Fisheries

Europe and Fisheries
More than 80 per cent of the European fish stocks are currently overexploited. European fisheries have been going through major crisis for several years, with many fish stocks, such as North Sea cod and Mediterranean bluefin tuna, now on the brink of commercial extinction.

Europe’s fishing capacity is too great for the available resources and scientists are constantly warning of the danger of setting high fishing quotas.
“At this pace, in less than 50 years there might be hardly any fish left in our seas.”

Equally, destructive fishing practices are putting the marine ecosystem under great pressure. A lot of unwanted fish and non-target species (such as sea birds, turtles, sharks) are often caught and thrown back in the sea, dead while the fishing practice of “bottom trawling” is causing massive harm to the ocean floor itself.

In 2002, WWF ran a European campaign that helped change the EU Common Fisheries Policy. But much work remains to be done to eliminate harmful subsidies, improve fishing methods to cut bycatch and discards, promote consumption of sustainable fish and protect breeding grounds.

Only by achieving these goals will Europe’s fishing industry halt the destruction of its marine environment and reduce its footprint in developing countries.

The Maritime Policy: a vision for Europe’s oceans and seas
Not only overfishing but various sources of pollution and human activities are putting the European marine ecosystem at risk. In 2006, the European Union began the development of a new approach, with the Marine Strategy and the Maritime Policy aiming at a coherent management of all activities affecting the seas, from fisheries to shipping, energy and tourism.

Recognising the need for a competitive and viable maritime sector, WWF works to ensure that the environment is put at the heart of the new EU Maritime Policy.