The Agriculture and Fisheries Council met in Brussels this week under the new Italian presidency.

European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki spoke of how there has been an overall improvement in the fisheries sector in Europe. In 2009, stocks of a mere five fish types were fished sustainably, whereas now this number has risen to 27.

Commissioner Damanaki was less upbeat about the Mediterranean situation, saying: “We are lagging behind” in the sustainable management of our fish stocks.

Mediterranean stocks, she said, are “not in a good shape”, with 90 per cent of them being overfished. She called on the council to find a solution using the help of the new Italian presidency, by working directly with fishermen, as well as other non-EU neighbours in the Mediterranean. She closed by insisting: “We cannot leave the situation as it is… because after some years there will be no more fish in the Mediterranean”.

fish4tomorrow backs the statements made by Commissioner Damanaki and calls on the Maltese government, and especially the newly elected-MEPs, to ensure that the state of Mediterranean fish stocks improves by:

·        heeding and supporting scientific advice and research,

·        increasing enforcement against illegal and unreported fishing in Maltese waters and

·        placing the emphasis on small-scale artisanal fishermen who fish in sustainable ways.

The fish4tomorrow campaign is currently working on ways of promoting the buying and eating of sustainably-caught fish.

JD Farrugia

fish4tomorrow Core Team

[email protected]