Catch of the Day – May 2024
News about fair fisheries, healthy seas and vibrant fishing communities
EU Arctic Forum: Indigenous People and small-scale fishers face similar challenges, share common values
Climate change is impacting the Arctic more dramatically than other regions; it is warming 3-4 times faster than the planet as a whole. This is affecting the livelihoods and food systems of local communities and indigenous people in irreversible ways. Meanwhile, climate change is opening up opportunities for others, attracting external actors into the region and increasing competition for space and resources. The European Commission (DG Mare and the EU External Action Service) organised the “EU Arctic Forum and Indigenous People’s Dialogue”, a two-day event in Brussels. Key themes under discussion included the rights and territories of Indigenous people, the value of traditional knowledge and potential synergies with scientific research, and the risk of generational disconnect. The meeting covered matters relevant to all Arctic territories, from EU Scandinavian countries to Norway, Alaska and Canada. Panellists included indigenous communities representatives (Inuit and Saami communities), alongside scientists, researchers and local towns representatives. Discussions highlighted that small-scale fishing communities in other EU regions face similar challenges. The important work being done by LIFE member Snowchange Cooperative to mitigate and adapt to climate change and to defend traditional rights, livelihoods, and cultures received particular attention.
Make Fishing Fair: Small-scale Fishers, Patagonia and NGOs call on the European Commission to revise perverse subsidies and reassign fishing opportunities.
Small-scale fishers from Spain, Denmark, Croatia and Italy joined LIFE, NGOs and the outdoor company Patagonia, to deliver a letter to Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans & Fisheries. They are calling for fishing opportunities to be reallocated using social and environmental criteria as required by Article 17 of the CFP, and to change the way subsidies are allocated. Over 4 decades, subsidies and quotas have rewarded large-scale fishing interests, creating a distorted sea favouring high-volume extraction and high-impact fishing. Small-scale low-impact fishing could be part of the solution if favourable policies are given. The evaluation of the CFP and the European Commission’s new mandate provide an opportunity to do so; to review and revise the implementation of Article 17 and how subsidies are granted.
Envisioning an Alternative Future for Fisheries: the Rethinking Fisheries project convenes in Denmark
In 2023, LIFE joined Seas At Risk and a wider group of stakeholders to initiate a process to develop and promote an alternative vision for the future of fisheries based on a just transition to low-impact and fair fisheries. We believe that fishing is at a crossroads, and if it is to survive and thrive into the future, alternative approaches to fisheries governance, economics and social organisation are needed. The third meeting of stakeholders took place over two days in Svendborg, May 28 and 29, and included fishers, commerce, activists, and researchers. It is planned that work on rethinking fisheries will be completed after the summer break, with the launch of a broader campaign in the autumn.
Belgian Presidency, Agri-Fish Council Kick Nature Restoration Down the Road
The Nature Restoration Law was supposed to be a key element of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy, to restore ecosystems for people and the planet. However, after the Belgian Prime Minister stated that it was a “bad law” and needed “to go back to the drawing board”, the Belgian Presidency of the EU decided to postpone a vote on its adoption indefinitely. This followed a pushback from the farming and fishing industry lobbies, the watering down of the legislation by the European Parliament, and its rejection by several EU member states. But this is only one side of the coin. There are many MEPs, Ministers, scientists, farmers and fishers, businesses and civil society organisations who disagree, and who have formed alliances calling for stronger and more far-reaching legislation. LIFE has joined one such alliance, an alliance of responsible businesses, and has signed up to a business letter addressed to the Belgian Presidency, calling for the urgent adoption of the EU Nature Restoration Law to bring nature back to Europe.
Putting small-scale fishers at the centre of the Blue Economy
This year the European Maritime Day is being organised in Denmark, in the coastal town of Svendborg. Marta Cavallé, LIFE Executive Secretary, was there to participate in several of the events taking place, notably the European Blue Forum Annual Meeting. The European Blue Forum provides an important space for discussing the Blue Economy and advocating for small-scale fishing interests to be given due consideration in the allocation of coastal resources. Her discussion panel focussed on key questions for the Blue Economy, such as how to assess impacts, how to address land-sea interactions, how to foster political will to protect the ocean, and how to facilitate technology transfer. For LIFE the priority is to ensure that small-scale fishers are seen as part of the solution to sustainable Blue Economy development, for their importance to be recognised, and for their access to resources and marine spaces to be protected in the face of competing interests (e.g. wind farms, aquaculture, tourism).
Facilitating a fair and just transition to low-impact fisheries: LIFE Danish Members bottom-up approach
During the European Maritime Day, which took place in Svendborg International Maritime Academy, LIFE Members from Denmark Foreningen for skånsomt Kystfiskeri PO (FSK-PO) organized the interactive workshop “Small Scale Fisheries: from vision to practical implementation”. The initiative aimed to contribute to the ongoing efforts of Member States and the Commission in promoting sustainable fishing and supporting small-scale and coastal fishers through a compendium of existing practices regarding the allocation of fishing opportunities. Selected speakers, LIFE Members, LIFE staff and NGOs representatives attended the event and exchanged on the challenges and best practices for a fair and just transition to low impact fisheries.
Coming up
4-5/6 Launch of the Seaglow Project: LIFE staff will attend the kick-off meeting of the Seaglow Project, along with staff from its Danish member FSK PO. Seaglow is a 16-partners initiative focusing on decarbonisation solutions for small-scale fisheries, including alternative engines, fuel, power sources (wind, electricity etc.), hull designs, antifouling etc. . LIFE’s role is to lead on delivering communications outputs, including disseminating results and lessons learned.
13/6 First meeting with the EU FPC Aquaculture and Fisheries Taskforce: LIFE will explore potential synergies with the Aquaculture and Fisheries Taskforce of the EU Food Policy Coalition. The aim is to foster the transition to sustainable and fair food systems by joining forces with grassroots social movements, farmers organisations, trade unions, think tanks, scientific and research groups.
13/6 Meeting with the Commission on wind farms: LIFE staff will meet with DG Mare Unit A.3 – Blue Economy Sectors, Aquaculture and Maritime Spatial Planning to discuss how small-scale fishers’ concerns can be taken into account when delivering on targets for off-shore renewable energy generation, especially from wind farms, and how impacts on small-scale fisheries, fish stocks and the marine environment can be minimised.
26-28/6 Cod event and BOD meeting: LIFE Baltic members will convene in Brussels in late June for the Baltic Sea AC Executive Committee and to take part in an event to be organised by LIFE on the theme “Baltic Sea Emergency, 5 Years on from the Cod Closure: Emergency Becomes the New Normal”. 5 years after closing the cod fishery, emergency measures applied have not been effective in restoring cod stocks. They will also attend LIFE’s Board of Directors’ meeting, which will focus on the identity and characteristics of small-scale fisheries, as well as on more routine internal administrative and policy matters.
Get in touch: communications@lifeplatform.eu
