A message from Maria Damanaki
EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Hello friends

As you know, I'm passionate about sustainability and yesterday was delighted to see this email from Maria Damanaki, which is good news for all concerned with maintaining the stocks of fish in our seas. There is much more to do, but this is a great step in the right direction. Here is her email in full. Best RB

Dear Friend,
 
Over two days and nights of negotiations, the EU Fisheries Council reached a compromise on several important points. The Commission proposal was more ambitious but I think the outcome is satisfactory.
 
It is a great achievement that we have better scientific advice for fish stocks. We moved from last year's situation, where we had 61,5% data poor stocks, to 15,6 % this year. It's a great change. An agreement was achieved to reach sustainable exploitation levels (Maximum Sustainable Yield, MSY) by 2015 for the great majority of the stocks on which we have scientific advice. Only for 4 stocks Maximum Sustainable Yield will be reached by 2017: this is to avoid discards.
 
This is a good message for our fishermen and for our citizens. We can have healthy stocks, more jobs and more income for our coastal communities. It can be done.
 
If we have the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in place next year, this will improve the decision making process and the progress made in the European Parliament this week gives us good hope.
 
I wish you all merry Christmas and a happy 2013,

Maria Damanaki
EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

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