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LIFE is seeking a part-time Administrative Officer to join our Brussels team !
The Administrative Officer will help to ensure the smooth running of LIFE’s activities. In particular he/she will provide administrative support to several new projects in which LIFE will be increasingly engaged in the coming period. Deadline for applications is 15/7.
Learn more here if you wish to join LIFE!
Rebuilding biomass, reforming scientific advice: the alarming state of the Baltic Sea fisheries requires urgent remedial action to sustain both fisheries and fishers.
Analysis and related proposals by the Low Impact Fishers of Europe to tackle the Baltic Emergency
23 July 2024 will mark five years since emergency measures, effectively closing the cod fishery, were introduced by the European Commission to save the ailing Eastern Baltic cod stock from impending collapse.
The European Commissioner at the time, Karmenu Vella, stated:
“The impact of this cod stock collapsing would be catastrophic for the livelihoods of many fishermen and coastal communities all around the Baltic Sea. We must urgently act to rebuild the stock – in the interest of fish and fishermen alike. That means responding rapidly to an immediate threat now through the emergency measures the Commission is taking. But it also means managing the stock – and the habitat it lives in – properly in the long term.”
The past five years have demonstrated that the emergency closure has not been effective in restoring cod stocks, and positive change for the fishing sector remains out of sight. Rather, the temporary closure has become a permanent one, while no additional management measures have been implemented and neither has a cod recovery plan been discussed or implemented.
The socioeconomic consequences of this paralysis from the EU are severe and far-reaching, especially for small-scale fishing communities, whose fleets comprise over 90% of the EU’s Baltic fishing fleet and provide over 60% of the fishing jobs.
The Baltic Multiannual Management Plan (2016/1139) was the first MAP to be adopted by the EU in 2016 after the 2013 reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, which came into force at the beginning of 2014. Although LIFE was in favour of a MAP being set in place, with the expectation to have the fishery effectively managed, it is clear that the Baltic MAP has failed to achieve any of its objectives due to shortcomings.
“We must urgently act to rebuild the stock”
We need to rebuild the stocks and get the fish back at sea to foster a functional ecosystem. This means restoring stock biomass to healthy levels, in excess of threshold values, over several years. It also requires that stocks be in a satisfactory breeding condition, recruitment be within the bounds of the long-term average, mortality levels contribute to stock growth, and future productivity not be impaired.
Degraded stocks also cause distortions. In the absence of large cod, the plaice populations have swelled to record levels. Predation on sprat and herring has also declined, allowing for their harvesting at a higher fishing mortality rate. Meanwhile, all the small cod are not growing and are in poor condition, starving and parasite-infested.
The latest assessment shows that despite negligible directed fishing pressure, the state of Baltic cod continues to deteriorate, and there have never been so few large cod as is the case today. Rebuilding the cod stocks will not be possible with such high natural mortality levels. An immediate place to start is the predator/prey relationship. Seals and cormorants are voracious predators with increasing populations. In addition, the availability of herring and sprat is low and needs to be increased; both populations are marked by low productivity and fishing pressure has been too high, with stocks alarmingly close to the lowest biomass threshold, making them highly vulnerable. Reducing predation and increasing prey availability would likely lower natural mortality.
Two immediate changes in approach are necessary and justified: biomass growth needs to be prioritized, and improvements are required in the way scientific advice is provided.
Since the 1970s we have lost 50% of the fish biomass in the Baltic and, since 2013, when the EU reformed its fisheries policy promising a new era with healthy fish stocks, stocks have declined by around 800.000 tonnes and catches by 130.000 tonnes, 40% of which is due to the cod closure.
To reverse this biomass decline, a concrete reform of the scientific advice process is required: namely to apply Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) in a different way. This requires identifying the biomass levels for harvested stocks that can deliver MSY (BMSY). In the absence of direct estimates, it is appropriate to use more precautionary values as proxies, such as 2 x Bpa, and reduce fishing levels to rebuild stocks. This would allow for more stable yields with lower fishing effort, improved stock resilience, and better access to coastal low-impact fisheries.
It is inappropriate to harvest fish stocks, in particular lower trophic level prey species such as herring and sprat, while not taking into account the needs of cod and other predators dependent on their availability. Coastal low-impact fishers have been making clear demands for many years: the quotas for herring and sprat need to be reduced and the demersal and pelagic trawl fisheries restricted.
Finally, implementing Article 17 and allocating fishing opportunities to those operating in a low-impact way, providing a high-quality product for human consumption and favouring employment to revitalize coastal communities, is key.
The status quo is not an option. Urgent action is required now, first and foremost a root and branch reform of the science and the way it is used to provide management advice. Currently science and the way it is misapplied is part of the problem, not the solution. Next, we urgently need a revision of the Baltic MAP, including a Cod Recovery plan, based on a revised approach to MSY and ecosystem considerations.
Better appliance of science, fair fisheries and a Cod Recovery Plan for the Baltic are urgently needed, concludes well-attended event by Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE)
Brussels, 26 June 2024 – An event organized in Brussels by the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) marked 5 years since emergency measures effectively closing the cod fishery were introduced by the European Commission to save the ailing Eastern Baltic cod stock from impending collapse. The initiative brought together decision-makers, European Commission and Member States officials, politicians, scientists, sector stakeholders and representatives from small-scale fishing communities. Their shared concern was how to address the ongoing critical state of Baltic cod stocks, the lack of herring and sprat prey, increased predation from seals and cormorants, the socioeconomic impacts of the extended fishery closures, and the worsening environmental conditions in the Baltic. Despite the emergency cod closure in July 2019, there has been no sign of recovery of cod stocks, and future prospects for the fishing sector look bleak.
The workshop provided an in-depth overview of the Baltic cod stock status, highlighting the shortcomings of the 2016 Baltic Multiannual Management Plan (MAP). Fishers’ representatives Bengt Larsson (SYEF, Sweden) and David Lange (FSK, Denmark) shared firsthand experiences of the devastating effects on small-scale fisheries and their communities. Scientific insights were provided by Rainer Froese (GEOMAR Institute), who discussed the failures of current fisheries science and management practices, emphasising the need for revised management strategies and precautionary measures. “It came clear today that the failure of fisheries management is rooted in two main issues: first is the failure to seize on the potential of Article 17, so quotas still go to high-impact fishing and benefit the fishmeal industry; and secondly the process through which science provides management advice, by not using BMSY, leads to reduced fish populations, resulting in a dysfunctional ecosystem. Small-scale fishers, who constitute the backbone of the EU Baltic fishing fleet and workforce, deserve immediate and decisive action to remedy this situation and rescue their livelihoods from destruction,” stated Marta Cavallé, Executive Secretary of the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE).
A dynamic panel discussion featured policymakers, experts and fishers including representatives from DG Mare, the European Parliament, Permanent Representations of the Region’s Member States and NGOs. They highlighted the need to ensure the effective implementation of existing management plans and for robust actions to be taken to improve the conditions of the Baltic marine environment. The socioeconomic consequences of the current management debacle are severe, particularly for small-scale fishers who comprise over 90% of the EU’s Baltic fishing fleet. LIFE urges ICES to rectify scientific advice by using BMSY and prioritising stock growth. The European Commission and Member States to support small-scale fishing communities through a revision of the Baltic MAP, including cod targeted recovery efforts, lower fishing pressure on cod prey and for Article 17 to be used to re-assign quotas in ways that encourage low impact fishing.
∗ ∗ ∗
For more information and background reading on the Baltic Emergency, please refer to the presentations of the panellists and to the analysis and proposals provided by the Low Impact Fishers of Europe.
PRESENTATIONS
Christian Tsangarides, LIFE BANS coordinator
Bengt Larsson, Sveriges Yrkesfiskares Ekonomiska Förening (Sweden)
Kurt Buchmann, University of Copenhagen
Rainer Froese, GEOMAR institute
Aalborg, 4 June 2024 – LIFE is enthusiastic to be part of a consortium of 16 partners from across the European Union, Norway and Thailand who joined in Aalborg, Denmark, to officially launch the Seaglow Project and accelerate the transition of the fishing sector towards renewable and low-carbon energy sources. The initiative, led by NorthDenmark EU-Office, aims to demonstrate that when using the right combination of technologies, small-scale fisheries can reduce their dependency on fossil fuels and positively contribute to restoring marine ecosystems and improving fishing communities’ well-being.
The SEAGLOW consortium will design, construct, and operate five technology pilots, including the replacement of conventional diesel engines, on four vessels in Denmark, Estonia, Norway, and Sweden. Researchers and fishers will then conduct tests in real-life conditions during operations covering at least two fishing seasons, which is rarely done due to the complexity of the task. “We are very excited to kick off this ambitious project”, – states Hanne Bregendahl Pihl, Head of Unit of NorthDenmark EU-Office – “it is a unique opportunity to test and demonstrate some of the available green transition solutions on the market and showcase the impact of these on real, active fishing boats across the Baltic and North Sea. Seaglow has received very high evaluations from the European Commission and encompasses a consortium with a high political reach, which provides optimum conditions for providing feedback on what works in practice, what are the challenges the fishermen are experiencing when engaging in the green transition and what needs to be changed or adapted in future regulations, funding programs and setups.”
LIFE will be involved in several project activities, ranging from communication tasks to producing policy recommendations. Cleaner energy sources are a top priority on the European agenda, with the indicative target for the fishing sector to reduce fossil fuel intensity (in litres per kg of landed product) by >15 % from 2019 to 2030, with the ultimate goal being CO2 neutrality by 2050. Thanks to the Seaglow Project, the small-scale fishing sector will take significant steps forward in overcoming the regulatory and technical challenges of switching to the use of cleaner energy sources and reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
*Cover photo: Partners part of the Seaglow Project (Photo by courtesy of the Seaglow Project).
*Photo: LIFE staff during the kick-off meeting held in Aalborg, Denmark
*Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
On Friday, 31 May, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) published its scientific advice on how much fish can be caught in the Baltic Sea next year. The numbers show that the Baltic Sea ecosystem and fish stocks remain in severe distress and that even the cuts in catches that have been made over the past years are not enough to bring stocks back to healthy levels.
“In 2013 the EU reformed its fisheries policy promising a new era with healthy fish stocks. Since then, the fish biomass in the Baltic has declined by around 800.000 tonnes while catches have shrunk by 130.000 tonnes (40% from the closed cod fishery). Implementing the ICES advice will not bring our stocks back. Coastal fishermen are clear: cut the quotas and restrict the trawl fishery for herring, sprat and plaice“, says Christian Tsangarides, Baltic & North Sea Coordinator at Low Impact Fishers of Europe, LIFE.
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
∗ Join your voice to ours ∗
Sign our letter and call on the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans & Fisheries to make fishing fair and to support practices better for people and planet by reallocating resources and opportunities.
A delegation of fishers and supporters will deliver the petition to the European Commission in Brussels on 21 May!
French Bluefin Tuna Quota: Watershed ruling in favour of small-scale fishers
In 2017, a group of small-scale fishers from the French Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts challenged the Ministerial Decree issued by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food for allocating the Bluefin tuna quota. After an initial favourable ruling in June 2021, followed by an appeal lodged by the State in September 2021, the Administrative Court of Appeal (ACA) in Toulouse confirmed that the French Rural and Maritime Fishing Code is not consistent with EU legislation since it ignores the environmental criterion required by Art.17 of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This is an outstanding achievement in the fight for a fair allocation of fishing opportunities in France and Europe, and the group will continue its efforts to ensure that the legal decision leads to proper implementation. More information in the PR here.
The curtain falls on NUTFA, the organisation representing small-scale fishers in England and Wales
In a clear-headed letter shared with the sector and broader public, Jerry Percy, Director of the New Under Ten Fishermen’s Association [NUTFA], announced the closure of the organisation that has represented the under-ten sector of the industry for many years. Unfortunately, the relentless efforts of the people running NUTFA were insufficient to ensure its survival, especially considering the lack of proper support from the UK government and other management bodies. The news led to emotional and passionate reactions across social media, as well as a general disappointment for the lack of recognition of the value of small-scale fisheries for the UK economy and coastal communities’ survival.
The decarbonisation of the sector is a priority on the EU agenda
Energy-efficient fisheries were at the top of EU fisheries matters in April. LIFE partnered with ClientEarth in the framework of the Decarbonise Now campaign and joined a webinar on the skills needed to face decarbonisation. The online briefing took place just ahead of the DGMare organised event “EU Energy Transition in Fisheries“, shedding light on small-scale fishers’ perspectives and demonstrating the significant potential of that fleet segment in building greener fisheries . It was also an opportunity for LIFE to issue and promote its latest report, “Energy Transition and Decarbonisation of the fishing fleet: the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) ‘s Perspective“. The document is a response to the “Communication on the Energy Transition” launched in February 2023 by the European Commission and provides LIFE’s perspective on a just transition towards carbon-neutral fisheries with small-scale fishers as key actors to safeguard and restore marine biodiversity effectively.
Redefining small-scale fisheries for the Advisory Councils (ACs): an important subject for a fair and balanced representation
Back in August 2023, the Baltic Sea Advisory Council (BSAC) requested some guidance from the European Commission on how to define small-scale fisheries. Amendments to EU rules on ACs (namely Article 4(7) of the amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/204) require to take account of the share of small-scale fleets within the fishing sector of the Member States concerned in their membership. DG Mare’s response was that it is at the discretion of each Advisory Council to decide on. To ensure a fair representation of the small-scale fleet in BSAC as well as in other ACs, LIFE encourages policy-makers and stakeholders to adopt an approach, based on 1) the EMFF/ EMFAF definition (fishing vessels of an overall length of less than 12 metres and not using towed fishing gear) and 2) defining small-scale fishers “bona fide” organisations as those having a majority (at least 90%) of members using vessels under 12 metres with non-towed gears, taking into account that some vessels in an association may be smaller or larger than 12 metres.
Exchange of Information and Views with DG Mare on the CFP Evaluation, Social Indicators and Article 17
On 24 March, Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius announced that DG Mare will conduct an evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy. LIFE met with DG Mare unit concerned (Unit D.3) to clarify how to engage in the process in a productive way, namely via the series of stakeholders public consultations held during late spring and autumn of this year. Back in February, DG Mare also launched a survey on the development of social indicators to be used in socioeconomic reports and on the allocation of fishing opportunities, to issue a vademecum on the implementation of Art.17 across EU Members States “to improve transparency, promote sustainable fishing practices and support small-scale and coastal fishers”. Amongst other things, LIFE advocates for a share of at least 20% of the national quota to be allocated to and ring-fenced for small-scale fishers. LIFE also highlights the urgent need for the set up of a detailed and binding implementation plan for Article 17, alongside clear guidelines on how to develop and apply transparent and objective criteria to reward sustainable fishing practices and to protect ecosystems and local communities. Additional information is available in the report published in 2021 by LIFE and Our Fish.
Muireann Kavanagh: Teen apprentice fisher brings Irish Islands fight for fair low-impact fishing to Strasbourg
Young Irish fisher Muireann Kavanagh travelled to Strasbourg with her father Neily Kavanagh, with the support of LIFE Member Irish Islands Marine Resource Organization (IIMRO) for a series of meetings facilitated by Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus. She met with Members of the European Parliament and highlighted the impact of the recent closure of the line-caught pollack fishery on the island and other communities. An issue also affecting the small-scale fleet in the UK and France, especially young fishers who recently entered the business and for whom pollack accounts for most of their catches. In particular Muireen highlighted the injustice which allocates fishing rights to international factory trawlers that catch many tonnes of this prized fish as by-catch, but bans locals from direct fishing by hook and line fishing, that catches just a few kilos at a time.
New EU Agri-Food Chain Observatory to reinforce the position of farmers and fishers in the food supply chain
The European Commission has launched the creation of the EU agri-food chain Observatory (AFCO). The platform will gather up to 80 members, representing national authorities in charge of agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture or the food supply chain. It will have the mandate to evaluate production costs, margins, trading practices, and value added. The application process for joining the observatory is open until 10 May.
International Panel for Oceans Sustainability (IPOS): LIFE underlines the role of communities in a holistic approach to sustainability
On 9 April, in Barcelona, LIFE co-hosted the event: “Shaping IPOS: southern perspectives on science-policy interface” – held in the framework of the #2024OceanDecadeConference led by UNESCO and hosted by the Government of Spain. IPOS aims to become a gateway connecting knowledge and decisions for a sustainable ocean, with a mandate similar to that of the IPCC in the climate context. LIFE highlighted that “sustainability” should also take into account the well-being of communities, their dependency on the ocean, and fair access and use of common goods. It also welcomed IPOS inclusiveness by taking into account the voices of small-scale fishers from the start of the process.
Coming up :
14-15/5 EU Arctic Forum and Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue: an event held by the European Commission in Brussels
29-30/5 European Maritime Day: the 2024 edition of the European Maritime Day will take place in Svendborg, Denmark. In this framework, on May the 30th, LIFE will be a key speaker at the European Blue Forum Annual Meeting, to which you can still register at the following link.
New members on Board!
LIFE is extremely pleased to welcome Mulleres Salgadas, an association of shellfish gatherers based in Galicia (Spain) ! Learn more about their work and aspirations in the interview with their Executive Secretary, Sandra Amezaga.
Get in touch: communications@lifeplatform.eu
On 24 April 2024, Muireann Kavanagh travelled to Strasbourg with her father Neily Kavanagh for a series of meetings facilitated by Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus. She highlighted the impact of the recent closure of the line-caught pollack fishery on the island and other communities.
Access the PR by IIMRO and LIFE in English here
Accédez au communiqué de presse de IIMRO et de LIFE en français ici.
In April 2024, Mulleres Salgadas officially joined the Low Impact Fishers of Europe. In the interview below, Sandra Amezaga, their Executive Secretary, tells us more about their incredible work, daily fights and hopes for the future.
Welcome to LIFE! We are very happy to have you as members of our platform. Could you tell us a bit more about your organisation, its origin, where you are, and where you work?
Mulleres Salgadas was founded at the end of 2016 as Asociación de Mulleres do mar de Arousa, with scope in the Arousa estuary and the provinces of A Coruña and Pontevedra. Subsequently, we decided to become an autonomous association and changed the name to Mulleres Salgadas-Asociación Galega de Mulleres do Mar, extending our action to the whole territory of Galicia.
How many shellfish gatherers does your organisation represent, how is your work carried out, and what fishing gear do you use?
There are currently 1695 members, 1296 of whom are shellfish gatherers on foot, which reflects the gender distribution of the different sea trades in Galicia. In addition, there are shellfish gatherers afloat, barnacle gatherers, etc.
Shell fishing on foot is an artisanal activity in which there have been few changes in gears and methods, although there have been changes in management. In addition to collecting bivalves, shellfish gatherers also sow, care for, regenerate, and clean the beaches.
Has the work of women shellfish gatherers always been carried out by women?
In contrast to shellfishing afloat, shellfishing on foot has been a largely female occupation, although a few men have entered the profession in recent years.
In a recent interview, you told us that the shellfish industry is going through a very complicated time in Galicia. Could you tell us what are the most important concerns of the sector right now?
Right now, the main concern is the mortality of shellfish on the beaches and the decline in shellfish resources. We are at a time when many of Galicia’s shellfish gatherers’ groups are ceasing activity or collecting very small quotas, which means a lack of income. Not all shellfish gatherers are entitled to receive the cessation benefit; furthermore, the procedures take a long time. There are still shellfish gatherers who have not received anything and have not worked since January. It is urgent to rethink the management of shellfishing as well as the requirements for obtaining the permits and the conditions to benefit from the cessation of activity.
Climate change is already directly affecting Galician fisheries. Other factors, such as pollution, poaching, etc., must also be addressed. It is very urgent to adapt to global warming, which is already here and has substantial consequences.
You also commented that shellfish gatherers do not have the same decision-making power in the cofradias as other members, such as small-scale fishers. Could you explain why this is the case and what could be done to change this?
Many conditioning factors lead to the lower presence of women in the management and leadership bodies of the cofradias, most of which are common to other professional groups and fields. Women have traditionally been relegated to the private sphere, to the home; they are responsible carers of the home and the family. There is an overload of domestic work, which, added to their professional tasks, leaves them exhausted and without time to devote to representation or to try to gain access to power. There is a perceived lack of motivation. This long-standing situation requires collective intervention and mentality change, including women and men. Furthermore, the Galician Law on Guilds does not help women to participate more. This law, dating from 1993, guarantees parity between workers and employers in the governing bodies of the guilds and considers that shell fishing on foot is included in the census of workers.
For us, the law on the cofradias must be modified entirely, seeking formulas for equal representation. This is one step, but not the only one we must take.
LIFE’s main mission is to bring together and raise the voices of small-scale fishers at the European level. How do you think LIFE could support you in your struggle to sustain the seafood sector in your region?
Despite the differences and peculiarities in the different areas, there are common problems where we can all benefit from each other’s experiences and contribute to finding solutions. LIFE is also an opportunity for the voices of many women who are not present in decision-making forums and who find it difficult to make themselves heard.
Access Mulleres Salgadas website here
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NUTFA, dedicated to the support, survival and development of the small scale fishing fleet in England and Wales, to close.
Jerry Percy, Director of the New Under Ten Fishermen’s Association [NUTFA] has announced the forthcoming closure of the organisation that has represented the under ten sector of the industry for many years.
Jerry said; “while it was always going to be a difficult decision to close, I’m not getting any younger and to be honest, I refuse to be party to what I see as the ongoing destruction of the under ten fleet.
I think it is a tragedy that the 80% of the fleet that are under ten metres have been treated so shabbily by administrations going back decades that has in turn resulted in such a lack of fish on the inshore grounds, the almost complete lack of effective management especially in terms of effort, the deafening sound of cans being kicked down the road when exactly the opposite approach is needed, [look at the unacceptable delays in controlling the ravages of the fly seine fleet in the Channel etc] and the lip service paid to the under tens by other organisations.
What I still fail to understand is the failure by successive administrations to recognise and reward the smaller scale inshore fleet and thereby ensure the sustainability of their presence in coastal communities. The inherent danger in the current situation facing them is that they are largely the keepers of the knowledge, skills, culture and heritage going back generations and that once lost will be almost impossible to recover.
Compare this with the increasing use of foreign crews and the consolidation of quota – over 50% of UK share is held by foreign interests then the prophetic words of an under ten skipper in The Last Fishermen film we made in 2012 come back to haunt us; “one day there will be one bloody great boat come up here, with Tesco written down its side and it’ll catch more in a day than we will in a year”. With the exception of the Tesco slogan [and they couldn’t even be bothered to keep their fresh fish counters going – every little helps] that’s largely where we are.
NUTFA has recently been criticised for a lack of ‘membership’ which may be convenient for those seeking to undermine the organisation but the claims don’t stand up when we have a voluntary database of over 1000 fishermen who clearly support our aims and objectives. We don’t charge a membership fee, not only because we do not have the admin capacity to handle it but also because so many in our sector are already on the bones of their backside and both Sarah Ready and I were content to work in a voluntary capacity although Sarah’s side of the work required funding for travel and court related costs that was not forthcoming, hence her recent retirement.
The overarching tragedy for me with regard to the current state of the inshore sector is that the men and women who are involved reflect all that made Britain what it once was. Resilient in the face of immense challenges, courage to keep going in conditions that others would shrink from, the ability to deal with anything and everything that life throws at them [with the possible exception of the MCA and DEFRA] and at the same time managing to stay positive in the face of sometimes crushing adversity.
So many of the under tens and non sector have said time and again that NUTFA was the only dedicated representative body that represented their interests and I’m sorry that they are going to lose that service. I can only hope that others take up the mantle and recognise that these guys are the true backbone of the fishing industry in so many coastal communities around our coast and step up.
If I’m honest, I will look back on my time with NUTFA and the other organisations I’ve been involved with, with a mixture of frustration at the lack of genuine representation and support from other bodies and the lack of recognition of their value by governments but overall with a massive sense of pride and honour to have done what I could to support them through difficult times”.
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