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November 2023

Coastal fisheries left shortchanged by European Council decision on next year’s Baltic quotas.

Reductions in fishing opportunities across the board were decided at the European Council on October 23-24, and once again it was the SSF that were hit hardest. A decision was made that the main cod fishery will remain closed, as it has been since 2019, since any positive signs of growth and recovery are yet to be seen. Despite this, not only did the EU fail to agree on remedial measures to promote cod recovery, but instead agreed to significantly increase quotas for prey species such as herring and sprat, relative to the Commission proposal. 

The Gulf of Riga is the only area where herring biomass levels continue to have consistently exceeded reference levels  in recent years. It is the most important species in the ecosystem as it connects to a multitude of other species. In other areas herring stocks have fallen below threshold levels and their spawning is now at risk of impairment. Since stock assessments gave the probability of recovery at below 95% for next year, the Commission initially followed the Baltic Management Plan, Article 4.6, and proposed that the directed herring fisheries should be closed and only a bycatch quota allowed so as to ensure that the sprat and vendace fisheries could continue. However, in a predictable development, the Council then opted to ignore this rule and set a quota of 250,000 tonnes for next year. 

Yet, over 95% of catches in the Baltic main basin will come from a handful of industrial pelagic trawler vessels who have a monopoly on fishing in the Baltic. The vast majority will be landed and converted into fishmeal and fish oil to supply salmon, hen and mink farms. These catches will therefore provide little or no value to SSF communities in the region. 

Furthermore, according to the latest STECF report, there are 6 EU countries where the small-scale coastal fleets have negative profitability and the Baltic accounts for 4 of them. Half of the large-scale fleet that reported losses in 2021 were also from the region. The report pinpoints the loss of the cod fishery as the reason behind losses in the region’s small-scale fleet. Despite this, the small-scale sector still accounts for 8% of catches and 26% of the landing value.

LIFE is disappointed that the Council did not do more to ensure better quota availability in the years to come for the coastal fleet and for stocks to recover as soon as possible. The quota decisions for sprat, plaice and Bothnian herring all serve to exacerbate the difficulties facing our members.

Sprat is at present the dominant fishery which drives catches throughout the ecosystem. LIFE had recommended a sprat quota of just over 56,000 tonnes so as to ensure that there was increased prey availability in the main cod distribution area and so that herring bycatch levels would be minimised so as to not further impair stock productivity. The final decision to set a quota of over 200,000 tonnes by the Council was irresponsible and counterproductive because it serves to incentivise illegal fishing and misreported catches due to the enormous quota mismatch in the mixed herring/sprat fishery.

Energy Transition Partnership: financing of the energy transition workshop Nov 28th

Brussels 28 November 2023. A hybrid event took place in Brussels, organised by DG Mare, to follow up on the June 16 launch of the “Energy Transition Partnership”. The workshop brought together various stakeholders (fishing sector, NGOs, ACs, national and EU administrations) with the aim of compiling a list of the main challenges, opportunities and concerns arising from decarbonising the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. This will provide the basis for a paper to help design a roadmap for the energy transition in EU fisheries and aquaculture, and how to finance it.

For the fisheries sector, energy transition means two things. First and foremost, it means reducing dependency on fossil fuels, one of the most important running costs. Following a series of global crises, fuel costs have become highly volatile and seem likely to remain so. This is having a huge impact on the economic viability and resilience of fishing, making a switch to alternative fuels an urgent priority. Secondly, like other economic and production sectors, fishing is bound by Green Deal targets for climate neutrality by 2050. Given the relatively insignificant contribution of EU fishing activities to global greenhouse gas emissions – around 0.01% – this is clearly less of a priority.

In the short term, the main concern of the fisheries sector is to survive the current crisis situation. In achieving this, tax breaks on fuel and emergency funding will be crucial. The Euros 19 million available in the EMFAF (up to 2027) for engine replacements and improving energy efficiency could help in this regard. However, the EMFAF was criticised as not being fit for purpose, with very few member states using the funds in National Plans for energy transition, with significant delays in funds being released, and with up to 20% of the funds being lost through not being spent. Divided amongst the EU’s 22 coastal states, 19 million euros would not go very far in any case, hardly enough even to transform one vessel, let alone an entire fleet!

Retrofitting new engines and fishing systems into old vessels makes no sense, and at best amounts to tinkering around the edges of the problem. Rather what is needed is a phased approach, with pathways mapped out describing how the sector gets from where it is to where it needs to be in 2050.   

In the longer term, fishing faces numerous challenges, including evolving from a 20th century extractive activity, into a fit for purpose 21st century sustainable seafood producing sector as part of the rapidly developing Blue Economy. However, as yet there is no common understanding of what a sustainable seafood production sector might look like in 2050 or what role fishing will play in the Blue Economy. Such a vision must also include the processing sector and supply chains, which incur a significant carbon footprint, and which currently rely largely on imports that don’t comply with EU sustainability standards. 

For more information: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_23_829  

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LIFE, together with the #RestoreNature Coalition Calls on all Members of the European Parliament and EU Member States to Support the Final Adoption of the Nature Restoration Law.

In view of the upcoming vote on November 29th in the ENVI committee on the Nature Restauration Law, LIFE has joined forces with a coalition of organisations to share a Business Statement to urge all Members of the European Parliament and EU Member States to support the final adoption of the Nature Restoration Law.

Read the full statement signed by LIFE here.

“The EU Nature Restoration law is a generation’s opportunity to take concrete and effective action to reverse the biodiversity and climate crises by restoring EU land and sea areas at large scale. We, the undersigned businesses and business associations, are calling for the urgent adoption of an ambitious and legally-binding EU Nature Restoration Law to bring nature back to Europe. The EU Nature Restoration Law will be a key tool to tackle our climate and biodiversity crises and to guarantee the long-term sustainability and viability of our society and economy.”

Where does the Nature Restauration Law stand?

As a reminder, after the Council agreed on its position on the law in June this year and the Parliament in July, the interinstitutional negotiations (also called ‘trilogues’) on the final text kicked off. On the 9th of November, the negotiators from the Parliament, Commission, and Council reached a provisional deal on the final text of the law. While we are relieved to see this agreement, given the fierce opposition to the law witnessed earlier this year, we wish it was more ambitious and in line with what science tells us is necessary to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergencies.

To become reality (which is needed to not to delay the much-needed restoration work), the legislation needs two more supportive votes in the European Parliament, in the ENVI Committee on the 29th of November and during the plenary vote (likely early next year), and final adoption by a majority of the EU Member States. 

Earlier this year, the European Commission published a Communications package (“A Pact for Fisheries and Oceans) outlining proposals for addressing decarbonisation (Communication on Energy Transition), biodiversity and habitat restoration (Communication on a Marine Action Plan), a Communication on the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy) and a report on the Common Organisation of the Market (COM) regulation. LIFE is supportive of this package, given that it is a first step towards garnering consensus on the necessary actions to be taken in European waters in line with international obligations and European Green Deal targets. LIFE’s response can be consulted here.

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Getting the Story Straight and Envisioning a Fair Future for Small Scale Fisheries in Europe.

Brussels 21 November 2023.

Today, Tuesday November 21, is World Fisheries Day, marking the twenty fifth occasion of this celebration since it was conceived in 1997. To mark this event, and to celebrate the 2022 International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA), LIFE members from 8 countries from the Baltic to the Mediterranean met in Galicia last week to discuss and envision what a fair future for small-scale fisheries in Europe should be.

The meeting, which took place in Vilanova de Arousa, Galicia, Spain from 13 to 16 November, was organised by the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF), LIFE and the association of “Mulleres Salgadas (MS)”. MS hosted the event, and organised a visit to meet with their members – women shellfish gatherers (mariscadoras) from the Ria de Arousa – and to understand and appreciate their profession.

This is the fourth and final in a series of events organised by ICSF to celebrate the 2022 International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA). For more information see: https://www.icsf.net/resources/europe-workshop-iyafa-2023/

The future is extremely uncertain for fisheries in general, and small-scale fisheries in particular. The meeting therefore set itself the task of seeking solutions, to develop a positive narrative for SSF, and to envision what a fair future would look like for this sub sector. The 45 participants from 16 countries gathering for the meeting included men and women fishers and their representatives, support organisations, scientists, academics and other interested parties.

From the University of Santiago, the Equal Sea Lab team kicked off the meeting with discussions on how to change the current narrative framing SSF in Europe. According to this narrative, SSF are outliers, marginalised in decision making processes and in the access arrangements for fishing opportunities and markets. Concentration of wealth, control and influence has also undermined democracy in fisheries management and fisheries sustainability, and created unjust and vulnerable food systems and supply chains. A new approach is needed, based on inclusive and sustainable socio-economic and environmental development, which prioritises the well being of coastal communities and the health of aquatic ecosystems.

To follow, LIFE looked into governance in fisheries, and how a differentiated approach is needed to govern SSF access to resources, to govern SSF fishery activities at sea, and to govern SSF access to markets in a fair manner. Cases of good practice from across Europe were presented. Then participants discussed how to strengthen capacities of SSF and support organizations, and what kinds of alliances need to be built. The final session was organised as a panel discussion to reflect on the earlier discussions from a women in fisheries perspective. This final panel included men and women members from both LIFE and Aktea, the European network of fisherwomen’s organisations, as well as mariscadoras and scientists.  

The meeting concluded that constructing a new narrative and a fair future for SSF in Europe must include:

  •  The recognition of SSF as a cornerstone of vibrant aquatic economies, supported by equitable, inclusive and transparent policies with ecosystem regeneration at their core, as well as ensuring fishers’ basic human rights of access to the resources that sustain their livelihoods.
  • Co-management schemes based on shared responsibility that weave environmental stewardship into the social fabric and the dynamic culture of communities.
  • Viable SSF enterprises and decent work, fostering generational renewal, gender equality and inclusivity, underpinned by fair and participative processes.
  • The recognition of traditional, inherited and experiential knowledge of small-scale fishers and fishworkers, including women and indigenous peoples as prerequisite for informing fisheries management decisions.
  • Markets that reflect the true value of sustainable small-scale food production and which deliver fair rewards along the value chain, from net to plate.
  • The gathering and use of information and innovation to support our cause, to enhance our natural world for all rather than restricting its use for a few, based on data sovereignty, accessible technology, and digital literacy
  • Future proofing of SSF communities to the effects of climate change, and making them resilient to natural and human disasters

Read the full statement and call to action drafted as an outcome of the event.

Read the workshop report.

For further information:

Sivaja Nair, Programme Executive, ICSF sivaja.icsf@gmail.com

Sandra Amezaga Menendez, Secretary, Mulleres Salgadas Association, amezagasandra@gmail.com

Marta Cavallé, Executive Secretary, LIFE, executive.secretary@lifeplatform.eu

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The Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation (IIMRO) raises concerns over the South Coast Renewable Energy DMAP

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Article initially published in the Marine Times in Ireland early November 2023.

Member of LIFE platform, the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation (IIMRO) has raised significant concerns over the South Coast Renewable Energy DMAP in a public consultation held this month.  In a submission to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), IIMRO has outlined a number of issues with the current process to develop offshore renewable energy and it’s potential significant impacts on island and coastal communities.

The lack of information on the scale of proposed new energy installations, the very real potential to displace fisheries as well as the unknown impacts on the marine environment are chief amongst the concerns raised. The lack of specifics on their scale, design and locations of affiliated infrastructure remain a significant cause of unease.

Security of tenure and recognition of customary rights for small scale fisheries is crucial for fisheries governance and resource management and is underscored by the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small Scale Fisheries. Including; “States, in accordance with their legislation, should ensure that small-scale fishers, fish workers and their communities have secure, equitable, and socially and culturally appropriate tenure rights to fishery resources (marine and inland) and small-scale fishing areas and adjacent land, with a special attention paid to women with respect to tenure rights.” This recognition of tenure is currently missing from current discussions and needs to be addressed as a matter of priority.

IIMRO reiterated the diversity of the fishing community; from small traditional vessels with a single crew, fishing seasonally close to shore, to large industrial ocean-going vessels fishing across international boundaries and the need for governance structures to recognise and accommodate this diversity.

86% of vessels in Ireland are small-scale; the under 12 meter boats which support families around the coast.  This hugely important fleet segment is also the least visible, with small boats not having VMS or AIS transmitters.  This has led to significant gaps in the data on which models of fishing activity are developed and on which decisions on installation locations are based.  Ireland needs to move beyond awareness of the lack of this essential information, to providing solutions that are practical and useful for fishers.

IIMRO’s concerns reflect a broader sentiment among marine stakeholders about the rapid development of offshore renewable energy without having appropriate governance and ownership models in place. We are hopeful that these constructive recommendations will be at the forefront of energy policy and implementation.  IIMRO’s submission will be available on the DECC website in due course.

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Interview with Kazimir Bogović from the Association of Small Coastal Fishermen of the Adriatic, LIFE’s new member association from Croatia

Recently the “Association of Small Coastal Fishermen of the Adriatic” became a member of LIFE Platform. Last week we chatted with Kazimir, one of the small-scale fishers of this organisation in Croatia to get to know them a bit better.

November 14th, 2023

1.First of all, Welcome to LIFE! We are thrilled to welcome your organisation as a new member of the LIFE platform. Could you tell us a bit about yourself, your organisation, and the area you fish in? 

My name is Kazimir Bogović. I’m based on an island in Croatia called Mali Losinj. I’ve been a professional fisherman for 7 years, I used to own two restaurants but then I decided to go back to fishing because I come from a fishing family and I enjoy working alone. I’m actually originally from another neighbouring island, my family is still there working in tourism and fishing. I have two small children, two girls aged 3 and 6, and small scale fishing allows me to manage a work and private life balance better than working in restaurants. 

 

2. Since when has this organisation existed? How many fishers does your association represent and in which area do you fish? 

The organisation “Association of Small Scale Coastal Fishermen of the Adriatic” is two years old, it was an initiative from the government initially as part of an Interreg cooperation programme between Italy and Croatia. The idea behind the creation of the organisation is to promote sustainable fishing and eventually create a producer’s organisation to distribute and sell our catches at a better price. Until its creation we have mostly focused on the sharing of information regarding how to best sell our catches, comply with fishery regulations, the use of fishing gear, address common problems and basically manage our future better. The organisation is still under development, it is very young, but we are now officially registered. It allows us to not only exchange information amongst Croatian members but also with the members in the similar Italian organisation created at the same time.  

There are 60 fishermen in Mali Losinj island alone, but not all are members of the organisation yet. Up to date, the organisation is formed by 41 fishermen which are located across the entire coast of the country, although mostly are in the northern part of Croatia up until Istria. All boats are under 12m, and use small-scale, low impact, fishing gear. 

3. Small scale fishers use a wide range of fish gear, adapting to the species and the seasons. Could you tell us what kind of fishing gear the fishers in your community use? How big are your boats and which are your target species? 

In winter, I mostly use the harpoon at night. 80% of my catches are octopus and squid. I only catch big fish. In summer I use longline fishing, traps and sometimes I also use some nets. Other fishers in the area will use similar gear, fishing nets, some lobster nets and several also use traps for scampi mostly in an area where trawlers have been banned, and where they get good catches. This is actually a very popular fishery in our area for the high value of the catch and selectivity of the gear. Unfortunately it is not easy to get licences for fishing shrimps mostly due to the high cost linked to it.  

4. The main mission of LIFE is to provide a voice for the sector at the European and institutional levels, but also to support fishers with overcoming their challenges on the ground. Could you tell us more about the main concerns of the fishers in your region? What are the current battles your community is engaged in? 

Our main challenge is unfair competition due to the large numbers of recreational fishing licences that exist in the country, around 100.000, when there are 4039 professional fishers, of which 80% are SSF. There is very little control on catch levels and illegal selling channels. For this reason we welcome the recent control regulation initiative from the EU commission. Our government has promised us that from next year all recreational fishers will have to register their catches in an app, but the problem of course is how will they control 100.000 fishers. The regulations that anglers have to follow are very different from the regulations we have to follow, when it comes to engine regulations for example. 

It is also a challenge to get enough fishers to attend the meetings we are invited to. At the last meeting only 2 fishers came. It is hard to get people’s interest but then they complain if nothing is done. Some fishers in Istria have conflicts with the trawlers fishing scallops, since they are not respecting the speed at which they should fish, and therefore have more bycatch, which impacts the fisheries in the area. 

We also have challenges with our selling prices, due to the monopoly of one big buyer and distributor, called Friulpesca who has a big influence on the prices. We don’t sell to them but due to the  size of this company they have an important impact on the market. Finally, we also have many interactions with tourism in summer. 

5. Finally, could you tell us more about your motivations to become a member of LIFE? And what do you expect from being a member of LIFE?

We became a member of LIFE to have access to more relevant information on the fishing sector and learn from other organisations outside Croatia. We want to be able to exchange information, and look for guidance, especially now we are establishing our SSF organisation. In a couple of years a big area where we fish will be declared a Natura 2000 protected area, for example. We are part of the conversations to establish the areas where we’ll be able to fish and where we won’t. These are important conversations and times for us, and therefore we appreciate any help and guidance we can have from learning from other fishing communities in Europe.

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