXpocDkzeXc/edit (English)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLUS1rT0MxUjF3dUk/edit (French)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLRzI4d3dXX29jMkU/edit (Spanish)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLSnNBNE1rd2tpanM/edit (German)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJMQ8kN2XRLQzkweG1xa0JXMmM/edit (Greek)

Contacts:
Imanol Ugartemendia – French small-scale fisherman: +33 6 62 46 1120

Saskia Richartz – Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director: +32 (0)495 290028, saskia.richartz@greenpeace.org
Mark Breddy – Greenpeace EU communications: +32 (0)496 156229, mark.breddy@greenpeace.org

For photo and video footage: Hugo Duchesne: +33 1 80 96 97 56, hugo.duchesne@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs, follow us on Twitter: @GreenpeaceEU
For news from the demonstration, follow: #fairfishing

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.

Irish government unveils ‘trio’ EU presidency programme

mbreddy — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:45:00 +0100

Brussels – Today the Irish government laid out plans for its presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is due to begin on 1 January 2013. Statements today by Irish Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) and foreign minister Eamon Gilmore highlighted the need to focus on ‘jobs and growth’, but Greenpeace is concerned that the plans as outlined today still lack direction and fail to address the drain on the economy from expensive imports of natural resources. They also fail to recognise the opportunity for greater prosperity from the greening of the European economy across all sectors, warned Greenpeace.

The six-month presidency will allow Ireland to direct much of the policy focus of the Union for the first half of next year, within an 18-month joint 'trio' programme with the subsequent presidencies of Lithuania and Greece.

Greenpeace welcomes that the Irish presidency, as part of the trio programme, recognises that "the challenges posed by the current economic and financial situation cannot be addressed effectively in the long term without a continuing emphasis on green growth and resource efficiency" [1].

However, in a letter to Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny last week, Greenpeace joined nine other leading environmental NGOs in expressing concern about the lack of focus on how greening the economy can shape Europe's recovery and highlighting some of the areas where the Irish government needs to focus special attention [2]. Europe's energy policy is central to its economic future – the EU currently spends €1 billion a day on fossil fuel imports from places like the Middle East and Russia, despite the fact that the OECD and the EU's own 2020 strategy specifically underline the need for greater energy efficiency and independence if the EU is to stabilise its economic position. The recent EU Energy Revolution report from Greenpeace highlights the potential for 1.5 million jobs in a new, modern European energy system based on renewables, energy efficiency and sustainable, independent energy [3].

Greenpeace adviser for the Irish presidency Dónall Geoghegan said: "What Ireland promotes as its themes and priorities for the presidency is important. There needs to be focus on a more sustainable direction for Europe's economy. We hope that as detailed plans are worked out by the Irish presidency, emphasis will go into ways to pursue lasting economic benefits and sustainable employment from clean and efficient economic systems that produce sustainable jobs. There is a risk that without such focus, EU countries would once again subsidise old polluting technologies that will do nothing to solve the underlying problems in the European economy. The Irish presidency needs to focus on things that work and benefit everyone, not just the banks: paying less for fuel, saving energy and creating jobs with better insulation, and cutting food and resource waste."

Notes to editors:
[1] http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/12/st17/st17426.en12.pdf
[2] http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/Global/eu-unit/reports-briefings/2011%20pubs/2012%20Nov-Dec/201212%20letter%20to%20Irish%20Taoiseach%20Enda%20Kenny.pdf
[3] http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2012/ER-PR/

Contacts:
Dónall Geoghegan - Greenpeace adviser for the Irish presidency: +353 87 222 5691
Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

This press comment is also available on: www.greenpeace.eu
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Green NGO letter to Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the Irish EU presidency

mbreddy — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:57:00 +0100

Letter on behalf of the Green 10.201212 letter to Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny

The Green 10 is the group of leading environmental NGOs active at EU level, with a combined membership of over 20 million citizens.

European ministers want to continue bankrolling overfishing

mbreddy — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:28:00 +0200

Luxembourg / Brussels – Greenpeace has condemned EU ministers for selling out to the short-term economic interests of the industrial fishing industry, instead of putting Europe’s fisheries onto a path of recovery. Many parts of the EU fishing fleet are already able to catch two to three times more than is sustainable, but ministers meeting in Luxembourg have signalled that they want to continue funnelling subsidies into the modernisation of vessels and their engines.

Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director Saskia Richartz said: "There is already not enough fish for all the boats out there, so it makes no sense at all for governments to continue throwing subsidies at the EU's oversized fleet. Wasting taxpayers' money on what causes the problem in the first place is ridiculous: it is like paying someone to rob you. The worst thing is that the industrial fleet, which causes the most damage to our seas, is likely to swallow up most of the cash, with sustainable fishermen losing out. Taxpayers' money would be much better spent to protect marine life, improve data collection on fish stocks, and to better monitor the fishing fleet."

Ministers are expected to forge agreements that will, for instance, allow subsidies for vessel modernisation, new engines and to cover losses incurred by fishermen as a result of temporary fishery closures, such as when a stock has been critically overfished. A large number of countries are also pushing for subsidised construction of new vessels. Such investments will almost invariably maintain and increase the fishing capacity of the EU fleet and hamper efforts to eliminate fleet overcapacity and destructive fisheries.

The deal also foresees publicly funded vessel scrapping schemes, which allow vessel owners to destroy their vessels in return for cash. These schemes will only work if they are targeted towards the decommissioning of the most oversized and destructive elements of the fleet, said Greenpeace. Fishermen who receive scrapping funds should also not be allowed to invest in a new vessel.

Newly released data shows that between 1994 and 2006, Spain (83%), France (8%), Portugal (4%), Germany (3%) and the UK (0.1%) spent over €266 million to build and modernise their distant-water fishing fleets. Almost 70% of the money was used to build new boats, many of which were also upgraded [1].

Note to editors:
[1] A set of data tables on subsidies was released by the European Commission after a public information request. These can be obtained from Greenpeace. Some of this data has also been released on www.facebook.com/RichEuropeanFishermen.

Contacts:
Saskia Richartz – Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director: +32 (0)495 290028, saskia.richartz@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

You can also find this press release on: www.greenpeace.eu
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Ocean Inquirer issue 4

Saskia Richartz — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:06:00 +0200

In this issue 4th issue of Ocean Inquirer, Greenpeace exposes how a ruthless rush for sardines and anchovies has been driving their depletion.Ocean Inquirer 4

Also available in Italian and German.

The Common Fisheries Policy was supposed to help create a more sustainable European fishing sector and protects diminishing fish stocks. Greenpeace took a closer look at a perfect example of how the policy is thwarted by governments and why an ambitious reform is vital.

Italy is the third largest recipient of EU fisheries subsidies. It is one of the EU’s largest fishing nations, with anchovy and sardines making up most of the catch. At the same time, Italy is known for its reluctance to implement the fishing rules of the EU.

Greenpeace investigated the ports of Chioggia and Pila di Porto Tolle, home of the Mediterranean's largest anchovy and sardine fleets and benefactor of hundreds of millions in public subsidies to help create a 'sustainable' oily fish sector. In reality, over the last decades this sector has become more and more unsustainable as the Italian government has actively supported an increase in the pair trawling fleet fishing for sardines and anchovies despite warnings from experts about a decline of the sardine and anchovies populations and despite the fact that this increase in capacity ignores the prevailing policies of the EU.

Using data from the EU fleet register, Greenpeace discovered how the number of licenses issued for pair trawling in Chioggia and Pila di Porto Tolle increased by 70 percent and the combined gross tonnage of vessels with pair trawling license increased by almost 130 percent between 1995 and 2012.

The example clearly shows how one of the largest fishing nations in Europe looks the other way instead of acting responsibly and in line with the intentions of the CFP. Italy is not alone. An ambitious CFP reform that secures reduced fishing pressure by decommissioning excessive fleet capacity is vital.

Greenpeace submitted its findings to the European Commission.

Commission calls for ban of destructive deep-sea fishing in the Northeast Atlantic

jhunter — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:49:00 +0200

Brussels – Greenpeace welcomed a plan presented by the European Commission today to ban some of the most environmentally damaging fishing practices, under a review of EU rules governing deep-sea fishing in the Northeast and Central Atlantic. The Commission wants to phase out licences for deep-sea trawling and gillnet fishing in the area over the next two years, acting on a long-standing pledge request by the United Nations to end destructive fishing in some of the world's most sensitive and rich ecosystems [1].

Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director Saskia Richartz said: “Deep-sea bottom trawling and gillnet fishing rank among the most destructive, fuel-intensive and subsidy-dependent fishing activities. A relatively small number of boats have devastated some of the world’s most fragile and rich ecosystems, with European taxpayers footing the bill.”

Gillnet fishing commonly involves using static or drifting nets with a mesh size (or holes) narrow enough to trap fish. Deep-sea trawling involves the destructive dragging of large, heavy nets across the seafloor. Scientists have identified extensive damage from trawling at 200-1400 metres in depth along the Atlantic shelf off the coasts of Ireland, Scotland and Norway [2]. Most deep-sea stocks exploited by EU fleets in the Northeast Atlantic are seriously depleted, according to EU assessments. Bottom trawling also has one of the highest rates of bycatch of non-target species in the European fleet, with up to half of what is caught being discarded.

A deep-sea trawler typically burns thousands of litres of fuel per day. A fuel tax exemption for European fishermen, coupled with EU subsidies for the modernisation and construction of vessels, have underpinned an otherwise economically unviable fishery. Greenpeace recently estimated that the Spanish deep-sea fleet received at least €142 million in subsidies from 1996 to 2010 [3]. The fleet consists of slightly more than 100 vessels, giving each vessel on average around €90,000 in direct subsidies per year during that period. So taxpayers are paying almost entirely for the running of these vessels, then paying again at the fish counter.

Spain, France and Portugal take almost 90 percent of the EU's deep-sea catch (by weight), but only France and Spain focus on the destructive practice of bottom trawling. The two countries expanded into deep-sea fishing in the 70s and 80s, building and modernising their fleet with EU subsidies, even as scientists began to warn against overfishing.

Richartz added: “This destructive fishing fleet should never have been built in the first place. Destructive fishing methods like deep-sea fishing should be the first to be scrapped as the EU reforms its fishing rules.”

The deep sea begins around 400 meters below the surface, where sunlight does not penetrate. It is one of the planet’s largest reservoirs of life, home to fragile and slow-growing coral and sponge forests and long-living species – some living coral are 8,500 years old. These ecosystems perform ecological processes that are vital to the functioning of the world’s oceans and our climate.

Ends

Notes for editors:
[1] In 2006, the United Nations called on states to take immediate action to protect vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems from destructive fishing practices, such as deep-sea bottom trawling, adding that it would be necessary to cease destructive fishing activities where vulnerable ecosystems exist (UNGA Resolution 61/105). It later repeated and further specified its call in 2009 (UNGA Resolution 64/72)
[2] ICES, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, reports that “photographic and acoustic surveys have also revealed trawl marks on coral beds between 200-1400m”, summarising research of Rogers 1999; Fosså et al. 2000, 2002; Roberts et al. 2000; Bett et al. 2001; Grehan et al. in press. See the report 2005 of ICES Working Group on Deep-water Ecology
[3] Greenpeace (2011) Ocean Inquirer – Issue 2: Until the very last fish. The absurd model of deep-sea fisheries.

Contacts:
Saskia Richartz – Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director: +32 (0)495 290028, saskia.richartz@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

Commission report highlights failure by EU governments to tackle excessive fishing capacity

mbreddy — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 09:32:00 +0200

Brussels - Greenpeace urged EU fisheries ministers to put their houses in order, as a new report by the European Commission highlights the lack of effective action to recognise and tackle the excessive fishing capacity of EU fleets. The report comes as the EU is in the midst of a once-in-a-decade reform of its fisheries policy.

The assessment illustrates significant weaknesses in efforts by European governments to assess and manage the power and size of their fishing fleets. Overcapacity is central to the decimation of fish stocks taking place in European waters and beyond. But only 2/3 of governments used agreed guidelines and indicators to assess their fishing capacity, according to the report. Evidence shows that capacity reductions are being made at a snail's pace of 2-3% per year and are outweighed by the speed of technological development, which increases the ability of vessels to catch fish by an estimated 4% per year.

Seven out of the 22 countries assessed by the Commission (Spain, Poland, the UK, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia) failed to declare whether their fleet capacity is in line with the availability and health of fish stocks, a crucial requirement to achieve sustainability. One country, the UK, failed to submit a report altogether.

Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director Saskia Richartz said: "The Commission's report shows that efforts by European countries to tackle the problem of excessive fleet capacity are falling wide of the mark. Year on year, EU countries authorise their fishing vessels to catch fish without keeping a proper count of their overall impact on fish populations and the sea. It is pretty obvious why so many of Europe's fish stocks are overfished. Ministers must stop making such blunders and instead set tight rules and deadlines to bring their fleets to sustainable levels."

The Commission also highlights that very few governments have outlined how they plan to improve the fleet management system.

The Commission report is just one in a series [1] highlighting the role of the EU's bloated fleet in wiping out fish populations in Europe and many other parts of the world.

For more information on fleet overcapacity, go to http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2012/tackling-fleet-overcapacity/

Notes for editors:
[1] The Commission's own assessments of EU fisheries policy state that it "is an important underlying problem that there is still considerable overcapacity of fishing power in relation to the fish resources available. The European fishing fleets can in many cases exert a fishing pressure on the stocks which is two to three times the sustainable level."(http://www.cfp-reformwatch.eu/pdf/reflection_cfp_08_mid.pdf) They also say that "the fishing pressure on 80% of European fish stocks is currently above sustainable targets" (http://cfp-reformwatch.eu/2010/05/voluminous-cfp-diagnosis-report-now-available-at-cfp-reformwatch-eu/). The EU's overcapacity problem has also been the focus of an investigation by the European Court of Auditors (http://eca.europa.eu/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/10952727.PDF).

You can also find this press release on: www.greenpeace.eu
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Green groups: no medals in sight for Barroso II

jhunter — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:30:00 +0200

Brussels – Halfway through its term in office, the European Commission is falling behind in the race to create sustainable long-term prosperity in Europe, warn Europe’s leading green groups in a critical assessment of the Commission’s environmental performance since 2010.

The report released today finds that the Commission has so far acted to protect the environment even less than the first Barroso Commission [1], according to environmental organisations.

Unless it changes track, the Barroso II Commission could have one of the worst ever environmental records, said the Green 10 coalition [2].

The report, inspired by a topical Olympic theme, assesses progress in nine EU policy fields with impacts on the environment and reviews the track record of 13 European Commissioners and Commission President José Manuel Barroso. Each policy field is given a mark out of ten based on two main factors: environmental ambition and the extent of environmental issues that the Commission has addressed.

Faced with the breakdown of an economic system operating beyond planetary limits, the Commission has so far lacked the courage to propose legislation for a new, sustainable economy and has continued to favour short-term fixes over long-term solutions for people’s health and the planet, said green groups. Despite encouraging statements on the need for a smart, inclusive and sustainable economy, the Commission has so far failed to harness the potential for environmental policies to create jobs, improve health and reduce energy and resource use. Industry lobbyists have continued to pull the strings on many political files, leading to woefully inadequate policies, according to the Green 10.

While the Commission has in some measure recognised the environmental, health and economic impact of enduring problems linked to resource depletion, pollution and ecological destruction, swifter action is required. Its flagship reform proposals on EU fisheries and agriculture policies would not put an end to industrial overfishing, nor halt animal and plant extinctions, nor soil, water and food pollution from pesticides. The Commission therefore only scores a 3.5/10 on agriculture and a 4.5/10 on fisheries.

The Commission has acknowledged the economic and environmental rewards offered by clean energy and transport and an end to fossil fuel subsidies. But its mixed record on energy policy has not delivered clear measures to bring Europe closer to a modern energy system built around renewables and efficiency, and free from expensive energy imports and polluting greenhouse gases. Failure to live up to its own rhetoric has contributed to another low score of 4.5/10 for energy policy.

The Green 10 assessment includes a series of policy-specific recommendations for the remaining two-and-a-half years of the Commission’s term that will help Europe successfully tackle the economic, climate and resource challenges facing the continent.

To download the Green 10 report, click here.

Versions of this press release are available in French and German.

Notes to editors:
[1] To view the Green 10 assessment of the outgoing Barroso Commission in 2009, click here.
[2] The Green 10 is an alliance of ten of the largest European environmental organisations and networks, with a membership of over 20 million people. www.green10.org

For media enquiries: +32 (0)2 274 1911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

Off Their Game

jhunter — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:30:00 +0200

This report is a mid-term assessment of the environmental performance of the Barroso II European Commission, covering the period from early 2010 to mid-2012. It is issued by the Green10, a platform of environmental organisations active at EU level, with a membership of over 20 million EU citizens.

Individual sections in this report summarise the Commission’s activities in different policy areas and set out our recommendations for the remainder of its term in office. We have also briefly assessed the performance of many European Commissionersand the Commission President.

For a print version, click here.

For a screen version, click here.

Ministers set course for another decade of overfishing

jhunter — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 10:28:00 +0200

EU fisheries ministers meeting in Luxembourg have backed a damaging common approach to the reform of EU fishing rules that could allow overfishing to continue for at least another decade, said Greenpeace.

Commenting on the outcome, Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director Saskia Richartz said: “After decades of bad fisheries management that has devastated fish stocks, ministers are failing miserably on their promise of an overhaul of EU fisheries management. They want to leave reform hanging in the balance, condemning fish and fishermen to another decade of overfishing and stock decline, with dire consequences for species like cod, hake and tuna. The European Parliament must now step into the reform process to make ministers come to their senses.”

Sustainable fishing can only flourish with healthy numbers of fish in the sea, but ministers have delayed action to reduce fishing pressure until as late as 2020. This will further deplete stocks, continuing to make fishermen dependent on subsidies.

The continued rate of overfishing is also likely to cause more discarding, the controversial practice of throwing unwanted fish overboard.

“Instead of backing a blanket ban on discards as soon as possible, ministers want to dither and to pick and choose which fish species the ban should apply to. Discarding will not stop unless fishermen use more selective gear and fish more sustainably. The best way to stop discards is to reward fishermen who fish sustainably and phase out destructive, indiscriminate industrial fishing, which causes most discards. This is something ministers have completely failed to do,” added Richartz.

The Parliament’s fisheries committee will vote on the European Commission’s proposals for reform in October, while a plenary vote is expected in November.

Contacts:
Saskia Richartz – Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director: +32 (0)495 290028, saskia.richartz@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

For video footage of Greenpeace’s action at the EU Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on Tuesday:
server: ftp.greenpeacemedia.net
login: dvout
passw: 0utput (please note first digit is a "0" - not an "o")
folder: 120612_Luxembourg_fisheries

For photo stills: http://photo.greenpeace.org/C.aspx?VP3=ViewBox&STID=27MZIFVRNU64&CT=Story