The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, called for the creation of an international alliance to strengthen and expand ocean monitoring and observation. This alliance will support OceanEye, the European ocean observation initiative, to consolidate efforts and collaboration in ocean observation on a global scale. President von der Leyen also announced an […]
EU Commission Launches Ocean Pact to Safeguard Marine Life and Boost the Blue Economy
The ocean shapes our economies, our food systems, even the air we breathe. To better protect our ocean, the Commission has adopted a European Ocean Pact, which will help to promote a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of people living in coastal areas. This Ocean Pact brings together EU ocean policies under one single […]
Use of Copernicus data helps fisheries and aquaculture sectors become more sustainable
Did you know that the path towards sustainable fisheries starts in space? “From the characterisation of fishing areas and activity to accessing environmental risks and inspecting infrastructure, Earth Observation data is a game-changing tool for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture,” says Nuno Grosso, a senior engineer at Deimos, the project coordinator. According to the EU Agency […]
Commission proposes fishing opportunities for 2025
Today, the Commission published its proposal to set catch limits, or total allowable catches (TACs), for ten fish stocks in the EU waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Kattegat, and Skagerrak for 2025. The proposal is based on scientific advice and covers fish stocks managed solely by the EU in those sea basins. Following the available scientific advice from the International Council for the […]
Council adopts updated fisheries measures in the North-East Atlantic
The Council has formally adopted a set of updated fisheries measures in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) area. This regulation implements into EU law new rules on management, conservation and control for the NEAFC area, as well as control measures for certain pelagic species in the North-East Atlantic which were agreed during coastal states consultations. The text also […]
Commission adopts limited prolongation of State aid crisis tools to further support agriculture and fisheries sectors
The European Commission has adopted an amendment to the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF) to prolong by six months certain provisions of the Framework aimed to address persisting market disturbances specifically in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. On 11 April 2024, the Commission consulted Member States on the persistence of a serious disturbance of the economy affecting […]
EU requests consultations under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on UK permanent closure of sandeel fisheries
The European Union requested consultations with the United Kingdom under the dispute settlement mechanism of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) regarding the United Kingdom’s decision to prohibit the fishing of sandeel, with the aim of reaching a mutually agreeable solution. Effective since 26 March 2024, the closure of the sandeel fishery covers English […]
EU and Neighbourhood countries commit to enhanced fisheries management control in the Mediterranean and Black Sea
Among the main measures, the EU and neighbouring countries agreed within the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) to launch new tools to keep track of the activities of all fleets fishing in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas and sharing the various multiannual management plans (MAPs). The new mechanism will follow up on cases of non-compliance through appropriate and […]
EU ministers reach agreement on Baltic Sea catch limits for 2024
Fisheries Fishing opportunities for 2024 in the Baltic Sea Fisheries ministers reached a political agreement on next year’s total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for the most commercially significant fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. The agreement is in line with the scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and with […]