Coalition of NGO demands effective measures to reach MFSD goals
CCB • August 13, 2014
A large coalition of NGOs including CCB has produced a statement with clear demands on improved commitment and ambition in Member States implementation of the MSFD. The final stages of implementing the Directive is now under way and the Program of Measures is central to both reaching the already set targets and last chance to improve and finalize new targets with indicators. CCBs and the Commissions review of Member States performance from 2012-2014 show a great gap between the ambitions of the Directive and achievement so far. Poor integration and joint work in regional seas jeopardize the possibilities to reaching Good Ecological Status by 2020.
Read the joint statement here: NGO joint statement on priorities for MFSD PoM 2014
On Wednesday, 28 May, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) published its scientific advice for fish stocks in the Baltic Sea . In response, environmental NGOs from around the Baltic Sea region urge the European Commission to propose, and fisheries ministers to adopt, fishing opportunities at levels well below the headline advice to safeguard ecosystem needs and dynamics and allow for rapid recovery of Baltic Sea fish populations.
Key Baltic fish populations are in crisis, warn environmental NGOs. New scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, confirms the poor condition of key Baltic fish populations, several of which remain collapsed (1). EU fisheries ministers must set 2026-catch limits well below ICES advice and prioritise long-term recovery over short-term economic gains.