Press releases
Fisheries
Commission calls for cooperation to boost sustainable aquaculture in Europe
29/04/2013
To boost the development of EU aquaculture, the European Commission has issued strategic guidelines, thereby cooperating with Member States and stakeholders in overcoming the challenges facing the sector. The EU aquaculture sector has a significant growth potential and can help to spare overexploited sea resources. The Guidelines presented today will help coordinate efforts across all Member States. They do not create new legal obligations, but present a series of voluntary steps that Member States, the Commission, and stakeholders can take to promote an industry that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and provides consumers with healthy, high-quality seafood.
As outlined in the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy – currently under negotiation - the aquaculture industry can help fill the gap between an ever growing consumption of seafood and dwindling fish stocks. In fact, it can provide a viable alternative to overfishing and generate growth and jobs in both coastal and inland areas. In other parts of the world the industry is booming. Globally, in the EU it is stagnating, partly because of slow licensing procedures and administrative inefficiencies at different levels.
“Today, obtaining a licence for a new farm can take up to three years, which obviously deters investors” said European Commissioner Maria Damanaki. "I want to work with Member States to cut red tape and help the competitiveness of this sector building upon the high level of consumer and environmental protection we currently have".
Russia complains over EU-Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement before WTO
26/04/2013
Commenting on Russia's complaint over EU-Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement before WTO, Commissioner Maria Damanaki said: "The European Union is transparent when it comes to its fisheries partnerships agreements. We have nothing to hide. Our agreements are based on transparency, sustainability, good governance. Everybody can see the terms of our agreements. This is not the case always with our international partners. Any move against our agreements would serve as a catalyst for more transparency in fisheries agreements involving others."
New Protocol to EU – Gabon Fisheries Partnership Agreement
25/04/2013
The European Union and Gabon initialled on 24 April a new Protocol to the EU-Gabon Fisheries Partnership Agreement. The duration of the Protocol will be 3 years and will allow the European fleet to fish in the waters of Gabon after more than one year of interruption of fishing activities further to the expiration of the previous protocol on 2 December 2011.
The Protocol provides the EU with fishing opportunities for tuna and other highly migratory species for 27 purse seiners and 8 pole and line vessels, based on a reference tonnage of 20 000 tons. In return, the EU will pay Gabon an annual compensation of € 1 350 000, out of which € 450 000 is earmarked to support the fisheries policy of Gabon. European vessel owners's fees will be increased. Sectoral support has been significantly increased in relation to the previous Protocol expired in 2011, with the aim in particular of supporting the new Gabonese strategic plan for better fisheries governance, protection of resources and control in its waters named “the Blue Gabon”.
Commissioner Damanaki at Seafood Expo 2013
24/04/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki attended the annual Brussels Seafood Exhibition on 24 April ( more pictures ). After visiting several Member States' national stands, the Commissioner discussed a number of fisheries issues with Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Ms Liesbeth Berg-Hansen, and attended an event organised by the Norwegian delegation: under the guidance of a renowned local chef, a group of primary school children cooked a seafood-based meal and discussed the health merits of fish. Commissioner Damanaki presented the prizes to the winners at the award ceremony of the Olivier Roellinger Culinary Competition for Sustainable Seafood. At the Expo, Commissioner Damanaki launched the new online European Market Observatory for Fishery and Aquaculture Products .
Commissioner Damanaki launching new online market intelligence tool for fisheries and aquaculture
24/04/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki is officially launching the new European Market Observatory for Fishery and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA) at the European Seafood Exposition. The Observatory is an EU-wide interactive web-tool offering up-to-date data on volume, value and price of fisheries and aquaculture products throughout the supply chain, from when they land to port to when they are displayed on supermarket shelves.
“If you want to know market trends and market drivers for wild or farmed seafood products, the Market Observatory is the tool for you" said Commissioner Damanaki. She continued: "what counts today is value, not volume, of production. With this modern tool we empower economic actors through accurate, real-time market information”.
Commissioner Damanaki receives Fotis Kouvelis, Leader of the Greek Democratic Left Party DIMAR
23/04/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki met with Fotis Kouvelis, Leader of the Greek Democratic Left Party DIMAR, during the leader's official visit to the European Commission.
Agriculture and Fisheries Council
19/04/2013
The Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting of April 2013 took place in Luxemburg, under the presidency of Mr Simon Coveney, Irish Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The debate focussed on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and on the protection of seabirds. Press conference .
Unsustainable mackerel fishing in the North East Atlantic
16/04/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki participated in the European Parliament plenary debate in Strasbourg on 15th April, answering a question on 'Unsustainable mackerel fishing in the North East Atlantic' tabled by Mr Gallagher, MEP:
"As I have stressed on many occasions, in this House and in the Council, the Commission very much sympathises with the fishermen who are affected by the continuous uncertainty surrounding the mackerel fisheries. I have in mind in particular small fishermen and their families, who are more vulnerable to a decline in fishing opportunities than the large, still very profitable pelagic fishing industry. The Commission remains committed to doing the best we can to protect those fishermen.
We are monitoring the situation very carefully. Several possible lines of action are still open and none of these actions is being ruled out at this point in time. We will continue to use all available channels to exercise political pressure on Iceland and the Faroe Islands, together with our Norwegian colleagues.
![Photo © 2005 by Tomasz Sienicki [user: tsca, mail: tomasz.sienicki at gmail.com]](/commission_2010-2014/damanaki/headlines/press-releases/2013/04/20130416_skagerrak-hp.jpg)
Commissioner Maria Damanaki welcomes European Parliament support to ban discarding in the Skaggerak
16/04/2013
The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to adopt a ban on discarding unwanted fish of 35 species caught in the Skagerrak (the strait running between Norway, Sweden, and Denmark). Under the discard ban, fishing vessels would be obliged to land all caught fish in order to halt "discards" – the practice of throwing fish back into the sea, usually because they are of an unwanted species or size.
Commissioner Damanaki welcomed the European Parliament vote: "Stopping the wasteful practice of discarding edible fish is one of the key elements of the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy. The support that the European Parliament is giving to the proposal that the Commission tabled last summer for a discard ban in the Skaggerak is important as it helps us to convince those who still question the feasibility of a discard ban within a precise timeframe."
Commissioner Damanaki answers citizens' questions on Euronews iTalk
02/04/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki took part in Euronews programme, iTalk with Alex Taylor, where citizens all over Europe got a chance to directly ask a question to the Commissioner.
Find out what Commissioner Damanaki replied to your questions on the reform of Common FisheriesPolicy, including discards, overfishing, labelling and sustainable fishing.
Maritime affairs
Commissioner Damanaki meets with the EU Court of Auditors
12/04/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki had a working lunch meeting today with the EU Court of Auditors Chamber I "Preservation and management of natural resources", presided by the Dean, Mr Ioannis Sarmas, and members Mr Jan Kinst, Mr Michael Cretin, Mr Augustyn Kubik, Ms Rosa Budbergyte and Mr Cardiff.
The President of the EU Court of Auditors, Mr Caldera, also participated in the meeting. This was a good opportunity for Commissioner Damanaki to meet all members of Chamber I and engage in constructive cooperation during the meeting with them.
Commissioner Damanaki also had the chance to inform the Court on the on-going reform of the Common Fisheries Policy process and other areas of her portfolio. The Court has several on-going audits on the Fisheries and Maritime Affairs field, including a special report on aquaculture as well as a performance audit on DG MARE's policies and activities.
Commissioner Damanaki is counting on the Court of Auditors' contribution to the improvement of the overall efficiency of actions carried out in her policy area.
Commissioner Damanaki meets Cruise Lines International Association Europe
09/04/2013
Commissioner Maria Damanaki met with Mr Robert Ashdown, Secretary General of Cruise Lines International Association, Europe.
