New research reveals that Europe could not feed itself on fish for more than 189 days a year, and is from July 9 dependent on imports A report released today by nef (new economics foundation) and OCEAN2012 reveals EU citizens are consuming far more fish than European seas can produce, thereby becoming increasingly dependent on seafood from other waters.

Les océans sont aujourd’hui menacés par la perte de leur biodiversité. C’est la raison pour laquelle OCEAN2012 propose, le 8 juin à 19 h à Paris, au Pavillon de l’eau, un film documentaire sur la pêche, non diffusé en France, The End of the Line, suivi d’un débat avec la salle.

Anlässlich des morgigen Weltozeantages weist OCEAN2012, ein Zusammenschluss von 70 europäischen Verbänden, auf die Mitverantwortung der Bundesregierung für den dramatischen Niedergang der Fischbestände in EU-Gewässern hin. Nach Jahren voller schlechter Nachrichten versucht selbst die Politik kaum noch, die Lage schön zu reden. Heute steht fest: Nach Analyse der EU-Kommission werden "88 % der Gemeinschaftsbestände über den höchstmöglichen Dauerertrag hinaus befischt".

BRUSSELS, June 5 2010 - A year after OCEAN2012 came to life, and coinciding with World Oceans Day on June 8th, the 70 member coalition dedicated to transforming European fisheries policy is launching the first ever European Fish Week.

We welcome the European Commission’s communication which shows a clear commitment to setting sustainable fishing opportunities in line with scientific advice and the precautionary approach, as well as full implementation of long-term management plans.

On Monday May 17th the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee meets with Commissioner Damanaki to discuss the contentious issue of ITQs. The Commission’s stated objectives for introducing ITQs is to reduce overcapacity, to improve conservation and to maximise the economic efficiency of the fishing fleet. While we recognise that the economic drive supporting this approach may result in some fleet reduction, there is no evidence that ITQs translate into consistent recovery of stock biomass. The OCEAN2012 letter to the members of the Committee goes on to explain our position.

We call on the EU to put in place a new Common Fisheries Policy that ensures the recovery and long-term viability of fish populations, the protection of marine ecosystems and the promotion of equitable and sustainable fishing practices. The reform of the EU’s fisheries should promote a shift from subsidised, capital-intensive, destructive practices, to a system based on appropriately-scaled, community-based fisheries, using ecologically responsible, selective fishing technology and practices. The new policy must serve particularly those fishers who work in small-scale, sustainable coastal and artisanal fisheries, and benefit European citizens, who demand healthy seas full of marine life.

The newly revamped Spanish version of the fishsubsidy.org website, released today by the Pew Environment Group and EU Transparency, shows Spain receives the largest share of EU subsidies for its fishing industry, much of it contributing to the overfishing of threatened fish stocks such as hake and monkfish.

BRUSSELS – A new report released today by OCEAN2012 and Meridian Prime highlights environmental and social criteria that are successfully employed in allocating access to fisheries resources. The report, Environmental and Social Criteria for Allocating Access to Fisheries Resources, offers case studies from ten different fisheries in Europe and around the world to show how reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) could be modelled.

(Brussels) – Vera Coelho, from Seas At Risk and OCEAN2012, issued the following statement responding to the vote in the European Parliament today on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). "A majority of members failed to acknowledge the established connection between fisheries subsidies and overfishing.”

(Brussels) – Uta Bellion, director of the Pew Environment Group’s European Marine Programme and OCEAN2012 co-ordinator, issued the following statement responding to the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee’s vote on an own initiative report on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). “Today the Fisheries Committee missed an opportunity to demonstrate clear support for an effective reform of the Common Fisheries Policy ensuring healthy fish stocks and vibrant coastal communities.”

Letter from 31 NGOs calling on French President Nicolas Sarkozy to support the listing of bluefin tuna on CITES Appendix I.

Fisheries management in the EU must improve if we are to keep stocks at a sustainable level, says Uta Bellion, Director of the Pew Environment Group's European Marine Programme in this opinion editorial, published in the Parliament Magazine, November 16 2009.

WWF, Birdlife International and OCEAN2012 call on EU Member States at the Environment Council on October 21 to ask the European Commission to present, as a matter of urgency, a roadmap for the reform, sector by sector, of subsidies that have environmentally harmful effects with the aim of their removal.

European Union countries are failing in the promise to make the common fisheries policy more transparent, claims a new report from FishSubsidy.org. With the policy undergoing a fundamental review, the report -"Slipping through the net: How EU countries evade new budget transparency rules", by investigative journalist Brigitte Alfter - provides a timely overview of access to information about EU fish subsidies and illustrates how weakness in the legal framework for transparency and bureaucratic obfuscation by member states are making it harder for EU citizens to know how their money is being spent.

(Brussels) - OCEAN2012, a new coalition dedicated to transforming European fisheries policy to prevent over-fishing and enhance human well-being was launched yesterday. OCEAN2012 was founded by the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements, the Fisheries Secretariat, nef (new economics foundation), the Pew Environment Group and Seas At Risk.