Press releases
Fisheries
Illegal use of drift-nets in the Mediterranean: Commission seeks Italy's compliance with Court ruling
29/09/2011
The European Commission calls on Italy to take measures and comply with an October 2009 Court of Justice ruling on Italy's continued illegal use of drift-nets. The Court found that Italy had failed to adequately control and enforce the EU ban on the use of drift-nets.
Commissioner Damanaki stated: "Safeguarding of fish stocks and the eradication of illegal fishing practices are crucial priorities for the EU and I deeply regret Italy's long-standing infringement of the drift-net ban. Fishing with illegal gear such as drift-nets is highly destructive, as it ruins marine habitats, endangers marine wildlife and threatens sustainable fisheries. Illegal fishing practices ruin the income of honest fishermen and coastal communities - and the future of fisheries altogether. Therefore, in the interest of all, implementation and enforcement of the rules are at the heart of our policy."
EU fish stocks in the Atlantic and North Sea: Commission proposes fishing opportunities for 2012
27/09/2011
The European Commission presented today its first proposal for 2012 fishing opportunities for the stocks in the Atlantic and the North Sea that are managed by the EU exclusively.
Commissioner Maria Damanaki said: "our proposal's cornerstones are long-term management of stocks and reliable scientific data to base our decisions on, in line with our proposed reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. This reform will deliver a fisheries policy fit for the future, based on viable fish stocks which will assure fishermen a decent income."
Managing Baltic Sea fish stocks in a responsible manner: Commission proposes fishing opportunities for 2012
15/09/2011
The European Commission tabled its proposal on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2012.
European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki said: "This proposal takes care of the Baltic Sea fish stocks to preserve them for the benefit of current and future generations. We are trying to manage them in a responsible manner in line with the principles of our reform. Reaching our targeted Maximum Sustainable Yield will lead not only to healthier fish stocks, but also to better income and more jobs for the fisheries sector."
U.S. and Europe join forces to stop pirate fishing
07/09/2011
By Maria Damanaki, European Union commissioner for maritime affairs and fisheries and Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., U.S. under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator
Piracy off the coast of Africa has grabbed headlines in recent years, but there is another type of piracy that has received far too little attention. Pirate fishing around the world is costing fishermen their jobs and income, and harms the ocean environment.
Maritime affairs and fisheries
Commissioner Damanaki visits Ireland
22/09/2011
Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, visited Dublin and Galway from 22 to 23 September 2011 to present and discuss with Irish stakeholders the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, proposed by the Commission in July.
"In Ireland, the economic performance of the fishing fleet has been deteriorating since the late nineties. What went wrong?" said Commissioner Damanaki. "We have been fishing too much. We have been carelessly throwing away unwanted catches. And we have let our fleet become obese. I want things to change. I want fisheries to be a source of wealth for fishermen and their families and for coastal communities."
On 22 September, the Commissioner spoke at the Institute of International and European Affairs on the gains that Ireland can expect from a reformed Common Fisheries Policy 
[40 KB] . She then met Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food, and representatives of the Irish fishing industry and civil society.
On 23 September, Commissioner Damanaki, together with Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, visited the Marine Institute in Co. Galway, to discuss key policy areas and priorities in marine science and innovation.
European Commissioner Maria Damanaki visits the USA
07/09/2011
The European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki is currently visiting the USA. She will be in Washington DC until 9 September 2011. The aim of her visit is to strengthen co-operation between the USA and the EU on various sectors of maritime and fisheries policy: in particular, a joint statement on the fight against Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported fishing will be signed. Maria Damanaki will also exchange views with US government officials, stakeholders and NGOs on several world maritime and fisheries issues.
On Sept 7 Mrs Damanaki and Mrs Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Director of NOAA (US National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration) will sign a Joint Commission-USA Statement on mutual cooperation in the fight against Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported fishing.
