A meeting of minds in Warsaw
The 2016 Congress for the low impact fisheries organized
by the European platform LIFE
The 2016 Congress for the low impact fisheries organized
by the European platform LIFE
Brussels, 18th October 2016
Brian O’Riordan
LIFE staff and members will meet with DG Mare services on 19th October in a multi-stakeholder consultation ahead of the ahead of the 20th Special Meeting of ICCAT in Portugal, November 14 to 21. Ahead of the stakeholder meeting, LIFE sent a letter to Commissioner Vella calling for a dedicated small scale fishing quota:
Bluefin tuna is coming back, quotas are increasing, LIFE demands a fair share for small scale low impact fishers. A combination of industrial and illegal fishing over decades drove the Atlantic Bluefin tuna populations to endangered levels by the 1990s. Thanks to the recovery plan adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) in 2006, evidence suggests that Atlantic Bluefin tuna is now making a comeback.
ICCAT is an inter-governmental fishery organisation responsible for the conservation of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, and is composed of 47 members. Under the 2006 recovery plan, which entered into force in 2007, the Bluefin tuna TAC was drastically reduced, minimum landing size increased from 10 to 30 kilos, and strict controls placed on the landing of catches.
In 2014 ICCAT announced that TACs would be increased by 60% over 3 years (20% per year) up to 2017. However, recent European legislation potentially restricts the beneficiaries of these quota increases to vessels that were fishing for Bluefin tuna between January 2007 and July 2008. Such a restriction would unfairly discriminate against many small scale fishery operations that were constrained or otherwise barred from catching Bluefin tuna during this period.
LIFE is also concerned that under Spanish law, tuna quotas may be transferred between vessels engaged in the tuna fishery, paving the way for the privatization of access rights to a public resource under an ITQ system.
LIFE would therefore like to see the imposition by ICCAT of a dedicated non-transferable quota for small-scale low impact fisheries, ring fenced, to be assigned to small scale polyvalent vessels and small scale hand line operations that both catch tuna as a target species, and as a by-catch.
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Tarragona, 8 October 2016
The Association in Defence of Mediterranean Artisanal Fisheries (ADPAM), the Regional Federation of Canary Island Fishing Cofradias, the Gaia Oceans Association, the Tarragona Fishing Cofradia and the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) met in Tarragona to ask that Bluefin tuna quoas are assigned by ICCAT specifically to the coastal small scale low impact fleets of the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic.
Access the Press Release in English by clicking here
La Asociación para la defensa de la pesca artesanal del Mediterráneo (ADPAM), la Federación regional de cofradías de Canarias, la Asociación Océanos de Gaia, la Cofradía de Tarragona y Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) re reunieron en Tarragona este fin de semana para pedir una cuota total específica asignada por ICCAT a flotas costeras de pequeña escala y bajo impacto Mediterráneas y Atlántico.
Para acceder al informe, haga clic en este enlace
Brussels, 12 October 2016
LIFE Platform
On Monday 10, The Council reached a political agreement on the fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2017.
The agreement includes an increase in catches for herring (except in the Gulf of Riga), plaice, and salmon (except in the Gulf of Finland) in line with the Commission proposal. For the remaining stocks, ministers decided on a smaller increase for sprat and no increase for salmon in the main basin.
The following reductions were also agreed: 25% for Eastern cod, 56% for Western cod including bag limit provisions for recreational fisheries, 11% for herring in the Gulf of Riga and 20% for salmon in the Gulf of Finland.
Following these important decisions, the Low Impact Fishers of Europe issue a statement to express their view on the way forward to ensure sustainable and viable fisheries in the Region in 2017 and beyond.
The newsletter of August and September 2016 includes:
Follow this link to download News From The Deck – August and September 2016
Following the inputs provided by the Mediterranean Member organizations, LIFE publishes its contribution to the DG Mare consultation on the Multiannual plan for the fisheries exploiting demersal stocks in the Western Mediterranean Sea.
Barcelona, 30 September 2016
Marta Cavallé
El 9 y 10 de febrero de 2016, en Catania, los servicios competentes para la Conservación de la Pesca y Control en el Mar Mediterráneo y Negro de la Comisión Europea y el Medac co-organizaron un Seminario de Alto Nivel durante el cual los científicos presentaron un diagnóstico de la situación de los recursos en el Mar Mediterráneo.
Como indicó claramente el Comisario Vella, es un hecho indiscutible que los stoks de peces en el Mediterráneo están disminuyendo, algunos de los cuales están prácticamente agotados. En general, el 93% de los stoks de peces evaluados están sobre-explotados. En el Seminario así como en el posterior encuentro de los Ministros Europeos celebrado en Bruselas en Abril, los Estados miembros mediterráneos y la DG Mare acordaron tomar medidas para resolver la situación. Entre otros países, España tomó la iniciativa para proceder en un “Plan extraordinario” (de medidas de emergencia) por el caladero Mediterráneo.
LIFE y sus organizaciones miembro, como una voz del sector de la pesca de pequeña escala en el país, aplaudieron la iniciativa de hacer frente a la situación y acordaron una posición común presentada a las autoridades españolas con el fin de contribuir al éxito de dicho plan extraordinario.
Para consultar la contribución de LIFE clique en este link
On the 9th and 10th February 2016, in Catania, European Commission services responsible for Fisheries, Conservation and Control in the Mediterranean and Black Sea and the MEDAC co-organized a High-level Seminar during which scientists presented an analysis of the status of the resources in the Mediterranean Sea.
As clearly stated by Commissioner Vella, any facts were undisputed: fish stocks in the Mediterranean are declining, some are close to depletion. Overall, 93% of the fish stocks assessed are over-exploited. In the Seminar and in the following meeting of all Mediterranean fisheries ministers in Brussels in April, the Mediterranean Member States and DG Mare agreed to take action to solve the situation. Among other countries, Spain took the initiative to proceed with an “Emergency Plan” for its Mediterranean fishing grounds.
LIFE and its member organizations, as a voice of the small scale fishing sector in the country, applauded the initiative to face the situation and agreed on a common position presented to the Spanish authorities in order to contribute to the success of such plan.
Brussels, 29 September 2016
LIFE Platform
As 2017 Baltic TAC negotiations near conclusion, lobbyists are taking a plethora of public stances. Rather than muddying the waters further, LIFE would like to recall the main elements of its Action Plan for Western cod, elaborated in July.
Access LIFE’s recommendations for the management of Western Baltic Cod by clicking here
Sea Bass: A major cause for concern
Bass management measures for 2017: recommendations from LIFE, the Low Impact Fishers of Europe Platform.
Brussels, 23 september 2016
Brian O’Riordan
Meeting in Lille, France over two days, member organisations from the Netherlands, France and the UK representing small scale fishers reliant on Bass, discussed and agreed a LIFE position for transmission to the European Commission and Member States.
The state of Bass stocks in the North Sea, English Channel and western waters creates ongoing concerns for many fishermen, which many see as catastrophic.
For some key ports around Lorient in southern Brittany, members reported that catches from hook and line fisheries were only 20% of those even a year ago, and as many as 60% of these small Bass dependent enterprises have gone out of business in 2016.
On the other hand, Bass fishing along the south coast of England has held up in a few areas or decreased only in line with the restrictions imposed in recent times.
Focussing very much on fisheries north of the 48th Parallel, whatever the local situation, members agreed that the current restrictions needed to continue for the time being in light of scientific advice and their own observations.
They did however make clear that any further restrictions must be accompanied by the provision of emergency financial aid if any small scale fishers are to survive until stock levels improve. European Commission sources have informed LIFE that if such a provision is not already included in Member State EMFF Operational Plans, then these plans could be modified to include such.
After exhaustive discussions, members agreed the following position for measures on Bass North of the 48th Parallel:
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Brussels, 14 march 2016
The meeting of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, who took place from 7 to 9 March 2015, Algiers (Algeria), was attended by Brian O’Riordan, LIFE Deputy Director, and Marta Cavallé, LIFE Coordinator for the Mediterranean.
The purpose of LIFE’s participation in the meeting was to raise awareness about LIFE, its mission and objectives, to highlight the issues of importance for European small-scale low impact fishers, and to make contacts that will help LIFE and its work to become more widely recognized and supported.
Specifically, Brian O’Riordan represented LIFE in a round table discussion on the FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Small Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines), where his input focussed on the opportunities and challenges for European small scale low impact fishers in the implementation of the reformed CFP.
The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) is a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO), and therefore plays an important role to play in fisheries governance in the region. Attending such a meeting is therefore very much in line with LIFE’s objective to “restore the health of our seas in Europe and the rest of the world”. It must be recalled that the Mediterranean faces a critical situation of overfished and depleted stocks, lack of effective management, IUU fishing, environmental degradation, and so on. DG Mare recently organized an emergency meeting on the state of stocks in the Mediterranean, and will host a ministerial fisheries meeting in Brussels of all Mediterranean states on April 27 2016.
Attending the meeting were delegations from North African countries, the European Commission (DG Mare) and the MedAC, some European delegations, North African fishers’ organizations, WWF, IUCN and various NGOs, and researchers.
One of the main themes of the meeting was supporting sustainable development of small scale fisheries through Blue Growth. “Blue Growth” aims to maximize economic returns to exploiting the seas and oceans in balance with environmental sustainability and social development. It is a new concept rooted in the Rio process on sustainable development, linked with the Green Economy. It is being widely promoted and could impact seriously on small scale fisheries. Blue Growth gives priority to those sectors with most potential for growth and economic benefits.
The consultant presenting the discussion noted that fisheries are not visible in a macro-economic view of Blue Growth. There is little scope for increasing production in fisheries. As far as he was concerned, there was a need for fisheries to demonstrate how they can maximize their contribution to the economy and to growth, and to “reposition” themselves accordingly. This would require he said a) applying a “use right” system to achieve economic efficiency, and b) generating an “investible surplus” that could be invested in growth.
The next two sessions were run by WWF related projects, the first on co-management and the second on Marine Protected Areas and how their performance could be improved by the participation of small scale fisheries in their management and use. The presentations also highlighted the need for “no take zones” in the MPAs to make them more productive.
WWF has considerable relevant experience in the Mediterranean with MPAs and engaging with small scale fisheries through the MedPan project. We took contact with MedPan/WWF representatives to explore how LIFE Members could benefit from training and other support to help them to be better understood by fisheries authorities in protected areas. It was suggested to us that LIFE arrange a delegation to attend the 2nd Forum of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean, to be held in Tangiers, Morocco from 29 November to 1 December 2016.
The fourth session discussed value chains in small scale fisheries and how to promote them in ways that enable fishers to benefit from value addition. One of the key issues facing small scale fishers is the high price their fish fetches on the market compared to the comparatively low price they receive. Various schemes were discussed, including cooperatives, training, ecolabels etc.
The final panel which Brian O’Riordan was on dealt with the FAO SSF Guidelines, and his presentation was on the Opportunities and Challenges for Small Scale Fisheries in the implementation of the CFP in Mediterranean, noting the challenges faced by Europe’s forgotten fleet, and the opportunities of Article 17, the Market regulation, EMFF and Advisory Councils.
The main conclusions from the conference are contained in a 7-page document, which proposes the establishment of a working group on small scale fisheries which LIFE could participate in. The GFCM were very positive about LIFE’s participation, and were very supportive of the idea of LIFE attending GFCM meetings.
LIFE staff had meetings with many different people and organizations including:
Abdella Srour, Executive Secretary, GFCM.
Stefano Cataudella, Chairperson, GFCM.
Valerie Laine, DG Mare, Head of Unit for Conservation and Control in the Mediterranean.
Rosa Caggiano, Executive Secretary, MedAC.
Dr Vassiliki Vassilopoulou, Research Director, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research
Matthieu Bernardon, Fisheries Consultant to FAO and others, with considerable experience of sscf in the Mediterranean.
Giuseppe Di Carlo, Head of MPA Unit, WWF Mediterranean Programme
Julien Sémelin, Programme Officer, Mediterranean Basin Programme, MAVA Foundation.
Fabrizio De pascale, National Secretary, Italian Wokers Trade Union, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Margaux Favret, Marine Stewardship Council, Medfish project.
Hacene Hamdani, and others from the Maghrebian Artisanal Fishers’ Platform (along with other fishers from the region).
Representatives from the Spanish authorities.