EUROPEAN COMMISSION:Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

 

03 October 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   Events   Funding opportunities

Foreword

Dear readers, Full steam ahead as we enter one of the busiest times of the year on the fisheries front!  We are also preparing for the new mandate of the European Commission, and already congratulate Costas Kadis on his nomination as the new Commissioner-designate for Fisheries and Oceans.  On quotas, we presented a first set of fishing opportunities for 2025 in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.  To ensure a level-playing field for our fishers, we’re also proposing a revision of our tools to address unsustainable fishing practices by non-EU countries on fish stocks of common interest.  I am also happy to announce that we have renewed our sustainable fisheries partnership agreement with Guinea-Bissau!  Finally, catch up on this month’s OCEAN series, with a riveting episode dedicated to the Digital Twin of the Ocean!   Warm regards,  Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General  Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries @vitcheva_eu

News

Commission proposes a first set of fishing opportunities for 2025 in the Mediterranean and Black Seas The Commission has adopted its proposal for fishing opportunities for 2025 for the Mediterranean and the Black Seas. The proposal promotes the sustainable management of fish stocks in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas and delivers on the political commitments made in the MedFish4Ever and Sofia Declarations.   more     Commission proposes a revision of EU tools to address unsustainable fishing practices by non-EU countries on fish stocks of common interest The Commission has proposed a revision of the EU tools designed to address unsustainable fishing practices by non-EU countries on fish stocks of common interest. This revision will make the current tools more effective and reinforce the good governance and sustainability of our ocean.   more     Commission takes measures to reduce incidental catches of dolphins and small cetaceans in the Bay of Biscay based on Member States recommendation The Commission has implemented a joint recommendation agreed between France, Spain, Portugal and Belgium through a delegated act securing regional measures in the Bay of Biscay for 2025 to prevent incidental catches of dolphins and other small cetaceans caused by fishing.   more     NAFO Annual Meeting 2024: Key Decisions on cod and red fish stocks The EU took a leading role in the 46th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) which took place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, from 23 to 27 September 2024.   more     Fisheries multiannual plans in the North Sea and the Western Waters help reduce fishing pressure on stocks The Commission has published the first report on the implementation of the multiannual plan (MAP) for the management of fisheries in the North Sea and the Western Waters of the Atlantic Ocean.   more     European Union and Guinea-Bissau renew their sustainable fisheries partnership The EU and Guinea-Bissau have signed a new protocol for the implementation of the fisheries partnership agreement . This will allow EU vessels to access Guinea-Bissau’s waters for a period of 5 years, while fostering the sustainable development of the fisheries sector in Guinea-Bissau.    more     Can desalination help address Europe's freshwater needs? Seen as a drought-proof alternative to dwindling freshwater supplies, desalination removes salt from seawater and is ready for consumption, but there are significant drawbacks to the process.   more     Remarks by Commissioner Hoekstra at the High Ambition for the High Seas UNGA event   more

OCEAN by Euronews

Euronews OCEAN Season 6, Episode 9 – Digital Twin of the Ocean: Europe’s game-changer for sustainable seas   The European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) is an ambitious project aimed at creating a digital replica of the ocean environment. It combines data, models, and applications to provide a comprehensive virtual representation of marine systems.   more

Stories of the month

EMODnet: catalyst of the Digital Twin of the Ocean and blue innovation EMODnet, the European Marine Observation and Data Network, is a marine data service initiated by the European Commission in 2009. Funded by the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund with an average annual budget of EUR 7.5 million   more     Navigating innovation: D-ICE Engineering and BlueInvest D-ICE Engineering, a French company, brings cutting-edge solutions to the maritime and offshore sectors. Their flagship product, OCEANiCS, is a disruptive navigation system designed to improve the efficiency and safety of marine operations.   more     Reconnecting land and sea: Ireland’s first seaweed processing facility Seaweed in Ireland has a longstanding tradition and is cemented in Irish folklore but its use has been lost in recent years. Recognising the potential of seaweed, The Seaweed Company used EU funds to develop a seaweed farm and Ireland’s first dedicated seaweed processing facility.   more

Map of the month

Underwater depth This map shows the average depth of the water in the European region. The data are provided by the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). EMODnet supplies data for the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EU DTO), including information on the marine environment and human activities.   more

Events

CISE High Level Event date 17/10/2024 venue Thon Hotel EU, Brussels, Belgium   more   SAVE THE DATE! European Ocean Days 2025 date 03/03/2025 - 07/03/2025   more

Funding opportunities

Maritime regional cooperation fostering Smart Specialisation and Innovation in the Sustainable Blue Economy (Topic 1) Deadline 18/02/2025   more   Demonstrating feasibility and environmental benefits of regenerative ocean farming and boosting algae innovation (Topic 2) Deadline 18/02/2025   more

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