Blue shark (Prionace glauca) does not meet CITES listing criteria. Europêche opposes the inclusion of blue shark in Appendix II of CITES

In the review of the 15-Point Action Plan on the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapters of EU FTAs, we ask the European Commission to emphasise the requirement for the EU to create binding and enforceable mechanisms to ensure that the stipulations of the chapter on IUU fishing are properly respected and implemented by the non-EU countries concerned.

Calling the European Commission to organise with EU Social Partners on Sea Fisheries an in depth discussion on the entry/exit schemes and the fishing capacity measurements and their social impact.

A joint resolution on human rights & labour abuses in certain Asian fishing fleets, which calls the European Commission to take appropriate measures to counter the unacceptable and documented human rights and labour abuses on certain Asian fishing fleets.

EU Biodiversity Strategy

Welcome to the new Director-General for DG MARE and meeting request from Europêche

On the implementation of the Western Mediterranean Multiannual Plan

Letter to the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the Republic of Senegal asking for help and cooperation in facilitating the COVID-19 testing and transfers of fishermen as essential workers across the continent.

Introduction to new DG MARE Director General Charlina Vitcheva

Fisheries Control System revision

EU Sectoral Social Dialogue on Sea Fisheries Joint Resolution on the need of a strong social dimension in the CFP

Social Partners suggestions for future STECF social data in the EU fisheries sector study

Follow-up letter on the free movement of fishermen

EU support to fisheries sector in the COVID-19 crisis

Social Partners in the fisheries sector urgently calls for special regulatory measures and actions to secure the free circulation of fishermen

COVID-19 disruption of fishing and market activities

Industry response impact of COVID-19 on the fishery sector

The EU Social Partners in Sea Fisheries – ETF and Europêche – adopted a joint resolution on the socio-economic impact of the EU landing obligation on the fishing industry. The regulation on the landing obligation was adopted in 2015 and has been gradually implemented since then. It aims at reducing the unwanted catch by obliging fishing operators to land (bring to shore) all caught fish. On one hand, it is supposed to allow for better monitoring of the use of fishing quotas, and on the other, it should incentivise the operators to invest in more selective gear. However, the landing obligation was introduced without any prior impact assessment of the socio-economic and safety consequences. It is already evident that the measure poses several concerns regarding the well-being of the fishers and economic performance of the sector. This is why the EU Social Partners agreed to call on the European Commission to revise the EU landing obligation so that it is consistent with other legal in

The European fishing industry, represented by Europêche, recognises the work of CITES concerning marine species to ensure that the international trade does not threaten their survival. However, simultaneously, the work and instruments already defined and implemented for this purpose by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), governments, and the sector itself needs to be respected. In this vein, when it comes to highly migratory stocks that number in their millions and where trans-boundary management arrangements are already in place, the fishing industry fails to understand the need for additional CITES measures. Therefore, the sector opposes the inclusion of shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) in Appendix II of CITES in view of the arguments hereunder.

In view of the ongoing Council negotiations of the new set of autonomous tariff quotas (ATQs), the EU Social Partners would like to express great concern over the potential quota increase of zero-duties imports of fishery products which would have a major socio-economic impact for the European fishing sector.

In view of the preparation of the new set of autonomous quotas that will replace those established in Regulation 2015/2265, we would like to send you some important remarks which are of major concern for the European fishing industry.

The IUCN Red List is recognized as one of the most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity. Back in 2011 the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) was listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered and therefore included in the Red List of Threatened Species. This decision was exclusively adopted on the basis of IUCN's own scientific data and criteria. We have recently learned that, after almost 10 years of lack of updated scientific advice by IUCN, this body has the intention to revise the global status of the 61 tuna fish stocks altogether in the coming years. Of course, the industry would like to put the focus on the Bluefin Tuna in view of the current extremely negative assessment sustained by this environmental organisation.

The Commission has recently proposed a ban to fish for European eel (Anguilla anguilla) of an overall length of 12 cm or longer in Union waters of the ICES area and in the Baltic Sea and distributed a proposal for a common declaration on further measures including bans of fisheries in lakes and rivers.

Linnéa Engström, Member of the European Parliament, and Europêche, representing the fisheries sector in Europe, call on the EU Commission to make commitments on control and imports of fish at Our Ocean conference in Malta this week. We believe that the Commission needs to work out more effective EU-wide rules to ensure that only fish meeting high social and environmental standards can enter the EU market, as well as a better implementation of the EU control regime in general.

Letter concerning the new developments in the snow crab fishing conflict between EU and Kingdom of Norway in Svalbard

The EU fishing industry endorses the opportunity offered by this proposal to review the existing regulation, in order to further promote simplification, improve governance, align the text with the Control and IUU Regulations, better monitoring and enforcement of rules. However, there is a need to strike the right balance between the sustainable management of fishing activities outside Union waters and the need for solid and speedy administrative procedures. In view of the general approach agreed by the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 28th June 2016 and the European Parliament (EP) legislative resolution on the proposal dated 2nd February 2017, the EU Social Partners are pleased to provide hereafter some comments for the upcoming trilogue discussions.

Following the recent legislative developments, Europêche and EAPO feel the urgency to inform the co-legislators about the EU fishing industry opinion on the draft Technical Conservation Regulation. We hereby inform you about our immediate concerns and observations regarding the development of the Regulation.

The Commission Proposal COM(2016) 698 published on the 27th of October 2016 contains the proposals to the Council in relation to the setting of fishing opportunities for the majority of demersal and some pelagic stocks for 2017. As usual many TACs and quotas are shown with the reference ‘pm’ and between the publication and the decisive Council of Ministers in December, the missing data are being retrieved. The fishing industry keeps track of this development and awaits the last possible moment just before the Council meeting to finalize this communication to the Member State ministers responsible for fisheries.

The European Commission (EC) has proposed a new Regulation on Fishing Authorisation Rights (FAR) as part of the REFIT programme. While the purpose of this proposal is to align the text with the Lisbon Treaty as well as the Control and IUU Regulations; it also aims to modernise, harmonise and simplify the current system. In this sense, the responsibilities of the EU, Member States (MS) and operators will be properly defined avoiding duplication of effort and resources. The proposal has also extended the scope of applicability in order to guarantee a comprehensive legal framework regulating the EU's long distance fleet activities. In view of the general approach agreed by the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 28th June 2016 and the Draft Report from the European Parliament dated 1st August 2016, Europêche is pleased to provide hereafter some comments and amendments to improve the content of the EC proposal.

ETF and Europêche, EU level social partners in the fisheries sector, organised, in the framework of an EU co-funded project, a seminar on ‘The promotion of the ratification of ILO work in fishing Convention by EU member states’ which took place in The Hague on 14 April 2016 and adopted the following declaration

We are writing to you in relation to the social partners’ agreement (SPA) on the implementation into EU legislation of the ILO Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (C188), which is currently being discussed at the European Council’s Working Party on Social Affairs.

We are writing to you in relation to the social partners’ agreement (SPA) on the implementation into EU legislation of the ILO Work in Fishing Convention (C188), which is currently being discussed by the Council’s working party on social questions.

Under the provisions of the TFEU, the Commission is responsible for promoting and facilitating the European social dialogue. In 1974, the Commission set up the joint committees, one being dedicated to the social affairs in sea fisheries.

The European Commission (EC) has proposed a new Regulation on Fishing Authorisation Rights (FAR) as part of the REFIT programme. While the purpose of this proposal is to align the text with the Lisbon Treaty as well as the Control and IUU Regulations; it also aims to modernise, harmonise and simplify the current system.

Europêche, the Association of National Organisations of Fishery Enterprises in the European Union, was founded in 1962 and is regarded as the most important EU-wide representative of the catching sector.

ICES advice will provide the basis for the Commission's proposal on fishing opportunities in the Baltic region for 2017 which will be published in the autumn. The Council will then decide the final fishing possibilities in October.

As you know, the European Commission is currently drafting a revision of the GES Decision 2010/477/EU laying down criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status (GES) and specifications and standardised methods for monitoring and assessment.

First and foremost we want to thank you again for your explanation and favourable discussions with industry representatives in Brussels on 27 April 2016. We appreciate your willingness to listen to our opinions.

The European Commission is drafting a revision of the GES Decision 2010/477/EU laying down criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status (GES) and specifications and standardised methods for monitoring and assessment.

During the meeting of the NAFO working group tasked with evaluating strategies for Greenland halibut management, which took place in the Faroe Islands on 4th-6th April, there was a difference of opinion regarding the scientific studies examining this evaluation.

As you are aware, in accordance with the new regulations (Implementing Acts (EU Regulations 2446/2015 and 2447/2015)), from 1st May 2016, the proof of the customs status of Union goods for sea-fishing products caught by EU vessels and transhipped in a 3 rd country territory, shall be provided by means of a printout of the fishing logbook, accompanied by a certification issued by the customs authority of that country evidencing that the products were under customs supervision and have undergone no handling other than necessary for their preservation.

The European fishing industry has been following with great interest the revision process of the EC Regulation No. 1881/2006 as regards the establishment of a new regulatory framework for the control of mercury in food.

On behalf of the European fishing industry, we are writing to inform you about a serious problem facing the EU long distance fishing fleets concerning the effective implementation of the new rules contained in the Commission Delegated Regulation 2446/2015 and Commission Implementing Regulation 2447/2015 supplementing and laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of the UCC.

As you are well aware, ministers met today for the Foreign Affairs Council to discuss the issue of climate diplomacy, following the global agreement on climate change reached in Paris at the end of last year. The aim of the Council is to approve a plan of action on how to implement the objectives of the agreement.

On behalf of the European fishing industry, we are writing to inform you about an extremely serious problem faced by the EU surface longline fishing fleets concerning the embargo on consignments containing shark fins and/or other shark-related products.

On behalf of the members of Europêche, we would like to draw your attention to the worrying latest developments concerning the implementation of certain Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements, particularly Senegal, Madagascar, Guinea Bissau and Comoros.

The Control Regulation (EU 1224/2009) should not be considered in isolation since it is essentially concerned with the control and enforcement of other EU regulations relating to the management of the fishing industry. It ensures all rules are applied in a harmonised manner across the EU, that fishery products can be fully traced through the supply chain and that fishermen operate on a level playing field.

The European Commission (EC) has recently proposed a new Regulation on Fishing Authorisation Rights (FAR) as part of the REFIT programme. While the purpose of this proposal is to align the text with the Lisbon Treaty as well as the Control and IUU Regulations; it also aims to modernise, harmonise and simplify the current system. In this sense, the responsibilities of the EU, Member States (MS) and operators will be properly defined avoiding duplication of effort and resources.

Multi-annual Management Plans will be the principal vehicle for the delivery of CFP objectives in the years ahead. As such, it is of paramount importance that they are well designed, workable, absorb the lessons learned from the past, and fit well within the wider context of the CFP and the EU’s international obligations.

We are writing to you to express our support to the Pelagic Freezer Trawler Association who have written to you on 1st January this year. As you are now aware, following the new protocol under the EU‐Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement, the European fishing sector started to prepare itself to return to fishing in Mauritanian waters.