(IntraFish) WWF gave a presentation to the European Union (EU) petitions committee today highlighting the need to end overfishing, given that 75 percent of assessed EU fish stocks are overexploited and the EU is losing approximately €3 billion ($4.02 billion) per year in potential income from a failure to manage fisheries sustainably.
"Studying to be a marine biologist I don’t want to be out of a job because all marine life will have been destroyed," said Jesús Raúl Navarro Serrano, a young Spaniard who traveled to Brussels to voice the concern of the tens of thousands of citizens who have so far signed the ‘More Fish’ petition. "This is as much about saving our traditions and cultural heritage as it is about saving fish. I call on MEPs (members of European parliament) to make sure that the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy offers a sustainable future for fish and fishing in Europe."
The European Commission proposal was sent to the European Parliament for review and adoption last summer and will be intensely debated in the coming months. WWF’s EU wide 'More Fish' petition will be handed over in September ahead of an important plenary vote on the CFP reform (currently scheduled for Sep. 12 2012).
The ‘More Fish’ petition asks the president and MEPs to:
◦ stop the top-down and short-term management by ensuring fisheries are managed regionally, under long-term plans that result in the recovery of marine ecosystems and fish stocks;
◦ stop the waste by implementing a coherent set of rules so that fishermen only catch what's needed when it's needed.
◦ stop overfishing overseas by applying the same principles to all European boats wherever they operate in the world.
"Our goal is to have 500,000 citizens sign up by September and show MEPs that their constituents care about sustainable fisheries and hold them responsible for achieving this," said Anouk Delafortrie from WWF’s European policy office. "If MEPs vote for the status quo we will fail to save Europe’s seas, fishing communities and fishing industry. But by demonstrating leadership in shaping a new and ambitious CFP they can ensure the recovery of fish stocks. And more fish if managed sustainably will lead to higher profits and better jobs."