Common Fisheries Policy archive
We challenge EU’s lack of transparency around fishing quotas
We are challenging the lack of transparency and public scrutiny around European decisions that set unsustainable fishing quotas behind closed doors.
European fisheries vote undermines sustainable fishing targets
Environmental lawyers warn that today’s European Parliament vote approving a new fisheries plan for waters off western Europe will jeopardise restoring fish stocks to sustainable levels.
Commission sends formal warning to Denmark for failing to properly control fisheries
Environmental organisations ClientEarth and Our Fish have welcomed a decision by the European Commission to follow-up on infringement proceedings against Denmark for failing to properly control fishing practices.
EU fishing limits jeopardise 2020 sustainable fishing deadline
Overfishing remains a key concern for Europe’s seas, after EU fishing ministers again set fishing quotas that disregard scientific advice and the law.
No time for further delays in meeting 2020 sustainability deadline
In less than a week, fisheries ministers from across the European Union will head to Brussels to set next year’s catch limits for fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic and North Sea.
Sustainable fishing at risk after catastrophic European Union vote
The health of Europe’s fisheries in the north-east Atlantic is at stake after a European Parliament committee decided today to postpone the recovery of fish stocks in that area.
Brexit documents highlight the holes for environment in no-deal scenario
Legal experts from environmental law charity ClientEarth warn that documents released yesterday detailing the government’s contingencies for a no-deal Brexit scenario reveal departments worryingly underprepared to maintain promised environmental protections.
“Shocking” lack of effort from EU Member States to protect marine environment revealed
ClientEarth lawyers have applauded a new report that highlights the lack of effort from several EU Member States in protecting the marine environment from pollution, biodiversity loss and unsustainable fishing.
EU fisheries fund should only support sustainable measures
Speaking to the European Parliament, ClientEarth lawyer Flaminia Tacconi said that EMFF should only support measures that contribute to economically self-sufficient and environmentally sustainable fisheries.
European Parliament rejects rubberstamping flawed fisheries management in North Sea protected areas
ClientEarth has applauded a European Parliament decision to throw out fishing measures that risked vulnerable marine life and ecosystems in protected areas of the North Sea.
EU fund proposal would artificially keep unsustainable fisheries afloat
ClientEarth lawyers have criticised the newly released European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) proposal for continuing heavy subsidies for both environmentally and economically unsustainable fishing.
Enforcement must be part of new EU proposal to target illegal fishing
ClientEarth lawyers are calling for greater enforcement of sanctions against illegal fishing, following the release of the European Commission’s new fisheries control proposal.
North Sea agreement makes a mockery of EU fisheries law
EU fisheries will suffer a huge blow as the European Parliament voted today to approve the proposed North Sea multi-annual plan.
Transparency is essential to assess if fisheries control laws are effectively implemented across the EU
ClientEarth has filed two complaints against the European Commission to the European Ombudsman, asking for information on the implementation of the EU Fisheries Control Regulation.
Huge blow for EU seas as MEPs back disastrous technical measures
New fishing rules debated today in the European Parliament would be disastrous for fishing in the EU, because their lack of targets undermine efforts to make fisheries sustainable.
2018 fishing quotas set too high for herring and whiting as ministers continue to ignore science
Overfishing remains a serious threat to European seas and to industry, as EU ministers once again set many quotas with little regard for science or the law.
Huge blow for EU seas as MEPs back disastrous new fisheries rules
New fishing rules proposed today by MEPs are a huge blow to sustainable fishing in the EU, because of their total lack of concrete targets and legal deadlines.
Commission’s 2018 fishing quotas risk missing legal sustainability deadline
Many of the Commission’s proposed 2018 Northeast Atlantic fishing quotas move in the right direction, but the EU is still likely to miss 2020 deadline for sustainable fishing.
Half-hearted sanctions against illegal fishing threaten Europe’s seas
Countries across the EU are failing to punish illegal fishing activities and not enforcing fisheries laws properly, new research by ClientEarth finds today.
New North Sea fisheries management plan confirms sustainability is a top priority
Fisheries in the North Sea received a boost today, as European Parliament voted for catches to be sustainable at all times under a new management plan.
Member states due to lose €10 million a year in EU funding for fisheries enforcement
Member states are not using the money from the EU to enforce CFP rules, like ensuring that only the allowed quantities of fish are caught. The EU is now proposing to reallocate these funds.
EU Committee vote risks continued overfishing in North Sea
The success of the EU Common Fisheries Policy could be under threat after the European Parliament’s fisheries committee voted on a proposed new plan for the North Sea today.
EU lawmakers could introduce overfishing by the back door…and the footnote
In fewer than three years, all fishing in waters around the European Union will have to take place at sustainable levels. But will this happen?
Withdrawal from shared waters agreement leaves questions for future of UK fisheries
The UK has announced it is pulling out of an agreement that lets foreign boats fish in UK waters. This could be disastrous for the UK fishing industry.