EUROPEAN COMMISSION maritime affairs and fisheries

 

12 December 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, Since our last newsletter, the new von der Leyen Commission has started working on the key priorities for the mandate, including food security, water, and nature. Commissioner Kadis has already held key meetings with stakeholders, including the Advisory Councils.  We are finishing the year with the 2025 fishing opportunities agreements. On the basis of Commission proposals, EU Member States’ fisheries ministers have concluded unanimous agreements for the Mediterranean & Black seas, as well as for the Atlantic and the North Sea.  We also managed to reach agreements with Norway, the UK – as well as trilaterally.  We negotiated on behalf of the EU the final rounds of the year for some regional fisheries management organisations – with the annual meetings of both ICCAT and NEAFC.  The EU regrets the lack of conclusion of new global plastics treaty but we will continue advocating for a global solution that is badly needed for our ocean. I would like to thank the 12 000 volunteers who took part in our #EUBeachCleanup campaign to fight marine litter.  Finally, I would like to wish you and your loved ones a very happy holiday season!  Warm regards,  Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General  Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries @vitcheva_eu

News

Fisheries ministers agree on fishing opportunities for 2025 for the Atlantic and North Sea, and the Mediterranean and Black Sea EU fisheries ministers have agreed fishing opportunities for 2025 for the Atlantic and North Sea, Mediterranean and Black Sea.   more     Twelve sustainability measures for fishers to add fishing days under the compensation mechanism In a step towards sustainable fisheries management, EU fisheries ministers have reached an agreement on fishing opportunities for 2025 in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.   more     EU and Norway reach an agreement on fishing opportunities for 2025 On 5 December, the EU and Norway concluded negotiations on the management of shared stocks in the Skagerrak and Kattegat, quota exchanges, and reciprocal access to waters.   more     The EU and UK agree on fishing opportunities for 2025 worth €1.4 billion for EU fishers On 6 December, the EU and the United Kingdom reached an agreement on fishing opportunities for 2025 for more than 88 total allowable catches (TACs) in the North-East Atlantic. The agreement will contribute to the sustainable management of fish stocks jointly managed by the EU and the UK,   more     The EU, Norway and the UK agree on fishing opportunities in the North Sea for 2025 On Friday 29 November, the EU concluded an agreement with Norway and the UK securing sustainable management of North Sea stocks. The agreement will also secure valuable fishing opportunities and provide predictability for the EU fleets in 2025.   more     EU fishing fleet sees improved profitability but structural challenges remain The Commission has released the 2024 Annual Economic Report on the European Union fishing fleet, showing a substantial improvement in the fleet's economic performance, with gross profits increasing from both 2022 and 2023 to a projected €1,673 million in 2024.   more     Increased protection granted to five Natura 2000 sites in the Baltic Sea The EU has adopted a set of conservation measures to strengthen the environmental protection of 5 Natura 2000 sites in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Baltic Sea.   more     North-East Atlantic fisheries face significant challenges in conservation and control, as unprecedented disagreements emerge The 43rd annual meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) - which includes the European Union, representatives from Denmark in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation - concluded last Friday, 15 November.   more     Landmark agreement for sustainable management of Atlantic tropical tunas At the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting in Cyprus, the EU paved the way to an agreement for the sustainable management of tropical tunas.   more     EU regrets lack of conclusion on global plastics agreement After two years of negotiations, UN member states failed to reach an agreement.   more     #EUBeachCleanup 2024: Working together against marine litter Wrapping up the 2024 #EUBeachCleanup campaign, 367 events across the world collected tonnes of litter to raise awareness about marine pollution and its impact on the ocean.    more

OCEAN by Euronews

Euronews OCEAN Season 6, Episode 11 - Underwater WiFi, aquaponic farms: How European startups woo investors   Europe leads in ocean technology innovation, but faces a funding gap compared to the United States and China. The EU’s BlueInvest initiative aims to bridge this gap by connecting innovative startups with investors. Targeted support can help Europe’s blue economy thrive in the global market,   more

Stories of the month

Back from the brink: How scientists are saving the Baltic sturgeon The Baltic sturgeon has been vanishing at a startling rate in recent decades, at one point becoming essentially extinct. German scientists are leading efforts to reintroduce Baltic sturgeon to their native waterways and to protect existing populations through the EU-funded ‘Stör’ project.   more     From invasive to innovative: the delicious sea snails from the Black Sea Discovering the value of invasive Black Sea sea snails as a culinary delicacy, a family-run business from Varna in Bulgaria, has developed a new market for the molluscs. With EU support, Sever Export has grown rapidly, now operating a fleet of four vessels and an onshore plant for processing sea   more     A different approach to aquaculture: SEAWATER Cubes, winner of the BlueInvest Award 2024 SEAWATER Cubes, a German startup founded in 2018, aims to transform seafood production with its modular decentralised aquaculture system. This alternative approach to conventional farming methods provides more sustainable seafood, supports global food security, and offers an innovative source of income for farmers.   more     BlueInvest Platform: Accelerating the European blue economy The European Union's BlueInvest platform is a pioneering initiative aimed at accelerating innovation and investment opportunities in the sustainable blue economy.   more     Revolutionising our fight against pollution: two new EU projects against World Wars’ underwater unexploded ammunitions After the World Wars, hundreds of thousands of unexploded ammunitions have been disposed of in our European seas.   more

Map of the month

Global sea surface temperature Climate change is rapidly affecting marine ecosystems. Fisheries are suffering the impact of rapid warming, marine heat waves and extreme events. Changes in water temperature are having an impact on fish distribution. Explore the map of the month to see how sea surface temperature has evolved since the early 1990s.   more

Events

Fishers of the Future: Charting a Course for 2050 date 14/01/2025   more   European Ocean Days 2025 date 03/03/2025 - 07/03/2025   more   European Maritime Day 2025 - The call for workshops is now open. Deadline: 30 December. date 21/05/2025 - 23/05/2025   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   Improving scientific knowledge to strengthen the science-basis of management decisions under the CFP Deadline 20/02/2025   more

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