Speaking at the IIFET conference in Aberdeen, Emiel Brouckaert of Belgian PO Rederscentrale said that the Belgian fleet had already been hit by the choke species problem less six months into the year, with Areas VIIh-k already closed off to them.
Policymakers were faced with a choice of working out all the answers before embarking on the Landing Obligation, or making it law and then working out the details in the process, according to Ernesto Peñas Lado, Director for Policy Development and Co-ordination at DG Mare.
The European Commission has proposed lifting the red card status on the Republic of Guinea, following significant improvements to its national fisheries governance with measures against IUU fishing.
The grassroots Dutch ‘Eendracht Maakt Kracht’ (Unity Is Strength) campaign, kickstarted online by a group of fishermen, has been gathering pace.
There is no doubt that Danish fishermen will be affected by the UK exit from the EU, according to the Danish Pelagic PO.
The UK’s withdrawal from the EU means that UK, from the date of exit, will take control of UK waters out to 200 miles (or the median line.) This will mean an opportunity to fundamentally change the way our fisheries are managed, the NFFO has stated following an executive committee meeting yesterday.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) met Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing yesterday (4th July) in Glasgow where it underlined the positive impact leaving the EU would have on the way our fisheries are managed.
The European Commission has announced an agreement on amending the rules currently in place for protecting cod stocks.
The results of the UK referendum should be sending a very clear signal to Brussels that fishermen find EU fisheries policy too bureaucratic, especially in regard to the Natura 2000 regulations, according to Johan Nooitgedagt of Dutch PO De Nederlandse Vissersbond.
The Danish Fishermen’s PO has stated that it is up to Britain how it handles its EU membership situation, but it is up to the Danish government to ensure that the interests of Danish fishermen are safeguarded in negotiating an agreement with the UK to ensure continued sustainable management of fisheries.