EU talks on overfishing met with activist action

EU Fishing Ministers have convened in Luxembourg today to discuss the effects of overfishing, and to set regulations and limits to fishing in the Baltic Sea for 2021, which has been met with a response from activists.

Around the same time as the talks, a series of messages appeared at major landmarks in Lithuania, Germany, Poland and Denmark addressed to European Commissioner for the Environment and Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, pleading for an end to overfishing in Europe.

One monument in Vilnius, Lithuania - the hometown of Commissioner Sinkevičius - appeared at the iconic statue of King Mindaugas, who was seen holding a massive cod with the message "Save the Baltic" and "#EndOverfishing."

The messages were placed on behalf of European fishing charity, Our Fish, who last month gathered a coalition of scientists to spur the EU into action to monitor and regulate overfishing in European waters.

The charity called for an "urgent and necessary response to the climate crisis."

Rebecca Hubbard, programme director at Our Fish, said: “Commissioner Sinkevičius hails from the Baltic Sea, where the children of the region will inherit the legacy of his actions. Just two weeks ago, as he opened the ‘Our Baltic’ Conference, the Commissioner promised that sustainable fishing levels are a priority goal for the EU. We expect the Commissioner to deliver on his word - Lithuanians, and indeed all Europeans, are looking for more than just rhetoric from his leadership."

Ministers are meeting for the annual EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council, which is due to end on Tuesday, being spearheaded by the German presidency. The conference aims to set fishing limits for fish caught in the Baltic Sea for 2021.

The meeting is legally bound to impose limits that fall within the scientific consensus relevant between 2015 and 2020.

Our Fish claim the presidency is going against the scientific limits and German chancellor Angela Merkel's commitment to a "healthy ocean."

Ms Hubbard added: “The German Presidency of the EU has a critical part to play; not only is Germany a key Baltic fishing country, but Chancellor Angela Merkel just last week committed to the UN Leaders Pledge for Nature, stating during the UN Biodiversity Summit that ‘we have to manage land and sea more sustainably’.

"But if the German Presidency facilitates fishing limits in the Baltic Sea that defy scientific advice, and result in continued overfishing, it will be specifically going against Chancellor Merkel’s commitment to a healthy ocean, and prove an international embarrassment."

The charity sent out several messages to raise awareness for the project.

In Poland, a message appeared at the Little Mermaid of Warsaw statue, which is something national symbol for the city.

In Copenhagen, the Little Mermaid statue was seen embracing a cod with a message to end overfishing, while Danish minister for fisheries received the plea signed by 300 scientists the charity rolled out last month.

Estonia currently chairs BALTFISH - the main legislative body for agreeing on fishing limits in the Baltic Sea, and they have a large amount of sway within the week's meetings.

Ms Hubbard said: “Today’s Council meeting is an opportunity for EU ministers to put their money where their mouth is and demonstrate that they are real leaders with integrity; follow the scientific advice, end overfishing of the Baltic, and deliver immediate action on climate and the biodiversity crisis."

Both international and regional NGO's have compiled a list of recommendations for fishing limits and relevant management options to help save the Baltic ecosystem, based on professional advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).

Overfishing in the Baltic sea has led to a significant reduction in fish stock and has severely damaged local ecosystems.

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