Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Fishing Discard Policy To End

Good, not before time.


Fishing discards practice thrown overboard by EU

EU makes compromise agreement to phase-in ban on discards from 2014, but critics say that will be too late for some species
Fiona Harvey
13 June 2012


Who's that young fellow me lad?


The wasteful practice of throwing away healthy and edible fish at sea will be ended in Europe, for the first time in four decades, in a partial victory for environmental campaigners who have viewed a discards ban as the key step to preserving fish stocks.

But – crucially – the date when such a ban will come into force is still in question, raising fears that it may be implemented too late to save some species.

More than 1m tonnes of healthy fish are annually thrown back dead into the sea by fishermen – due to EU rules, or in order to maximise their profits – and a ban on discarding fish such as mackerel and herring is likely from 2014. However for other very pressurised species such as cod, haddock, plaice and sole, the ban could be phased in from 2015, and not be fully in force until 2018. That, experts say, may be too late to be effective.

Mette Gjerskov, the fisheries minister for Denmark, the current holder of the revolving EU presidency, said: "Today the [EU] Council for the first time stated that a discard ban will be a reality."

Maria Damanaki, the EU fisheries chief, said: "It was a compromise, but a step in the right direction, a step forward, [and] workable."

Although her proposals for comprehensive reform of the common fisheries policy – the biggest overhaul of the longstanding policy since it was formed – have not been implemented as Damanaki wanted, she vowed to fight on, saying the focus would switch to the European Parliament, which will now discuss the council's decisions and could try to strengthen the proposals.

Richard Benyon, the UK fisheries minister, who stayed firmly in favour of a discards ban but faced a revolt from the Scottish devolved administration over its timing, said: "After years of pressing to eliminate discards it was always my aim to get the council to agree to end this wasteful practice as soon as possible. While I am disappointed that the council has not agreed the firm dates that I was seeking, a commitment to ending discards is a step in the right direction."

The key question is now over when a discards ban for key species is implemented. Conservationists warned that unnecessarily prolonging the practice could be the death knell for many of the EU's dwindling fish stocks.

The compromise agreement came after a marathon negotiation session in Luxembourg, at which EU fisheries ministers warred over whether to ban discards, when to do so, and how to set a "maximum sustainable yield", by which fisheries would be managed in accordance with scientific advice over how much fishing they could bear.

After more than 18 hours of negotiations, which stretched on to dawn on Wednesday morning in Luxembourg, the final decision was hailed by the Danish presidents of the European Union as "a very important step in the direction of a radical new fisheries policy – a sustainable fisheries policy".

Gjerskov emphasised the battle that had to be fought to get this far: "This was not given, six months ago [that the EU would opt for a ban on discards]." Several member states, including France, had campaigned vociferously against banning discards, because the current system allows fishermen to make up their quota by selecting only the highest value species and the best specimens, throwing away the rest, and thus maximising their profits but destroying large numbers of healthy and edible fish. more

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Council also reached general approach on the common market organisation for fisheries and aquaculture products. The key elements in the new organisation are an end to intervention for fish products, a greater role for the producer’s organization and more information for consumers such as an EU sustainability label.

http://eu2012
.dk/en/NewsList/Juni/Uge-24/post-
agri

beach view, waves and yellow sky
bit.ly/OYcqSo

Anonymous said...

Good morning my friend on the other side of the pond,

OT

Dutch finance minister under fire over Cyprus 'model' for other banks

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2013/03/dutch_finance_minister_under_f_1.php

The minister said he did not know the English word ‘template’ so could not have used it.

I have little understanding of the issue, but I can well imagine that he did not use the word template.

Ohh those languages.

Kind regards from your little tulip. DD

Himself said...

Via Twitter

Faisal Islam ‏@faisalislam 36m

On Dutch TV last night: "Dijselbloem said he didn’t even know the English word “template” so he maintains he couldn’t have used it".

xx My little Dutch petal.

Anonymous said...

http://blogs.ft.com/brusselsblog/2013/03/the-ftreuters-dijsselbloem-interview-transcript/

Anonymous said...

http://on.ft.com/YBY7t7

comment

smroet | March 26 6:34pm |

It is clear that Dijsselbloem did not say 'template' or 'model', the journalists did. After that, it is just approximate reporting by others to attribute this to Dijsselbloem. I don't think the financial world lost any lives because of what he said. Nor should he resign. Maybe the journalists and the 'markets' should calm down a bit about this: that would be good for everybody.

-----------------------------------

Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense. - Gertrude Stein (1874 - 1946)

I couldn't agree more.

Good night m'dear, that would be good for everybody. xx

Anonymous said...

http://nyr.kr/NWM8zz

Himself said...

Seems like a nice lady.

Google alice b. toklas brownies

Anonymous said...

un évanouissement reveillé

Anonymous said...

Responding yesterday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said hindsight was a wonderful thing.

http://bit.ly/ZQBbTt

Anonymous said...

Eurocrisis Songfestival
8, 10, 12 biljoen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvUAE6AdH5U

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z9ztKDX0T4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3k4HcvCOS4

Anonymous said...

http://www.andrerieutranslations.com/Lyrics/Het-kleine-cafe.html

Himself said...

Thanks Chuck.

I have in the past been quite a fan of d Furies, seeing them live on a number of occasions.

By far my favourite is Big Ship, but also very rare. Below is a scratchy old vinyl rendition.

If I can find my original copy, I shall up it Youtube.

I don't do a bad rendition myself, it's one I can belt out.

But I know why I don't do music any more; not that I needed a reminder. Sat here crying my fuckin' eyes out.

BIG SHIPS A'SAILING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3Dp0VUErPI

I Will Love You Ev'ry Time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtbynyGgB2o&list=PLA26B1104DBD9A7C2

Steal away

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAvZwDb5_kg

Anonymous said...

And the only tune I hear is the sound of the wind,

Thank you very much for music links.

Anonymous said...

wonderful
http://bit.ly/11S4Hha

Himself said...

New girlfriend? LOL