Noticias

julio 18 2025

Briefing Endorsed by LIFE and 29 Organisations Calls for Reform of Scientific Advice Underpinning EU and UK Fisheries Management

Plataforma LIFE Noticias CIEM, model, science

A recent briefing, endorsed by the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) alongside 29 organisations, draws attention to fundamental shortcomings in the scientific advice used to guide fisheries management in the European Union and the United Kingdom. The document is intended to assist responsible decision-makers – including the European Commission, the Council of the EU, Member States, the UK Government and the devolved administrations – in ensuring that advice on fishing opportunities better reflects legal obligations and sustainability goals.

The briefing, part of a wider series, highlights a growing concern that the current advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), as well as the nature of requests made by fisheries managers to ICES, does not fully reflect all relevant legal requirements or policy objectives. In particular, the briefing calls for a more precautionary, ecosystem-based approach that supports the recovery of fish stocks, safeguards the health of marine ecosystems, and ensures long-term resilience in the face of pressures such as climate change.

Fishers face low quotas and are at risk of further closures because the targets within the scientific advice are not fit for purpose, simply we are aiming to leave too few fish in the population.

Scientific Advice at the Core of Sustainable Fisheries

LIFE and partner organisations argue that scientific advice must form the foundation of effective fisheries management. To this end, the briefing advocates for advice that is explicitly recovery-focused, precautionary, and ecosystem-based in contrast to the current approach which is overly focused on individual stock assessments and insufficiently attuned to broader ecological interactions and cumulative pressures.

Recommendations aimed at improving the robustness and relevance of scientific advice include:

Requesting ICES to clarify identified shortcomings in its advisory approach, propose improvements, and offer interim guidance on how existing advice can be used to meet legal and policy requirements;
Explicit recognition by EU and UK decision-makers of the existing gaps in the advisory process;
Joint efforts between the EU, UK, and ICES to develop a clear and time-bound roadmap for addressing these issues;
The application of additional precautionary measures – including setting catch levels below the maximum advised by current single-stock assessments – until more comprehensive advice is available.

The overarching aim is to ensure that fisheries decisions are underpinned by advice that fully supports stock recovery and marine ecosystem health, in line with the legal frameworks and sustainability commitments of both the EU and the UK.

A Constructive Dialogue with Decision-Makers

The briefing was presented at a recent meeting with the EU Commission-DG Mare, attended by approximately 20 organisations, including environmental NGOs, three angling organisations, and LIFE, as well as five members of staff from the European Commission. The discussion provided a valuable opportunity to explore the issues raised in the document and identify pathways toward improved coherence between science, policy, and practice.

LIFE has expressed its intention to remain engaged in this dialogue and to support efforts aimed at strengthening the scientific foundations of fisheries management.

A Broader Scientific Debate

In parallel to these developments, a wider scientific debate has emerged regarding the adequacy of current advisory structures. A recent publication by GEOMAR in Science described a “systemic failure” in European fisheries management, suggesting that only politically independent, ecosystem-based catch limits can provide a durable solution to overfishing in EU waters. ICES has since responded to this critique, prompting further exchange within the scientific community on how best to integrate ecosystem considerations into fisheries advice.

As this dialogue continues, the briefing endorsed by LIFE and its partners adds to a growing call for scientific advice that is more aligned with ecological realities and legal commitments. It underscores the need for transparency, accountability, and a more integrated approach to the provision and application of scientific evidence in fisheries decision-making.

We underline that fishers cannot live with further closures. The scientific advice needs to be adapted so that it provides an analysis conducive to stock growth and significantly lowers the risk of low biomass levels.

junio 16 2025

LIFE at UNOC3

Plataforma LIFE Noticias

LIFE at UNOC3 – A United Global Voice for Small-Scale Fishers

Reflections from Marta Cavallé, Executive Secretary of LIFE

16 June 2025, Barcelona – The past week, LIFE’s delegation participated actively and passionately at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, joining a broader global delegation of Small-Scale Fishers from every continent. Together, we raised a strong and united voice in defence of small-scale fisheries, reaffirming the “Small-Scale Fishers’ Call to Action” that we first launched at UNOC2 in Lisbon in 2022. This collective declaration is firmly rooted in the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries—a global policy framework that remains central to our advocacy.

Our presence was felt across key panels and plenaries. When Small-Scale Fishers delegates spoke, the energy was undeniable. Through close collaboration with Blue Ventures, the LIFE delegation successfully hosted two impactful screenings of Sea Change: The Future of Fishing, a film produced by ZED. These events provided a powerful platform to highlight the challenges faced by small-scale fisheries within today’s ocean governance landscape. We also participated in a diverse range of events and initiatives, from discussions on EU funding to panels on emerging technologies, as well as engaging directly with a variety of stakeholders. We extend our sincere thanks to Blue Ventures for their trusted partnership, which was instrumental in making these opportunities and impactful engagements possible.

Looking at the international context, at a side-event held on 12 June, Small-Scale Fishers’ representatives from every continent—joined by LIFE’s President, Gwen Pennarun—delivered shared messages loud and clear. The room responded with overwhelming applause, highlighting the emotional and political impact of our united call. We were especially encouraged by announcements from governments such as Costa Rica, Madagascar, the Seychelles, and Ghana, who committed to expanding preferential access zones and co-management arrangements for Small-Scale Fishers in their coastal areas. These are not just policy changes—they are tangible victories for the global small-scale fisheries movement. One particularly moving moment also came from Sandrine Thomas, a fisherwoman from France and member of the LIFE delegation, whose heartfelt speech electrified the audience.

For Europe, the conference marked the unveiling of the European Oceans Pact and a forthcoming Oceans Act. While the Pact represents a welcome move toward a more integrated and holistic vision for our seas, we believe it needs greater ambition. Consolidating existing initiatives is not enough. If Europe is to lead a genuine Blue Economy revolution, it must be underpinned by robust safeguards that protect marine ecosystems and ensure the long-term viability of coastal livelihoods.

We appreciate the Pact’s recognition of Small-Scale Fishers as a priority. But words are insufficient—we urgently need concrete, meaningful measures that provide real prospects for the future of our sector. As part of the upcoming “Small-Scale Fishers’ Implementation Dialogue” announced for November, we will advocate for the development of a binding Action Plan for Small-Scale Fishers in Europe, based on the practical solutions we have already put forward under the Oceans Pact framework.

What we witnessed in Nice this week was incredible: the call of Small-Scale Fishers is not only a call for food security, ocean stewardship, youth engagement, and coastal resilience—it is a legitimate, unified, and unstoppable movement. Across continents and cultures, Small-Scale Fishers’ communities are standing together with one voice—and that voice will not be silenced.

Photo credit @IIMRO

abril 10 2025

LIFE Members Meet EU Commissioner Costas Kadis in Simrishamn to Highlight Baltic Sea Crisis

Plataforma LIFE Noticias Kadis, suecia

Bengt Larsson, LIFE Director and representative of SYEF, together with his colleague Stefan Nordin from Kustfiskarna Bottenhavet PO met with Costas Kadis, the new European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, during his mission to Sweden. The meeting focused on the escalating crisis in the Baltic Sea and the urgent need to safeguard the future of small-scale fisheries in the region.

Commissioner Kadis was accompanied by five Swedish MEPs from the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee—representing EPP, S&D, the Greens, and Renew Europe—along with a diverse group of stakeholders, including coastal fishers, scientists, environmental organisations, anglers, and the coast guard. The event, hosted by the Marine Centre in Simrishamn, followed the momentum of LIFE’s Baltic Emergency event.

In his intervention, Bengt Larsson presented the same powerful message previously delivered in Brussels, highlighting the deteriorating state of the Baltic Sea, the struggles of small-scale fishers, and the need for immediate and targeted action. LIFE members called for science-based quota reductions in order to reverse the significant decline in stocks observed over the past decade. Larsson emphasised full support for the Commission in working towards significant quota reductions and stated that “we can survive low quotas but we cannot survive more closures”, referring to the ongoing cod ban since 2019—which disproportionately harm low-impact fishers and has not contributed to an improvement in the state of the stock.

Conrad Stralka from the foundation BalticWaters presented research from their lab demonstrating that Baltic cod grew well when provided with sufficient food, and there was criticism from scientists, environmental organisations, anglers and politicians that species interactions were not sufficiently considered by management. This has led to a situation that while the cod fishery is closed and the stock is not recovering its prey, herring and sprat, continuing to be fished at very high levels with those stocks now also in decline.

Scientists reiterated the unique ecological vulnerability of the Baltic and the dramatic decline of commercial stocks, while Commissioner Kadis acknowledged the urgency of the situation. He welcomed the cross-party unity in Sweden and stressed the importance of the Oceans Pact, calling it a concrete roadmap for holistic action, not just a vision.

To follow up, the Commissioner announced plans for a Ministerial Meeting in September, to be co-hosted with the Swedish Commissioner from DG ENVI, bringing together regional ministers from all Baltic Member States to address the crisis collaboratively.

LIFE would like to thank the Velux Foundation for its continued support of the organisation’s work in the Baltic and North Sea, helping to amplify the voice of small-scale fishers and drive forward sustainable solutions – support without which such milestones would not be possible.

marzo 27 2025

Make Fishing Fair event: 25/3 in the EU Parliament

Plataforma LIFE Noticias

LIFE Members gathered at the European Parliament alongside MEPs and key stakeholders to push for fairer access to resources and support for low-impact fishing. The event, hosted by LIFE and Blue Ventures, highlighted the vital role of the “forgotten fleet.” It comes at a crucial time as the EU reviews the effectiveness of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Learn more about it in the official PR here

Press review:

marzo 10 2025

New Fisheries Rule Creates Loophole That Undermines Control Regulation

Plataforma LIFE Noticias

The European Commission’s Control Regulation of 22 November 2023 is intended to tighten fisheries management by enforcing stricter catch reporting. To this end, Article 14, dealing with fishing logbook completion, encourages selectivity by including a Margin of Tolerance rule, requiring vessels to report catches accurately within 10% per species. Previously, the Margin of Tolerance—the allowed discrepancy between reported and actual catch—was calculated as a percentage of the total catch. This meant that as long as the overall weight was close to reality, species-specific errors were tolerated.

On 24 May 2024, the Commission adopted an Implementing Act, without consulting Advisory Councils, that provides “a derogation from the existing margin of tolerance that may be granted for unsorted landings from small pelagic fisheries, industrial fisheries, and tropical tuna purse seine fisheries” in certain designated Listed Ports, thus weakening the rule and raising serious concerns about misreporting, fairness, compliance, and the potential for overfishing.

The Loophole: Exemptions for Listed Ports

Despite the stricter selectivity rule established in the Control Regulation, through the Implementing Act vessels landing at specially designated Listed Ports will receive a derogation, without any additional measures to ensure accurate species-level reporting. According to DG Mare, nine applications for Listed Port status have been submitted by Member States, but the locations remain unknown.

This exemption disproportionately benefits large vessels landing high-volume, low-value catches—particularly those in the fishmeal sector—allowing them to bypass stricter reporting requirements. This unfair system places other segments of the fleet at a competitive disadvantage and raises serious concerns about transparency and sustainability, highlighting the need for a level playing field in the industry.

A Repeat of the Landing Obligation Failure?

The situation bears striking similarities to the failed implementation of the Landing Obligation (LO), which was meant to eliminate the discarding of unwanted fish at sea. To encourage compliance, quotas were increased based on the assumption that all fish would be landed. However, in reality, enforcement was weak, and many vessels continued discarding fish, leading to artificially inflated quotas and worsening fish stock depletion.

A similar dynamic is at play with the new Margin of Tolerance rule. While the Commission assumes that Listed Ports will uphold a “gold standard” of monitoring—possibly through CCTV and other measures—there is little evidence to suggest this will be enforced effectively. Instead, the exemption will allow misreporting to continue unchecked.

A Call for Transparency and Accountability

The lack of transparency surrounding the Listed Ports exemption raises major concerns. Why are certain ports granted this status? What monitoring mechanisms are in place to ensure compliance? There are already considerable differences in sampling plans between Member States and without additional safeguards, this exemption threatens to undermine the very purpose of the new regulation, allowing industrial-scale operations to exploit the system while other fishers are left operating under stricter rules.

If the Commission is serious about improving fisheries control, it must address these inconsistencies. That means:

Releasing the list of Listed Ports and the criteria used to select them.
Ensuring additional safeguards are in place to prevent species misreporting.
Enforcing mechanisms that aim to encourage selectivity rather than favour misreporting

Without these measures, the new Margin of Tolerance rule risks being another well-intended but poorly executed regulation that ultimately fails to protect fish stocks and ensure a level playing field for all fishers.

Conclusion

The European Commission has taken one step forward with stricter catch reporting rules, but two steps back by creating an exemption that weakens its effectiveness. Rushing through a derogation aimed at vessels with vast, unsorted mixed catches just a number of months after the Control Regulation entered into force is difficult to understand, particularly in the context where advances in eDNA mean that we can accurately detail the species composition of these vessels at a fraction of the cost of other control methods. The Commission has however chosen to give preferential treatment to these vessels, even though they largely supply and export fishmeal to the non-EU market.

Unless immediate action is taken to address this loophole, the regulation could repeat past mistakes by undermining accurate catch reporting, leading to further mismanagement of fish stocks and unfair advantages for large-scale industrial fishers. We advocate for greater transparency and enforcement to prevent historic errors from repeating themselves.

***

febrero 27 2025

High-level roundtable: Speech by Gwen Pennarun, President of the Low Impact Fishers of Europe.

Plataforma LIFE Noticias bruselas, Ocean Pact

21 February 2025, Brussels – The following speech was delivered by LIFE President Gwen Pennarun at the High-Level Roundtable “Fisheries and Oceans Dialogue – Helping Design the European Oceans Pact,” organized by the European Commission’s DG MARE, in presence of Commissioner Costas Kadis and a number of decision-makers and stakeholders.

Madam Director-General, Mr. Commissioner,

First of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on behalf of the 10,000 small-scale fishers that our association represents.

I am, above all, a fisherman, with more than 30 years of experience at sea. I am also the president of the Association of Line Fishers of the Pointe de Bretagne, one of the founders, and now the president of LIFE, the European platform for sustainable fishing.

Small-scale fishing is much more than a profession—it is a state of mind, a deep connection to the sea, and a way of safeguarding our future and our resources. As fishers, we invest in the future: we think about the generations to come, manage our resources sustainably, and impose measures on ourselves, such as biological rest periods, to ensure the longevity of our profession and the health of our oceans.

We depend on local resources, and in this sense, we play a crucial role as guardians of marine ecosystems. Today, the species that sustain our diverse small-scale fisheries have significantly declined, and even when stocks are abundant, as in the case of bluefin tuna, quota distribution remains opaque and unfair. There is an urgent need to improve resource management. Thanks to our traditional knowledge and deep connection to the sea, small-scale fishers often propose concrete and sustainable solutions. Unfortunately, our voices are too often ignored in decision-making forums. Take the example of pollack: we proposed conservation measures such as increasing the minimum catch size and halting fishing during the breeding season. Yet, these recommendations were not taken into account. Small-scale fishing deserves special attention and measures tailored to its specificities.

Without this, if resources are not preserved, our profession will become less attractive and will no longer offer a future for younger generations. This is a crucial point: the fishing of tomorrow depends on today’s youth. This is something we must seriously consider.

Fishing is also a vital social fabric: every job at sea creates four jobs on land, driving economic activity in our coastal communities across Europe. Our approach is different—closely connected to ecosystems, respectful of the oceans, and essential to the socio-economic fabric of our regions. In Brittany, it is an integral part of our identity, a strong maritime heritage shared by many other European regions where traditional fishing is deeply rooted in local culture.

Today, it is clear that small-scale fishing must be part of the solution and at the heart of the European Oceans Pact—for food security, for the sea, for local economies, for young people, for the future.

Let us support it.

Thank you.

FRENCH (original text)

Madame la Directrice Générale, Monsieur le Commissaire,

Tout d’abord, merci de me donner l’opportunité de m’exprimer au nom des 10 000 petits pêcheurs que notre association représente.

Je suis avant tout un pêcheur, depuis plus de 30 ans aujourd’hui. Je suis aussi président de l’association des ligneurs de la pointe de Bretagne et l’un des fondateurs, et maintenant, président de LIFE, la plateforme européenne pour la pêche durable.

La petite pêche, c’est bien plus qu’un métier, c’est un état d’esprit ; c’est un lien profond avec la mer, une manière de préserver notre avenir et nos ressources.
En tant que pêcheurs, nous investissons dans le futur : nous pensons aux générations à venir et gérons durablement nos ressources et nous nous imposons des mesures, comme le repos biologique, afin de garantir la pérennité de notre métier et la santé des océans.

Nous dépendons des ressources locales, et à ce titre, nous jouons un rôle essentiel des gardiens des écosystèmes marins. Aujourd’hui, les espèces qui font vivre ces divers petits métiers se sont fortement dégradées et, quand bien même lorsque les stocks sont abondants comme c’est le cas du thon rouge, la répartition des quotas reste opaque et inéquitable.
Il est urgent d’améliorer la gestion des ressources. Grâce à nos connaissances traditionnelles et à notre lien profond avec la mer. La petite pêche propose souvent des solutions concrètes et durables. Malheureusement, notre voix est trop souvent peu écoutée dans les forums de décisions. Prenons l’exemple du lieu jaune : Nous avons proposé des mesures de conservation, comme l’augmentation de la taille minimale de capture et l’arrêt de la pêche pendant la période de reproduction. Pourtant, ces recommandations n’ont pas été prises en compte.
La petite pêche mérite une attention particulière et des mesures adaptées à ses spécificités.

Sans cela, si les ressources ne sont pas préservées, notre métier deviendra peu attractif et ne pourra plus offrir un avenir aux jeunes générations.
Ceci est un point important, la pêche de demain c’est la jeunesse d’aujourd’hui. C’est aussi à cela qu’il faut réfléchir.

Mais la pêche, c’est aussi un tissu social vital : chaque emploi en mer en crée quatre à terre, dynamisant nos littoraux européens. Notre approche est différente : proche des écosystèmes, respectueuse des océans et essentielle au tissu socio-économique de nos régions.
En Bretagne, cela fait partie de notre identité profonde, un héritage maritime fort, partagé par d’autres régions européennes où la pêche traditionnelle est une véritable racine culturelle.

Aujourd’hui, il est clair que la petite pêche doit faire partie des solutions et doit être au cœur du pacte européen pour les océans. Pour la sécurité alimentaire, pour la mer, pour l’économie locale, pour les jeunes, pour l’avenir.

Soutenons-La.

Merci.

febrero 19 2025

An Electrifying Project

Plataforma LIFE Noticias energy transition, REINO UNIDO

Is battery/ electric power a suitable fuel choice for the fishing industry?

LIFE is coordinating the EU Support Group on the decarbonisation of small-scale coastal fisheries (SSCF) as part of the EC’s Energy Transition Partnership. According to Brian O’Riordan, LIFE’s Policy Advisor: “Decarbonisation of the fishing sector is to a certain extent a race against time, and currently costs represent an insurmountable barrier to most small-scale operators whose balance sheets bear witness to ever decreasing profitability. The prospects are challenging, especially given the need to either adapt or perish in the current policy environment.”

It is therefore inspiring to hear about the initiatives of small-scale fishers from across Europe who are over coming many difficulties to secure their futures. A particularly inspiring example from the UK is provided below.

Introduction:

The author of this piece, Jeremy Percy, former fisherman, founding Director and Senior Policy Adviser to the Low Impact Fishers of Europe, recently attended the presentation of a project to convert an inshore fishing vessel from diesel fuel to electricity. The project is the brainchild of Hans Unkles, an inshore fishermen from the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Hebrides who has converted a standard Cygnus 21 – a 6.5 metre loa GRP fishing vessel – from diesel to fully electric power.

With a target of net zero across Europe for all aspects of the economy in energy terms, consideration of fully electric driven fishing vessels is of particular relevance to the smaller scale fleet – given the few practical alternative energy solutions currently available.

At the time of writing, the costs of converting an existing vessel to electric power or a new build are a major constraint to development although costs will inevitably come down as initiatives become more widespread. Other constraints include the lack of off-the-shelf solutions, after sales support, and port infrastructure.

Another constraint is the marine equivalent of the ‘range anxiety’ in relation to terrestrial vehicles is exacerbated by the safety issues at sea and remains a limiting factor when compared to traditional power sources. On a good day [no headwinds or head seas] the project boat in question can achieve 47 miles in range and can get two short trips a week depending only on solar. The operator considers that maximum range would be 60 miles in benign conditions and 45 miles in rough waters although he hasn’t pushed the limits.

Even if conversions to electric power become more cost effective, shoreside charging infrastructure will undoubtedly remain a challenge for some time to come although many marinas have a 240v hook up available albeit at a significant cost [£0.70/Kw] when compared to domestic supply. The costs of using a marina rather than a local harbour or mooring can also be expensive.

It is clear that electric power is not practical for towed gears but has relevance for passive gear operations but is currently limited by range and the ability to maintain higher steaming speeds. The project vessel operator works only circa 60 pots [creels] for lobster and crab in a relatively confined area, giving a 3-day soak and two fishing trips per week. He also has access to shoreside charging in a marina close to his operating area.

The Project: It’ll Never Work – UK’s 1st Solar Powered Electric Fishing Boat

During an informative 2-hour presentation, Hans explained the entire process, including costs and the pros and cons of the project – details provided on this link

Hans is a boatbuilder by trade as well as a fisher. This is relevant in that he went above and beyond a ‘simple’ electric system installation in effectively rebuilding the boat, and this added significantly to the costs. I copy his costs below for information. The two costs highlighted reflect this, together with the interminable costs and challenges of acquiring approval from the Marine and Coastguard Agency [MCA] and subsequent registration. One would hope that both these items would reduce dramatically for future initiatives in this respect.

It is also clear that much of the hardware costs are already coming down and the efficiency of electric motors, battery storage and solar panels is improving all the time.

For the initial project, Hans received 60% grant funding that did not include construction or admin time [admin time included dealing with the authorities that was particularly time consuming]. Hans made the point that if he had contracted a boatyard to undertake the conversion, that too would have been grant aided but because he did the work himself, it wasn’t.

Aziprop motor and hardware………………£19,109.66

Epropulsion Batteries…………………..£20,419.81

Electric Hydraulic complete system……….£6,424.16

Bimble Solar…………………………..£1,172.50

Installation equipment………………….£10,295.25

Administration time…………………….£20,000.00

Construction time………………………£40,000.00

Original vessel value…………………..£20,000.00

Net…………………………………..£137,421.38

Funding………………………………-£34,865.87

Total…………………………………£102,555.51

The batteries are Lithium Ion Phosphate that do not suffer so much from the fire risks associated with other lithium based batteries and were agreed on with the MCA after considerable discussions. The batteries take 15 hours to recharge when connected to a land based charger and have a stated lifespan of 3000 charging cycles. Replacement costs are likely to be circa £20k and in the same life cycle, diesel costs would have equated to around £8k.

One important battery related issue is that in the event of problems, one cannot extinguish a lithium based fire and can only abandon ship.

There are effectively few additional running costs or maintenance [oil and filter changes etc] required. So far he has only had to replace a failed relay and seals for the pot hauler that is also electrically powered [a 10Kw motor derated to 4Kw].

What is readily apparent, and particularly noticeable in operation, is the almost complete silence of the power train, as well as of course no fumes.

Copied below are the income and expenditure profiles for his operations to date. Apart from potting for lobster and crab, he also dives for scallops.

As far as he is aware, his is the first fully licenced and registered electric fishing boat on the UK Register. He is aware of one fisher in Wales who uses a diesel engine to get to and from his gear but utilises a battery system for hauling. He is also following up on a company in Gloucestershire in the UK offering a ready to go basic electric vessel, based on a 19 or 21 foot hull for a surprising £60k [this would also need a licence and all the ancillary fishing equipment fitted] and with a Dutch fisher reported to be using a smaller open boat powered by electricity.

Conclusions:

Hans’s skills as both professional boatbuilder and fisherman has enabled him to undertake all the work himself. He should be applauded for taking such a big step but far more of the work would have been grant aided if he had contracted it out.

It is clear that the technology will improve and costs reduce over time but the latter is certainly prohibitive without significant grant aid at present

As he says, the setup favours his quite relaxed fishing operation and he has the benefit of reasonably sheltered waters for the most part and a local charging infrastructure.

In the event that significant grant support was available, this initiative would be a practical proposition for many smaller scale fishing operations. Costs will undoubtedly reduce and the efficiency of batteries, solar and engines improve but at present the system relies on shore-based charging facilities being available.

JP 13.2.25

gwen-pennarun-president-des-ligneurs Telegramme

febrero 13 2025

Gwen Pennarun Elected as New President of LIFE

Plataforma LIFE Noticias

Thursday, 13 February 2025 – The Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has elected Gwen Pennarun as new President of LIFE. Gwen, a longtime advocate for small-scale fishers, succeeds Christian Decugis, who has led LIFE with dedication and commitment, strengthening the organization’s voice across Europe and the wider Mediterranean.

A Life Dedicated to Small-Scale Fisheries

Gwen Pennarun has been a small-scale fisher for over 40 years and serves as President of the Brittany Handliners Association. His experience at the heart of French fishing communities and extensive knowledge of Atlantic fisheries has given him deep insight into the challenges and opportunities facing low-impact fishers. Having previously served as Treasurer of LIFE, he has played a key role in the organization’s development and remains deeply committed to its mission of securing fair, sustainable, and equitable opportunities for small-scale fisheries across Europe.

Gwen’s leadership comes at a crucial time, as European small-scale fishers face increasing pressures from policy changes, environmental challenges, and competition with other sectors of the blue economy. His knowledge and passion will be invaluable in strengthening LIFE’s advocacy efforts, ensuring small-scale fishers have a strong voice in European fisheries policy.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Christian Decugis

As Gwen takes on this new role, LIFE extends its deepest gratitude to outgoing President Christian Decugis, representing the Prud’Homie of Saint-Raphaël. Christian has been an unwavering advocate for small-scale fishers, ensuring that their concerns are heard within different decision-making fora at both the Mediterranean and European levels. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing LIFE’s mission, and we hope that he will continue to engage with the organization and support its work in the future.

Looking Ahead

LIFE is committed to continuing its fight for the recognition and fair treatment of small-scale fishers in European policies. The organization will work towards strengthening fisheries governance, ensuring equitable access to resources, and promoting sustainable practices that benefit both fishers and marine ecosystems.

We congratulate Gwen Pennarun on his new role and thank Christian Decugis for his outstanding contribution. Together, we want to move forward in building a future where small-scale fishers and their communities can thrive.

diciembre 16 2024

Spain: One year after the plastic pellet spill in Galicia, collective action calls for stronger preventive measures.

Plataforma LIFE Noticias galicia, Pollution

One year after the Toconao cargo ship spill released 26 tons of plastic pellets along the Galician coast, the contamination persists, particularly in industrial areas like Tarragona, where chronic microplastic pollution is a growing concern. This disaster highlighted the urgent need for reinforced preventive measures to avoid similar environmental catastrophes in the future.

LIFE, together with Ecologistas en Acción, Mulleres Salgadas, Surfrider España, Good Karma Projects, Noia Limpa, and The Pew Charitable Trusts, has joined in calling for the adoption of stricter regulations to prevent pellet spills. These measures include ambitious policies to strengthen the production, handling, and transportation of plastic pellets.

LIFE stands alongside these organizations in advocating for stricter controls to protect our oceans, marine ecosystems, and the communities that depend on them.

Read the full article here (in Spanish)

septiembre 25 2024

Posibilidades de pesca en el Báltico para 2025

Plataforma LIFE news, news, news, news, news, news, news, news, Noticias

Ciencia defectuosa, decisiones perversas sobre los límites de pesca

LIFE pide una revisión inmediata de la propuesta de la CE y que los límites de pesca se reajusten de acuerdo con un RMS más cautelar.

Bruselas, 24 de septiembre de 2024. Incomprensible y no apto para el propósito es como LIFE describe la propuesta de la CE sobre las posibilidades de pesca en el Mar Báltico para 2025. La ronda anual de fijación de límites de pesca para el Mar Báltico alcanzó un nuevo mínimo, ya que los científicos proporcionaron un dictamen para 2025 basado en la media de los datos de los tres últimos años, en lugar de utilizar una serie temporal mucho más larga. En el caso del arenque del Golfo de Botnia, la Comisión lo utilizó para proponer un aumento de la cuota de 21%, lo que se traduce en capturas superiores a 66.000 toneladas.

Al producirse en un momento en el que esta población de arenque se encuentra en niveles mínimos históricos y en el que la cuota de los últimos años no se ha utilizado en su totalidad, existen indicios claros de que los científicos están sobrestimando una vez más los niveles de biomasa de la población. Este error científico fue puesto de relieve por el Dr. Rainer Froese, del Instituto GEOMAR de Evento de junio de LIFE en el situación de emergencia en el Mar Báltico, que señaló que, año tras año, los científicos del CIEM habían estimado la biomasa de las poblaciones a un nivel demasiado alto, lo que había dado lugar a que se fijaran límites de pesca demasiado elevados.

En particular, la cuota de arenque propuesta causó conmoción y consternación entre los miembros bálticos de LIFE y muchos otros pescadores artesanales de la región. Los eurodiputados suecos presentes ayer en la reunión del Comité PECH en Bruselas tuvieron una reacción similar. Sofie Eriksson, del S&D, dijo que llevó a la gente a "preguntarse qué hay detrás de todo esto". Me preocupa mucho que haya un interés económico detrás de todo esto". Isabella Lovin, eurodiputada verde y ex ministra sueca de Medio Ambiente, cuestionó: "Cuando los científicos han revisado su dictamen tantas veces y hasta tal punto, ¿puede la Comisión decir realmente que estas propuestas (de posibilidades de pesca para 2025) están en línea con los objetivos de la PPC (artículo 2.2) de un enfoque preventivo... para reconstituir las poblaciones y preservarlas por encima de niveles que puedan producir el Rendimiento Máximo Sostenible (RMS)?".

El Consejo Internacional para la Exploración del Mar (CIEM) tiene el monopolio del asesoramiento científico para la gestión de la pesca, supuestamente el "mejor asesoramiento científico disponible". Pero, ¿y si se trata del "único asesoramiento científico disponible"? ¿Es así como la ciencia se vicia? Lo que hace falta es hacer un mejor uso de la ciencia y mejorar los procesos de toma de decisiones, como piden LIFE en su Manifiesto para la X Legislatura

El RMS es un objetivo teórico, basado en muchos supuestos, por lo que requiere datos lo más fiables posible. Por lo tanto, es vital que los puntos de referencia biológicos utilizados para calcular el RMS sean lo más precisos posible, es decir, que se basen en datos de alta calidad recopilados a lo largo de tantos años como sea posible para garantizar su solidez. Los datos más recientes son los más inciertos y, con el paso del tiempo, se revisan a medida que conocemos mejor la población. Utilizar sólo los datos de los tres últimos años significa que los resultados son muy inciertos. Los científicos utilizan puntos de referencia biológicos para medir el estado de salud de las poblaciones de peces. El trabajo de los científicos del CIEM consiste en calcular estos puntos de referencia, para indicar el estado de una población de peces y la cantidad de peces que puede capturarse cada año sin perjudicar la reproducción y el crecimiento futuros de la población.

"Tomemos el ejemplo del arenque en el Golfo de Botnia. La actual biomasa virgen estimada (B0), calculada utilizando sólo los datos de los 3 últimos años, es inferior a las estimaciones de la biomasa reproductora (SSB) de principios de los años 90, cuando las capturas eran inferiores a 50.000 toneladas", afirma Christian Tsangarides, Coordinador de LIFE para el Báltico y el Mar del Norte. "Desde entonces, las capturas han superado esta cifra y la SSB ha estado en constante declive durante los 30 años siguientes. Dado que el reclutamiento ha sido en gran medida estable, sin que se haya observado ningún cambio repentino en los últimos años, la biomasa virgen (B0) podría y debería haberse determinado utilizando una serie temporal mucho más larga. Esto, a su vez, habría producido puntos de referencia de RMS significativamente diferentes. La decisión de utilizar una media de tres años extremadamente truncada, que coincide con el mínimo histórico de la población, no está suficientemente explicada ni justificada y es probablemente la razón principal del resultado perverso de la propuesta, que es el resultado de cambiar las líneas de base", señaló.

Si los científicos del CIEM hubieran utilizado toda la serie temporal con 60 años de datos, habrían basado su recomendación en un valor de mortalidad por pesca de 0,068, lo que habría dado lugar a una cuota de unas 28.000 toneladas. Sin embargo, descartaron este resultado del modelo por "inverosímilmente bajo y no acorde con la historia de la población". Según Tsangarides, "no se aportaron pruebas ni explicaciones para esta desestimación y, en nuestra opinión, el valor de la estimación Fmsy de 0,068, que se basa en toda la serie de datos, es más fiable que el valor propuesto en el dictamen (0,218)".

En opinión de LIFE, esta propuesta socava la consecución del objetivo del RMS, tal y como se establece en el artículo 2.2 de la Política Pesquera Común. Además, la propuesta inhibe el crecimiento de la biomasa en la población de arenque de Bothnian y acelerará el colapso de la industria sueca de surströmming.

Es más, ni el salmón ni las focas se mencionan en absoluto en el informe del grupo de trabajo ni en la hoja de recomendaciones para el arenque de Bothnian. Estas tres especies están claramente interconectadas y el hecho de que no se mencione en absoluto es un descuido que debe corregirse adoptando un enfoque multiespecífico. Esta propuesta, al permitir un aumento de la pesca de sus especies presa, tendrá el efecto de limitar el suministro de alimento disponible para las poblaciones de salmón e inhibir aún más su recuperación.

Por lo tanto, pedimos una revisión inmediata de esta propuesta y que los límites de pesca se reajusten de acuerdo con un RMS más cautelar, que permita que la población se estabilice a largo plazo en una biomasa reproductora significativamente superior a 1.000.000 de toneladas, en línea con la historia de la acción.

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