Press releases
Fisheries
Working lunch with Pacific Islands Ambassadors
27/03/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki took part in the working lunch, hosted by New Zealand Ambassador Vangelis Vitalis, with the participation of Australian Ambassador, Mr Lewis, Fiji Ambassador Mr Vocea, Tuvalu Ambassador Mr Leuelu, East Timor Ambassador Mr Santos, and the Samoan Charge d'Affaires, Ms Levy. The working lunch had as a special focus the cooperation in international fisheries as well as trade-related issues.
Joint Statement by Commissioner Damanaki and Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Berg-Hansen
27/03/2013
"We regret the announcement made yesterday by the Faroe Islands of their fishing quotas for Atlanto-Scandian herring and mackerel. We continue to be deeply concerned about the excessive and unsustainable level of Faroese fishing. On mackerel, the Faroe Islands have announced that they will take as much as 23% of the scientifically recommended quota for themselves.
They have also announced that they will add to this their unused quota from 2012. This may result in an increase in fishing. On herring, the Faroe Islands have now unilaterally more than tripled their quota. This unilateral move risks affecting seriously the health and sustainability of that important fish stock.
We are deeply concerned that by taking yet another unilateral step and by leaving the community of coastal states on a second North Atlantic fish stock, the Faroe Islands have embarked on dismembering the joint management of our shared resources. We call on the Faroe Islands to reverse those steps immediately."
Commissioner Damanaki meets representatives of the Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association
26/03/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki met with representatives of the Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association.
CITES agrees on global protection of shark species threatened by unsustainable trade
15/03/2013
Yesterday, the 178 countries that are part of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) approved the decision to grant extra protection to five shark species threatened by unsustainable international trade. The new rules will ensure that international trade of five shark species -which are highly vulnerable and have experienced alarming declines over the last years- only occurs if there are guarantees that it is sustainable.
Commissioner Maria Damanaki welcomed the decision: "The EU actively supports sharks protection, promoting the measures taken recently to this purpose by Regional Fisheries bodies and by having adopted new rules on a full ban on shark finning at sea, with no exemptions. Today's decision represents a further step in the right direction, for the safeguard of marine ecosystems and the benefit of those who depend on them."
European Commission welcomes progress within CITES for global protection of shark species threatened by unsustainable trade
11/03/2013
Commissioners Damanaki and Potočnik welcomed progress within CITES for global protection of shark species threatened by unsustainable trade: "We warmly welcome the decisions at the CITES meeting today to grant extra protection to five shark species threatened by unsustainable international trade. Millions of shark specimens are traded annually, mostly for their fins. The sharks covered by the CITES decisions are highly vulnerable and have experienced alarming declines over the last years in all Oceans. These measures complement the measures already adopted recently by Regional Fisheries bodies. Moreover, new EU rules on a full ban on shark finning at sea, with no exemptions, will be entering into force in the EU. The EU worked together with the USA, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and other countries from Central America to table the measures which were approved today at the CITES Conference of the Parties. Those measures have a global coverage and will ensure that international trade only occurs if there are guarantees that it is sustainable. They will be considered for final adoption at the end of the CITES meeting on Thursday. We call upon all CITES Parties to confirm the choice that they made today. This will represent a landmark development for the protection of marine resources worldwide, for the benefits of marine resources and those who depend on it."
Chairpersons of Agriculture and Fisheries Committees of EU Member States National Parliaments to discuss fisheries reform
08/03/2013
On Monday 11 March, the Chairpersons of Agriculture and Fisheries Committees of National Parliaments of EU Member States are meeting in Dublin. Commissioner Maria Damanaki and Minister Simon Coveney will be presenting an update of current negotiations on the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.
Commission announces deductions to Spanish mackerel quota
05/03/2013
Further to overfishing by Spain of its mackerel quota in 2009, the European Commission has decided on a deduction scheme for future Spanish quotas. Following a detailed investigation, Spain is to pay back a total of 65.429 tonnes of mackerel over 11 years, i.e. by 2023. This scheme takes into account both environmental and socio-economic aspects of the fishery in a balanced manner.
Commissioner Maria Damanaki, said: "Enforcement of fisheries rules is the flipside of sustainability. When overshooting happens, the damage done to the stocks must be repaired. This should happen, whenever possible, without ruining fishermen, in particular those who complied with the rules".
Maritime affairs and fisheries
Commissioner Damanaki in Moscow
22/03/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki took part in Executive-to-Executive meeting between the European Commission and the Russian Government, during which a broad range of issues were discussed.
In the framework of the visit, Commissioner Damanaki met with the Head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries Mr. Andrey Krayniy. Recognizing the importance of preventing, deterring and eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, they discussed the respective approaches applied by the EU and Russia to tackle the problem and cooperate with third countries. Mr. Krayniy affirmed the interest of the Russian Federation to build cooperation with the EU in combatting IUU fishing.
Targeting a stronger EU-Russia cooperation in the Arctic
21/03/2013
The promotion of regional cooperation between the EU and Russia in the Arctic region and the Black Sea will top the agenda of Commissioner Maria Damanaki's visit to Moscow on 21-22 March. Commissioner Damanaki is part of a visit of the College of the European Commission to Moscow, in which a series of meetings with Russian government top officials will take place, including a meeting with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
Commissioner Damanaki meets Stavros Kalafatis, Greek Alternate Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change
08/03/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki met with Mr Stavros Kalafatis, Greek Alternate Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change.
Commissioner Damanaki meets Ms Mirtha María Hormilla Castro, Head of the Mission of Cuba to the EU
07/03/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki met with Ms Mirtha María Hormilla Castro, Head of the Mission of Cuba to the EU.
Commissioner Damanaki visits Azores and Madeira
05/03/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki is visiting Azores and Madeira on 4 and 5 March 2013. On 4 March, she visited Azores where she had discussions with Mr Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the Regional Azorean Government and officials of the Regional Government of Azores. Commissioner Damanaki also met with European Parliament members from the Azores and held a separate meeting with stakeholders (fishing industry, maritime industry, NGOs, citizen's organisation, processors etc.).
Maritime affairs
European research fleets to deepen cooperation
19/03/2013
Today, the project " EUROFLEET2 - New operational steps towards an alliance of European research fleets " is being launched in Brest. The project, coordinated by the IFREMER institute and funded under the 7th EU Research and Development Framework Programme, brings together 31 marine institutes, universities, foundations and SMEs from 20 European and Associated countries, with the aim of consolidating the construction of a pan-European distributed research fleet infrastructure, with coordinated access to European research vessels and equipment.
Commissioner Maria Damanaki welcomed the project: "Maritime research is paramount to boost blue growth: this project is a good example of how EU-wide coordination can be beneficial to explore the potential of our seas and foster the involvement of industry. This is one of the more than 640 marine-related research projects funded under the 7th EU Research and Development Framework Programme and I am confident that we will continue to provide fundamental support to these activities once the Horizon 2020 Programme will be in place."
Commission takes initiative to support Blue Growth through sustainable management of marine and coastal areas
13/03/2013
Today the Commission launched a proposal to improve the planning of maritime activities at sea and the management of coastal areas. The proposal – which takes the form of a draft directive – aims to establish a common European framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management in EU Member States, with a view to ensuring that the growth of maritime and coastal activities and the use of resources at sea and on coasts remain sustainable.
Commissioner Maria Damanaki said: "Today we are proposing a new step of the Integrated Maritime Policy of the European Union and offering a new tool for our Blue Growth Strategy. By facilitating sustainable development and investments at sea, the Directive will contribute to make real the potential of Europe's Blue Economy for growth and jobs".
