It’s nearly 20 years since the first “Earth Summit” was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. A tenth anniversary event was held in 2002 and preparations are now well underway for the twentieth anniversary conference in that same Brazilian city. Terrestrial issues have traditionally dominated these events but with UNEP identifying “global ocean collapse” as a key emerging issue, Rio +20 must also become the first global "Oceans Summit".
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Click here for educational materials on the marine environment in various languages for both kids and anyone interested in marine conservation.
The material is offered to you by Seas At Risk member organisations and other international organisations concerned with the marine environment.
Welcome
Welcome to Seas At Risk, the European association of non-governmental environmental organisations working to protect and restore to health the marine environment of the European seas and the wider North East Atlantic.
Brussels, 20th December 2011. A new brochure produced by Seas At Risk and other european ENGOs gives an up-to-date overview of what is happening at the UN and EU level on air pollution from ships and provides recommendations on how to cut emissions quickly and significantly. more
Brussels, 17th January 2012. Over 70% of respondents to a European Commission public consultation have voted in favour of a ban on the distribution of plastic bags. Green groups Seas at Risk and EEB say the Commission should now act on this overwhelming support and implement a ban across Europe. more
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Brussels, 12th January 2012. A group of experts on marine litter has advised EU countries on setting reduction targets for marine litter for 2020. Member States now have 6 months to act on this advice and set ambitious reduction targets in order to combat this growing problem. more
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Brussels, 19th December 2011. Fisheries Ministers have once again missed their opportunity to place European fisheries on the path to sustainability. Fisheries Council negotiations on fishing limits for 2012 have resulted in a decision to set Total Allowable Catches (TACs) at a level which exceeds scientifically recommended limits. more
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Brussels, 13 December 2011. In advance of the Fisheries Council meeting this week at which fishing limits for 2012 will be set, Seas At Risk is calling on EU Fisheries Ministers to follow the best available scientific advice and set limits that enable the EU to achieve its target of rebuilding fish stocks to sustainable levels by 2015. more
Luxembourg, 12th December 2011. Today the European Court of Auditors has released a report which severely condemns the way in which EU fisheries subsidies aimed at reducing fleet overcapacity have been used so far. The Court has found that billions of Euros of public expenditure have done little to align fleet capacity with available fishing opportunities. more
Brussels, 2nd December 2011. The European Commission has presented its proposal for a new subsidies framework for the fisheries and maritime sectors. While the proposal contains significant improvements in relation to the current Fisheries Fund, some measures will continue to pump taxpayers’ money into fleets operating at overcapacity. more
Berlin, 3rd November 2011. SAR member organisation BUND has set out a list of demands for the outcome of the Rio+20 conference next year, calling for a commitment to sustainability that goes beyond greening the economy. The group also picks up on marine concerns, highlighting sustainable fisheries, MPAs and marine litter. more
Brussels, 23rd November 2011. At an event organised by Seas At Risk in the European Parliament, broad support was given by participants, including Commissioner Damanaki, for the inclusion of policy measures to encourage low impact fisheries in the new CFP. It is now up to MEPs and Fisheries Ministers to seize this once-in-a-decade opportunity of the reform of the CFP to give low impact fisheries the attention they deserve. more
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Brussels, 21st November 2011. The Shark Alliance has welcomed the long-awaited proposal from the European Commission for closing the loopholes in the EU’s ban on shark finning, the wasteful practice of slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea. more
Berlin, 24th October, 2011. Speaking in Berlin on the marine environment and next year’s Rio +20 conference, German Chancellor Angela Merkel compared the current economic troubles to the crisis being faced by the world’s oceans. At the same conference, the Seas At Risk Executive Director called for German leadership. more
Brussels, 27th October 2011. Although including a positive call for an extension to the European Liability Directive, the European Commission’s Proposal for action on offshore oil drilling does not go far enough to protect the marine environment and properly safeguard against a Deep Water Horizon-style disaster in European waters. more
Brussels, 10th October 2011. The European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee has provisionally agreed on a schedule for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy which will most likely prolong the process well into 2013 - The reform was initially intended to finish by the end of 2012. more
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Events
Ship Speed Limits Seminar
Brussels, October 4th 2011. Seas At Risk and Transport & Environment seminar on ship speed limits - latest findings. more Making the CFP work for Low Impact Fisheries
Brussels, 22nd November 2011. In the context of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) SAR is hosting a lunch time event at the European Parliament in Brussels. Join us to hear the views of Commissioner Maria Damanaki, Members of the European Parliament and other key stakeholders on how Low Impact Fisheries can be promoted through the reform of the CFP. more
