MARITIME AFFAIRS AND FISHERIES:newsletter

 

07 June 2024   Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Newsletter

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In this issue Foreword   News   OCEAN by Euronews   Stories of the month   Map of the month   Podcast: Ocean Calls   Events   Funding opportunities   Publications and studies

Foreword

Dear readers, I would like to open this foreword by inviting you all to go out and vote in the coming days in the European Elections. Every voice and every vote counts!   This weekend, we also celebrate World Oceans Day! Oceans sustain life on earth, support the livelihoods of coastal communities, and need care and respect at a global level. We have achieved a lot since last year – from the adoption of the Treaty of the High Seas to protect biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction; to the EU’s pledge of €3.5 billion worth of commitments to protect the ocean.   The EU Mission Restore our Ocean & Waters keeps growing. The third Digital Ocean Forum will take place on Thursday, 13 June. It is an opportunity to showcase the capacity of the EU Digital Twin of the Ocean to be a reliable solution to help manage our ocean resources and protect them.   In other exciting news… The #EUBeachCleanup campaign is back Monday, 10 June, and will run until October. I invite you all to participate and register your event if you are planning on organising a clean-up in the coming months. Warm regards,  Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General  Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries @vitcheva_eu

News

Progress on recovery of fish populations, but more efforts needed to build resilient and sustainable fisheries sector The overall sustainability of the EU fisheries continues to gradually improve and fewer stocks are overfished, according to the Commission Communication ‘Sustainable fishing in the EU: state of play and orientations for 2025’ adopted today.   more     Celebrating 10 years of EMFF/EMFAF – the European Maritime, Fisheries (and Aquaculture) Fund On 15 May 2014, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Regulation was adopted. 10 years later, we are looking back at the great results achieved: from supporting fisheries science to creating innovative solutions for the blue economy, the fund supported positive change for citizens,   more     European Maritime Day 2024 – making waves in the sustainable blue economy On 30 and 31 May 2024, Svendborg, a Danish coastal city with a strong maritime heritage, became a vibrant hub for the EU maritime community. Svendborg hosted the European Maritime Day 2024, welcoming more than 1100 maritime experts and actors.   more     The Commission welcomes the agreement on sustainable fisheries reached at Indian Ocean Tuna Commission The EU welcomes the important decisions reached during the 28th annual meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), which will make fisheries in the Indian Ocean more sustainable. 11 new conservation and management measures were adopted.   more     MARSEC EU 24: Live maritime security exercise boosts EU-wide cooperation at sea From 23 to 28 May, the Navies and Coast Guards of seven EU Member States, together with European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX), participated in the MARSEC EU 24 live maritime security exercise,   more     EU Blue Champions unveiled: 20 companies will receive advisory support to grow their business The Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have unveiled 20 'EU Blue Champions' who will receive advisory support to grow their business.   more     Europe's bathing waters remain safe The vast majority of bathing water sites in Europe met the European Union's most stringent ‘excellent' bathing quality standards in 2023, according to the latest annual Bathing Water report published today.   more     EU Blue Economy report 2024: innovation and sustainability drive growth The latest edition of the EU Blue Economy Report is out, offering an in-depth analysis of European blue economy sectors and their performances based on the latest available data.   more     EU Arctic Forum & Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue 2024: Mapping out together a sustainable future for the region That’s a wrap on the 2024 edition of the EU Arctic Forum & Indigenous Peoples' Dialogue!   more     Commission approves stricter controls for more flexible catch reporting in specific fisheries The European Commission has adopted conditions and safeguards for the use of certain exemptions to the margin of tolerance rules to ensure accurate fish quotas and healthy fisheries.   more     Commission notifies Senegal of need to step up fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing The Commission has issued a ‘yellow card' to Senegal, a notification of the need to step up actions in the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. In the framework of the EU's commitment to fight IUU fishing worldwide and as a consequence of several years of   more

OCEAN by Euronews

Euronews OCEAN Season 6, Episode 5 – Seaweed farming: a new lifeline for fishers facing declining catches   Seaweed farming presents a sustainable income alternative for fishers, offering economic diversification while combatting overfishing. This practice not only enhances coastal livelihoods but also plays a crucial role in improving marine health by acting as carbon sinks and supporting biodiversity.   more

Stories of the month

ULVA FARM - Large scale sea cultivation of green seaweed Oceans are a substantial source of protein and not just because of fish. Ulva, a green seaweed also called sea lettuce, is becoming known for its high nutritional value over current vegetable and animal products and it is affirming itself as a great alternative in the food industry.   more     Pescatourism: a cooperation opportunity for Mediterranean fisheries From the shores of Sardinia to the coasts of Greece, fishers are embarking on new adventures to make their trade known to the wider public. With the support of Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), fishers are being trained, going on study visits, and learning to diversify their income.    more     From sea to soil: Ficosterra's journey with BlueInvest As the global population continues to grow, the pressure to meet the increasing demand for food has never been greater. The Spain-based start-up Ficosterra offers a ground-breaking solution that maximises crop production while minimising the ecological footprint. Their secret weapon? Seaweed.   more

Map of the month

Macroalgae production facilities Check out the Map of the month to see where macroalgae-producing facilities are located in Europe. This map is based on data from the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) and shows facilities by production methods.   more

Podcast: Ocean Calls

Ocean Calls Podcast – Season 3 Ep. 5: Meet the people working in Europe's small-scale fisheries In this episode of Ocean Calls, we hear from the people behind the fish on your plate. Small-scale fisheries make up the backbone of our coastal communities, yet they are often overlooked despite their crucial role in Europe's fishing industry.   more     Ocean Calls Podcast – Season 3 Ep. 4: Where is your fish from and is it really what you think it is? It may be the case that the fish on your plate isn't what it claims to be. Such fraud is thought to be widespread.   more

Events

Macro-regional & Sea Basin Strategies Days 2024 date 12/06/2024 - 13/06/2024 venue THE EGG, Brussels Registration Register now!   more

Funding opportunities

Maritime spatial planning (MSP) Projects (EMFAF-2024-PIA-MSP) Deadline 11/06/2024   more   European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) - 5 lots Deadline 01/07/2024   more

Publications and studies

Guiding Future Arctic Policy   more     The EU blue economy report 2024   more

This newsletter is published by the European Commission's Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Visit our websites: Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner Sinkevičius