Hugh's Fish Fight - Support the campaign against discards

Hearing on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund European Parliament, 7 March 2012

Commissioner Maria Damanaki presented the Commission proposal for a new European fund for fisheries and maritime affairs at the public hearing organised by the EPP Group at the European Parliament. She promises €6.5 billion to support the transition to sustainable fishing, with no discards.

full speech here:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-201 ... ech_en.htm

Thanks for that.

It sounds promising - as long as it does exactly what it says on the tin!

John D.

Meanwhile, the French and Spanish work to continue discarding.

What the hell!!??

Half of all fish caught in the north sea are thrown back overboard dead. This has to be stopped!

By supporting this campaign, your name will be added to a letter to be sent to Commissioner Maria Damanaki, members of the Common Fisheries Policy Reform Group, and all MEPs.

To Commissioner Damanaki, Members of the European Parliament and all member state governments,

I have seen images of dead and dying fish discarded in European waters.

I understand that the current Common Fisheries Policy leads to discarding on a vast scale; for example, half of all fish caught in the North Sea are being discarded because of the current quota system imposed by the CFP.

I want this senseless waste of food to end. I want you to use your influence to stop this unacceptable and shameful practice.

I am supporting the Fish Fight campaign to help bring about this vital change in our seas.

Sign up to the campaign: http://www.fishfight.net/
or twitter: http://www.fishfight.net/emergency/

After you've signed up your name will be displayed on our fish fight counter outside the European Parliament building in Brussels.

You can now support the new campaign against discards here: http://www.fishfight.net/

If you haven't signed the petition yet please do so now and add your name to the 780,000+ who have already signed.

By supporting this campaign, your name will be added to a letter to be sent to Commissioner Maria Damanaki, members of the Common Fisheries Policy Reform Group, and all MEPs.

link to the letter: http://www.fishfight.net/letter/

Hugh's Fish Fight update

I’m coming back on the Eurostar, and it’s been a satisfying day. Discard disaster has been averted as the French (Spanish, Portuguese and Belgian!) revolution just didn’t happen. Maria Damanaki led from the front and seems to be building consensus among the ministers.

Everyone agreed that the amazing Twitter and Facebook activity over the weekend made a real difference. It put ministers on the spot and made them focus on the European citizens they represent – including of course 3/4 million Fish Fighters!

Thank you so much for your support. It really has hit the spot once again. It wont be the last time we call on you I’m sure, but it’s great to know you’re being heard.

I’m going to have a cold Belgian beer now and toast you all!

Cheers,

Hugh x

Good news and a big thank you for all your support, but while this is an important victory it's still a long way to win the war and there are a lot of unsolved issues to be dealt with and which need urgent clarification.

My worry is that this regulation will just mean that the fish now tossed overboard are brought to land and just being discarded there. There is nothing preventing that to happen. Will it be sold for human consumption? Will it be sold as fodder, or as dog food, or to make fish meal or will it just end up in a landfill?

We also need to change the allowed fishing areas for foreign boats.

I urge everybody to keep tuned in to http://www.fishfight.net/ and keep supporting the good cause!
It is the least what we can contribute towards our children's future.

Topics merged, since they're all the same subject and to satisfy my OCD.

Great cause! Discard should be illegal!