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OCEAN2012 Calls EU Fisheries Subsidies 'Blind Spending'
Markus Knigge , adviser to the Pew Environment Group's European Marine Programme and the OCEAN2012 coalition, issued the following statement today as the European Commission published its proposal for the next fisheries subsidies instrument, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111202/DC14467)
"In 2008, the European Commission identified overcapacity as one of the primary drivers of overfishing, and public subsidies as fuelling the problem. Yet a recent Commission report showed that many member states do not even assess the capacity of their fishing fleets, confirming that EU funds are being spent blindly. Between 2000 and 2008, for example, the EU provided euro 33.5 million in financial aid for the modernisation of bluefin tuna fishing vessels, which target a species that is so overfished, it is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
"With an economic crisis spreading throughout the EU, the public cannot afford blind and counterproductive spending of EU fisheries subsidies. Future assistance should support the delivery of a healthy marine environment and a transition to sustainable fisheries."
OCEAN2012 was initiated, and is co-ordinated, by the Pew Environment Group, the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-governmental organisation working to end overfishing in the world's oceans.
The steering group of OCEAN2012 consists of the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements, Ecologistas en Accion, The Fisheries Secretariat, nef (new economics foundation), the Pew Environment Group and Seas At Risk.
For further information please contact:
Mike Walker , +32-476-622575, mwalker@pewtrusts.org
A picture/s accompanying this release is available through the PA Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or http://www.prnewswire.co.uk.