"Revealed: most of #EU delegation to crucial #fishing talks made up of fishery lobbyists
- More than half of the EU’s delegation to a crucial body of #tuna stock regulators is made up of fishing industry #lobbyists, the Guardian’s Seascape project can reveal, as #Europe is accused of “neocolonial” overfishing in the Indian Ocean

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2023/apr/26/revealed-most-of-eu-delegation-to-crucial-fishing-talks-made-up-of-fishery-lobbyists

"At the last annual IOTC meeting, the EU’s 40-strong delegation was made up of at least 24 industry lobbyists listed as “advisers”, Guardian analysis shows. At the smaller special session on FADs this year, at least half of the 10 EU delegates were from the tuna industry."
...
The numbers could shed some light on why the EU recently objected to an agreement by African and Asian coastal nations to restrict harmful fish aggregating devices (FADs) that disproportionately harvest juvenile tuna. Stocks of yellowfin tuna are overfished in the Indian Ocean."
...
"In February, a proposal by Indonesia and 10 other coastal states in the region – including India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan – for a 72-day ban on FADs used by purse seine vessels was adopted by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), the main regulatory body. With a two-thirds majority vote, the measure was welcome by conservationists as a “huge win” for yellowfin and other marine life.

Retailers including Tesco, Co-op and Princes have previously issued calls for tough action to preserve and rebuild the $4bn yellowfin industry, while this year Marks & Spencer warned EU officials that FADs are a major cause of yellowfin tuna overfishing, and that they cripple future stocks.

The devices, typically made of plastic, also pollute the ocean and small island states when lost or discarded.

But earlier this month the EU, which is the largest harvester of tropical tuna in the region, objected to the measure, effectively exempting it from the restrictions. Critics described the move as “neocolonialism”, pointing to the influence of industry lobbyists from France and Spain in ignoring the will of many coastal nations."

#Colonialism #NeoColonialism #IndianOcean #Overfishing #CommercialFishing #Exploitation #Plastic #France #Spain #IOTC #India #SriLanka #Pakistan #Guardian

#EuropeanUnion made public four ambitious proposals for the next Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (#IOTC) session taking place from 8 to 12 May 2023❗️ 🐟
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RT @EU_MARE: Fisheries: 🇪🇺 EU makes proposals for the conservation and sustainable management of #tuna in the Indian Ocean 👉https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_2181 #IOTC #RFMO

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/eudeleg_rome/status/1645781509041979392

RT @EU_MARE: Fisheries: 🇪🇺 EU makes proposals for the conservation and sustainable management of #tuna in the Indian Ocean 👉https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_2181 #IOTC #RFMO

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/EFCA_EU/status/1647962708082409473

Today, the European Union made public four ambitious proposals for the next Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) session taking place from 8 to 12 May 2023.

The objective is to improve the conservation of #tuna and the management of fisheries.

https://europa.eu/!cwcqDK #IOTC

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/EUCYPRUS/status/1645734788752367616

🇪🇺 objects to Resolution 23/02 on #FADs
🔹IOTC members should work in a cooperative manner & on consensus
🔹Conservation measures should be possible to implement
🔹Management in #IOTC should be based on scientific advice
#IOTC #FADs

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/EU_MARE/status/1645737390269509635

Sustainability is 🇪🇺 key aim in #IOTC.
The 🇪🇺 proposal for FADs:
📉 decrease the number of FADs from 300 to 240
♻️ impose fully biodegradable FADs from 2028
🛰️ introduce traceability in the use of FADs
#OceanEU

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/EU_MARE/status/1645737388818194432

🇪🇺 proposals:
🔹 plan for the management of tropical 🐟 tuna stocks
🔹 scheme for inspection of vessels in the 🌊 high seas
🔹new rules to improve #IOTC compliance
🔹replacement of IOTC Resolution 23/02 on drifting fish aggregating devices (#FADs)

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/EU_MARE/status/1645737387182489601

Fisheries: 🇪🇺 EU makes proposals for the conservation and sustainable management of #tuna in the Indian Ocean 👉https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_2181 #IOTC #RFMO

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/EU_MARE/status/1645737382304423936

Read more on the outcome of the #IOTC annual meeting 👉 https://ec.europa.eu/oceans-and-fisheries/news/iotc-annual-meeting-missed-opportunity-2022-05-23_en
#RFMO

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/EU_MARE/status/1529137673604108289

Positive outcome for the management of bigeye tuna
After many yrs of intensive scientific work led by Australian & European scientists, the #IOTC adopted a far-reaching management procedure for bigeye tuna, moving towards well-informed science-based management of this stock
#RFMO

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/EU_MARE/status/1529137326584119296

#IOTC: a missed opportunity for the conservation of yellowfin tuna.
The progress made in the catch reduction of this stock with the revised Rebuilding Plan of 2021 were jeopardized by the decision of 6 members to object to the rebuilding plan, refusing any further negotiation.

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/EU_MARE/status/1529136830297296902

Disappointing outcome on FADs at the #IOTC meeting.
The EU regrets that a few countries blocked consensus on the 🇪🇺 FADs proposal, which would have introduced the most stringent measure ever proposed on the management of all Fish Aggregating Devices.🇪🇺 won’t give up on this issue

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/EU_MARE/status/1528738773248446464

The #IOTC annual meeting starts today.

The EU will promote strong measures for the conservation of tropical tuna in the #IndianOcean and the respect of the marine ecosystem.

#RFMO #OceanEU

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/EU_MARE/status/1526133082386059264

#Skipjack tuna fisheries in the Indian Ocean: to ensure the sustainability of this fishery, the EU tabled an ambitious proposal aiming at reducing the catches of this crucial species within the scientifically agreed TAC.

Read our proposal:
https://www.iotc.org/documents/hcr-skipjack-cf-res-21-03-european-union

#IOTC #RFMO

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/EU_MARE/status/1525053669435113472

The assessment adopted by the #IOTC scientific committee shows that the state of the yellowfin tuna stock in the Indian Ocean is worrying.

The EU is pushing for a 🆕 common approach to find a stable long-term solution for #YFT by 2023.

Read our proposal:
https://www.iotc.org/documents/measures-complementing-res-21-01-yellowfin-tuna-european-union

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/EU_MARE/status/1525027607691022336

A 🆕 regulatory framework on Fish Aggregating Devices is a 🇪🇺 top priority.

The EU proposal on FADs is ambitious: reduce the number of deployed FADs, gradually move towards biodegradable ones & strongly disincentive their discard at sea.

Read more: https://www.iotc.org/documents/management-fads-european-union
#IOTC

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/EU_MARE/status/1524686200421994496

A few days ahead of the #IOTC annual meeting.

Improving the sustainability of #fisheries in the Indian Ocean is of the utmost importance.

The EU 🇪🇺 tabled an ambitious package of seven proposals to meet this goal.

#OceanEU #RFMO

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/EU_MARE/status/1524666040201924608

RT @ejfoundation: The Indian Ocean should not be an easy escape route for vessels found to have been fishing illegally.

We found a fleet doing just that, and starting today, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission can sanction them accordingly. It is vital they do so. #IOTC https://ejfoundation.org/news-media/illegal-fishing-fleet-blacklisting-highlights-dire-need-for-transparency

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/EU_MARE/status/1524370854741749761

RT @GlobalTuna: Last year, six nations voted against a resolution to limit yellowfin tuna catch. Without full compliance from all nations within the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission #IOTC region, any attempt to limit yellowfin tuna fishing would be in vain. #RebuildYellowfinTuna

🐦🔗: https://nitter.eu/EU_MARE/status/1521785535198605320

As #IOTC fails to agree bare minimum to #ProtectTheOceans, we need a strong Global Ocean Treaty to help better protect parts of the Indian Ocean, giving people and marine life a chance against destructive fisheries and other ocean threats