Here at Blue Ventures we work hard to help conserve the marine riches of Madagascar and Belize, but did you know that there are problems in the developed world too? Once upon a time Europe’s seas teemed with fish such as cod, herring and mackerel, however European fishing fleets have been exploiting unsustainably these species and now Europe’s fisheries are in serious danger of collapsing. In the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 50% of assessed fish stocks are overfished and current research has shown the mismanagement of the EU’s fisheries has cost as much as £2.7 billion; this money could have supported up to 100,000 jobs and injected much needed income into struggling economies.
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the instrument that manages fisheries and aquaculture within the EU’s Exclusive Economic Zone, and fleets that fish outside the EU. Unfortunately, the CFP has failed to prevent flagrant overfishing which in the long term means a loss in productivity and jobs for those involved in the industry. The CFP is currently undergoing a reform, and people all over the continent have been voicing their desire for a change in the way Europe manages its marine resources. The reform provides a chance for Europe to manage our marine resources in a way that is sustainable both environmentally and economically.
Thousands of people around Europe rely on the ocean for their livelihoods, so we urge you to sign the Avaaz petition , not just to conserve marine biodiversity but also to help people keep their jobs. Please also visit the OCEAN2012 website to see what events and activities you can get involved with that helps to raise awareness about this vital change in the EU’s environmental policy.
A key decision on the future of our seas rests with the 25 Members of the European Parliament’s fisheries committee. Please make sure that they hear your support for this campaign and sign the petition!
Please sign the petition here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/30_days_to_save_our_seas_2/
Best regards,
The team at Blue Ventures
We are a member of OCEAN 2012, whose mission is to ‘ensure that the 2012 reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy stops overfishing, ends destructive fishing practices and delivers fair and equitable use of healthy fish stocks.’
