African and European fishers, along with a host of NGOs and high-level policymakers, will be descending upon Spain this September to tackle one of seafood’s most daunting conundrums: “How can [the industry] combat illegal fishing, protect stocks from over-exploitation and accrue social and economic benefits in non-EU waters?”
The coming workshop, hosted by the Long-Distance Advisory Council (LDAC), invites its attendees “to discuss the role of the external dimension of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) as a driver for sustainability and good governance outside EU waters, with a special focus on Africa.” Considering the fact that more than 25 percent of fish caught by EU vessels originates from beyond the confines of EU water space, the formation of new and practical ways for implementing the ‘external dimension’ will be a key point of discourse during the event.
“With fishing outside of EU waters playing such an important part in the global supply of fish, we are all keen to attend this conference, meet with other colleagues and policy makers, and come out with some concrete conclusions regarding how the External Dimension will work for us, and for our counterparts overseas,” explained Michel Goujon, Chair of LDAC WG and fishing industry representative from ORTHONGEL, and Raúl García, Vice-Chair of the LDAC and NGO representative from WWF, in a prepared statement.
Many speakers hailing from various seafood spheres will be featured during the workshop, including Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella, who will address attendees via video-link.
“We are proud to have so many key policy players lined up to enthusiastically participate in this event,” said LDAC Executive Secretary, Alexandre Rodriguez. “So far, delegates include representatives from the European fishing industry, African coastal communities, environmental and development NGOs, scientists and Member States' administrations. During the conference, we will hear from Isabella Lövin, Foreign Affairs Minister of Sweden, as well as from ministerial representation from Mauritania, the President of ATLAFCO-COMHAFAT, and the General Fisheries Director of Spain, Andrés Hermida, amongst others.”
As sustainability ramps up and comes further into focus within the external dimension thanks to reformation of the CFP, fisheries within the EU and outside it are uniquely situated to pose new ideas regarding the practical implementation of such a high-level policy, the LDAC concludes.
Get more information on the workshop – which is set to take place from 16-17 September – through the window below.
