News item | 08-09-2023 | 13:53
On September 7 and 8, the EU LIFE program was launched in Amsterdam to combat bycatch of protected species in fisheries. Unintentional bycatch in fisheries is one of the greatest threats to endangered and protected marine (mammal) animals. Despite all legal and technical measures, research and initiatives from all kinds of parties, it has not yet been possible to structurally reduce this.
An important cause is that fishermen themselves have not yet been sufficiently involved in reducing unwanted bycatch. While their role is of decisive importance. In addition, each Member State implements European guidelines differently, for example in the field of monitoring and measures. This stands in the way of a joint, coordinated approach for the three seas surrounding the European Union. Moreover, enforcement at sea is difficult to implement and not comprehensive.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) has taken the lead in the European LIFE project ‘Coordinated Development and Implementation of Best Practice in Bycatch Reduction in the North Atlantic Region’ (CIBBRiNA) to collaborate with fisheries organizations, ministries, science and NGOs to reduce incidental bycatch in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea.
The parties involved will focus on endangered and protected marine species. These include sharks, rays, seabirds, turtles and marine mammals such as dolphins and seals. The project focuses on the one hand on taking measures and on the other hand on improving monitoring.
45 organizations from 13 countries are participating in the project. The total budget is 12.4 million euros, of which 8.3 million is a subsidy from the European Commission. The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is coordinator of the project, which has a duration of six years.
As part of the Green Deal, the European Union has developed a Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. This includes an action plan for the conservation of fisheries and the protection of marine ecosystems. The LIFE CIBBRiNA program makes an important contribution to this action plan. Bycatch of protected species is one of the pillars on which the EU wants to take priority action.