Eco-lawyers' charity, ClientEarth: "Green groups call for urgent action protecting Europe’s seas"

[Mr. X]

The charity ClientEarth featured on the BBC Radio 4 news this morning: they are eco-lawyers and have just got the UK Supreme Court to hold successive governments to task for failing to control Nitrogen Dioxide levels across the UK, despite EU directives. Good for them and good for us: we all of us need to breath and that air should be a clean (although Diesel taxes/prices will likely increase as a consequence ).

They are active in other areas too. I came across this marine-related article on the front-page of their website that should interest spearos and anglers: "Green groups call for urgent action protecting Europe's seas".

 

[Mr. X]

Their "Blue Manifesto" for Europe's seas:

Our blue vision
Seas and oceans are vital for Europe’s social and economic wellbeing, providing food, employment,
energy, and resources for millions. However, the current over-exploitation of marine resources risks
leading to irreversible degradation of marine ecosystems and loss of the services and benefits that
they provide. Only by restoring our seas and oceans to health and securing productive ecosystems can
the EU further develop and sustain a sound blue economy.

This will require the European Commission to urgently step up the EU’s efforts to curb overfishing,
marine biodiversity loss, pollution, unsustainable resource extraction and climate change during its
current five year term.

We therefore urge the new European Commission to prioritise the following goals:

1. Ensure Good Environmental Status by 2020 through a strong implementation of the Marine
Strategy Framework Directive;

2. Complete an ecologically coherent network of well-managed marine protected areas by 2020, with
the implementation of the Natura 2000 network (Birds and Habitats Directives) as the basis, in line
with the requirements of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the EU 2020 Biodiversity
Strategy;

3. End overfishing and allow for the recovery of fish stocks, while minimising the impact of fishing on
the wider marine environment through full and timely implementation of the Common Fisheries
Policy;

4. Ensure a sustainable blue economy that protects and maintains the diversity, productivity,
resilience, and core functions of marine ecosystems through effective and integrated ocean
governance under the Integrated Maritime Policy; and

5. Strengthen international fisheries and maritime governance, including in relation to Illegal,
Unreported and Unregulated fishing, the conservation of endangered species, and the protection
of the high seas.

As European NGOs working on the protection of the marine environment, we look forward to working
constructively with the Commission on the priorities outlined in this Blue Manifesto, to deliver the
protection that our oceans urgently require and deserve.
...

 

[John B Griffith Jr]

Thanks for sharing!