Ulov dana – srpanj i kolovoz 2025.

Vijesti o poštenom ribarstvu, zdravim morima i živahnim ribarskim zajednicama

 

1/7 Strengthening Fisheries and Maritime Spatial Planning: LIFE at Key EU Dialogues

LIFE participated in the third meeting of the Member States’ Joint Special Group on the EU Action Plan Protecting and Restoring Marine Ecosystems for Sustainable and Resilient Fisheries and, the following day, in the Implementation Dialogue on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) chaired by Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis. 

The Action Plan formed part of the package of measures, the “Pact for Fisheries and Oceans”, published in February 2023, and aims to improve the sustainability and resilience of the EU’s fisheries and aquaculture sector. It is designed to achieve a more consistent implementation of the EU’s environmental policy and the common fisheries policy with its three sustainability pillars – environmental, economic and social. The Implementation Dialogue on MSP is the first of two such dialogues to be organised this year. The second is set for November 24 and will focus on small-scale fisheries. Commissioner Kadis is tasked with organising two such dialogues each year. 

Representing LIFE, Policy Advisor Brian O’Riordan drew attention to the marginalisation of small-scale fishers (SSF) as offshore energy and aquaculture gain priority. He warned against treating oceans as unlimited space to be divided among competing interests, stressing the cumulative impacts on ecosystems and the need for clear trade-offs between energy and food security.

To address these challenges, LIFE proposed the creation of a Fishery Regenerative Zone within the 12-mile limit. This zone would be dedicated to conservation and regeneration projects, while reserving space for low-impact small-scale fishing under co-management. Such an initiative would help offset the pressures of large-scale Blue Economy sectors, strengthen marine ecosystems, and secure a fair future for SSF.

 

10/7 A Participative Label for small-scale fisheries: LIFE’s PGS Steering Group meet in London

Jeremy Percy, LIFE Senior Advisor, is tasked to lead a project being developed by LIFE towards establishing a Participative Guarantee Scheme (PGS) tailored for European small-scale fishers. The PGS is intended to serve as a locally-focused quality assurance mechanism, promoting sustainable, ethical fishing practices while creating market differentiation and economic benefits for small-scale fishers. PGS has been developed by IFOAM – the Organic & Regenerative Agriculture movement – for small-holder organic farmers, and this project builds on and adapts that successful model to SSF. The project is supported by Patagonia, the outdoor clothing company in business to save our home planet.

The London meeting brought together the project’s steering group: Marta Cavallé, LIFE Executive Secretary, Brian O’Riordan, LIFE Policy Advisor, Caroline Bennett, Founder of Sole of Discretion, and Jerry Percy, LIFE Senior Adviser. The meeting was convened to discuss 3 documents produced by Jerry over the past months: a draft business plan, a roadmap for implementation, and a detailed operational strategy for implementing a PGS. The project, it seems, is well on track and in safe hands. 

 

14/7 Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) 5th webinar

LIFE attended 2 webinars organised by the Energy Transition Partnership (ETP), as Small-Scale Fisheries Coordinator. The first was an exchange of views with the European Commission DG GROW and DG MOVE, to better understand their energy transition-related plans and initatitves, including the “European Industrial Maritime Strategy” and the “EU 2025 Ports strategy and the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP)”. The second workshop focused on an exchange of views with the Advisory Councils. LIFE explained how small-scale fisheries have low carbon emissions but face major threats in their future, including limited resources and low viability, underlying the need for a dedicated action plan to secure their place in the energy transition. The various ACs presented different perspectives on the Roadmap, addressing it sector by sector. Notably, both NWWAC and MEDAC questioned the value of differentiating between small- and large-scale fisheries. They pointed out that many recommendations overlap and that the definitions remain unclear.

 

17/7 LIFE Board of Directors Reviews Policy and Strategic Priorities

LIFE convened its Board of Directors to address a wide range of policy and organisational matters. The meeting opened with updates on the Ocean Pact, the UN Ocean Conference, and other recent and upcoming policy-related events. Members then reviewed developments surrounding the Denmark Fisheries Bill, drawing lessons from the legislative process.

Strategic approaches were discussed on LIFE’s position to the ongoing evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The Board also considered new membership applications and concluded with updates on financial matters. 

This meeting underscored LIFE’s commitment to shaping fisheries policy at both national and European levels while strengthening its organisational base.

 

18/7 LIFE and Partners Highlight Need to Reform Scientific Advice for EU and UK Fisheries

LIFE, together with 29 organisations, has endorsed a briefing exposing major shortcomings in the scientific advice guiding EU and UK fisheries management. The current system, led by ICES, often overlooks legal obligations and sustainability goals—leaving fishers with shrinking quotas and risking further closures.The briefing calls for precautionary, ecosystem-based advice that ensures stock recovery, protects marine ecosystems, and builds resilience against climate change. Presented at a meeting with the European Commission’s DG Mare, the briefing was discussed by LIFE, NGOs, and policymakers. It contributes to a broader scientific debate, with recent research describing a “systemic failure” in EU fisheries management.

 

22/8 LIFE Calls on the Swedish Government to Address Inequities in EU Fisheries Control Rules

LIFE has called on the Swedish government, as Baltfish chair, to draft a Joint Recommendation for eDNA-based monitoring to ensure fair and transparent fisheries management.

Under the 2024 EU Fisheries Control Regulation, small-scale fishers must report catches within strict margins of 10% (20% in the Baltic). Meanwhile, large industrial vessels landing mixed catches for fishmeal factories are exempt from reporting if they use seven “Listed Ports” (six in Denmark, one in Latvia).

This system unfairly penalises small-scale fleets targeting fish for human consumption while favouring high-volume operators, undermining sustainability and accountability.

 

Press, reports and other interesting reading

PECH Committee Research: [Publication] The multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea. A change in management needed

FAO SSF Guidelines newsletter – UNOC3: When the voice of small-scale fishers resonates globally

Report on the Sri Lanka Workshop, February 2025:  Strengthening Collaboration and Capacity-Building in Small-scale Fisheries, 24-26 February, 2025

New Fisheries Bill in Denmark: proposes to establish a trawler exclusion zone in coastal areas https://lifeplatform.eu/denmark-charts-a-new-course-quota-security-for-coastal-fishers-gains-ground/ 

Plastic pollution and the threat of plastic pellets shipping: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/12/nurdles-kerala-india-microplastic-pellets-pollution-fishing-environment-law 

 

Slijedi

9/9 Brussels, Belgium – Parliament / SEARICA: Baltic Sea Bankruptcy – a changed climate, broken economy and ecosystem

9/9 Cascais, Portugal – World Ocean Summit:  dialogue on several issues, including coastal resilience, deep-sea mining, national security and defence, marine biodiversity and ocean technology.

23/24/9 Nyborg, Denmark – Danish EU Presidency Conference on the Horizon Europe Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”

30/9 Stockholm, Sweden – Our Baltic Ministerial Conference