On the occasion of the World Fisheries Day, sixteen small-scale fisheries organisations, from Europe and Africa, environmental and development NGOs, and the former Vice-chair of the European Parliament fisheries committee have signed a statement calling the European Commissioner-designate for Environment and Oceans, Mr. Virginijus Sinkevičius, to secure sustainable fisheries and prosperous fishing communities in Europe and in partner developing countries through an inclusive oceans strategy that recognises the central role of fisheries. Until now, the European Commission priorities draw from its 2012 Blue Growth strategy and focus on support for sectors such as energy production, aquaculture, shipping, marine biotechnology, mining and tourism. Fisheries is marginalised in this approach.
On 15 November, European Small-scale fishers (LIFE) and African artisanal fishermen (CAOPA) met in Brussels for the first time and signed a copy of the statement.
The important role of fisheries goes beyond crude economic indicators as they contribute to food security, livelihoods, social cohesion, cultural heritage and identity, while they also maintain important synergies with other sectors, such as coastal tourism. In the absence of policies protecting fishing communities, the European Commission’s approach will increase competition for scarce resources in coastal areas, and sustainable fisheries and fishing communities will likely be on the losing side.
You can read the full statement here.