Reef Resilience Network’s Post

The oil spill crisis from World War II shipwrecks is wreaking havoc on the Pacific Ocean's marine environments. Experts estimate over 3,000 wrecks, many leaking oil, are damaging coral reefs, mangroves, and local fisheries. At the recent Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) in Tokyo, there was a strong call for Japan to take responsibility for the cleanup. This issue underscores the need for urgent action to protect marine ecosystems and support economies dependent on fishing and tourism. #WWII #OilLeaks #MarineConservation #PacificIslands #EnvironmentalImpact

Scotland's Marine Protected Areas: A Treasure Trove - MPAs Work. Scotland's seas are home to a wealth of underwater treasures. 37%  of Scotland's coastline were designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in 2014, when MPAs are given protection our research shows that it works, but most MPAs still lack the protection they need. With a decade already lost, we're calling on The Scottish Government to take immediate action to safeguard the future of our marine environment. By expanding the network of MPAs, we can protect vital habitats, support sustainable fisheries, and preserve Scotland's unique marine heritage. #DecadeofDelay #MarineProtectedAreas

🐟 EJF Ocean Policy Officer Jesús Urios Culiañez is at FAO HQ in Rome for crucial General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) meetings on #fisheriesmanagement! EJF joins these discussions on combating illegal fishing, enhancing compliance with international legislation, and advocating for more transparency in the #Mediterranean. EJF, Oceana Europe, and The Nature Conservancy are urging GFCM and coastal countries to: 📹 Explore the use of Remote Electronic Monitoring technologies to address by-catch, promote sustainable fishing practices and enhance compliance with GFCM decisions. 🔍 Increase #transparency by disclosing beneficial ownership information and require unique International Maritime Organization identification numbers for vessels to combat #IUU, aligning the GFCM with international standards We will continue pushing for reforms in the UN and elsewhere to protect the unique biodiversity of the Mediterranean and the coastal communities that depend on it 🌍

When asked why I attend conferences like the Our Ocean Conference in Athens, my answer is simple: to feel energised, engage with uplifting communities, and expose myself to content that sparks creativity. The threats to our oceans haven't vanished since this initiative began in 2014; ongoing action is crucial. It takes a collective effort to fix what's broken. #OurOceanGreece #OurOceanConference I particularly enjoyed: 1. An IUU Fishing Action Alliance breakfast (an initiative in which I have an undisputed vested interest!) where the chair passed from the UK to Canada. 2. Hearing how Global Fishing Watch will support the seven West African Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission Member States (Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone) with analysis that will inform targeted monitoring, control and surveillance actions. This is about bolstering countries’ abilities to manage activity in their waters and safeguard livelihoods and regional economic and environmental ecosystems. 3. Celebrating Greece's commitment to leveraging Global Fishing Watch's platform for marine protection efforts, in collaboration with the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation. Monitoring the impact of this partnership is key. 4.Renewing collaboration with the Government of Panama. As well as having Panama's VMS data of its vast international fleet on the Global Fishing Watch map, Panama will share vessel data from its list of international licenses, including fishing licenses. #transparency #oceangovernance #fisheries #IUUfishing #oceans

From October 21–23, 2024, Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo, served as the stage for a regional training aimed at enhancing Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) capabilities for environmental officials from member states of the Regional Fisheries Commission of the Gulf of Guinea (COREP). This workshop, organized collaboratively by AU-IBAR, COREP, and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), was a response to the pressing challenge of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, equipping officials with the latest MCS technologies and strategies in marine governance. Opening the session, Mr. Emmanuel Sabuna, Acting Executive Secretary of COREP, underscored the urgency of “coordinated MCS initiatives to shield our marine resources from illegal activities and uphold sustainable fisheries for future generations.” He connected COREP’s goals with ECCAS’s broader vision, stressing the need for united regional efforts to combat maritime crime. Representing AU-IBAR, Mr. Philippe Ouedraogo (on behalf of Dr Salih) reinforced the call to action, highlighting the severe repercussions of unauthorized fishing, illicit transshipments, and license fraud on Africa’s biodiversity and economy. “The damage is profound and unsustainable,” he stated, affirming AU-IBAR’s commitment to supporting COREP in advancing resilient aquatic ecosystems and sustainable fisheries governance. #SustainableFisheries #BlueEconomy #AfricanBiodiversity #COREP https://shorturl.at/rgMJL

🚨 just published in Foreign Affairs Magazine "Fish Wars: How to Prevent Conflict Over an Increasingly Scarce Resource" by World Wildlife Fund's Sarah M. Glaser, PhD and Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, PhD, US Navy (ret) As #climate change heats the #ocean conflict over fish and fishing is only going to increase. "In fact, skirmishes are already happening with alarming frequency. Fights over fish are not new: during the Cold War, for instance, countries that were otherwise aligned clashed frequently over fisheries. In 1979, Canada seized U.S. fishing boats in a dispute about albacore tuna, and the Cod Wars of the 1970s saw Iceland and the United Kingdom clash over fishing rights in the North Atlantic. But the frequency of confrontation over fishery resources has increased 20-fold since 1970, and the rapid growth of fishing fleets able to travel to distant waters has further raised the risk of serious clashes." https://lnkd.in/ejQSaSAd

EU and UK Committed to Reducing Unwanted Catches in the Celtic Sea https://lnkd.in/gpJ4YkYB #EUfishingnews #EUfishingindustry #fishingnews #commercialfishingnews #dailyfishingnews #NWWAC #EuropeanCommission #unwantedfishcatches

🆕The European Union issued on 27 May 2024 a 'yellow card', or warning, under the so-called EU carding scheme to Senegal for its shortcomings as a flag State in overseeing its fleets and in combating Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. IUU fishing is a severe threat to marine ecosystems, local economies, and the livelihoods of communities dependent on fisheries. This decision provides Senegal with a crucial opportunity to strengthen its fisheries governance and management to head off any potential sanctions, with the collaborative support of the EU. In particular, it serves as a call to action for Senegal to enhance its monitoring, control, and surveillance efforts; improve  implementation of the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) and fulfil its obligations as a flag State. The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Oceana in Europe, The Pew Charitable Trusts and WWF European Policy Office, members of the EU IUU Fishing Coalition, recognise the positive steps taken by the newly elected Senegalese government, including publishing the list of authorised vessels to operate under its flag. We encourage Senegal to continue its efforts by working with international partners and local stakeholders to address the root causes of IUU fishing. We also urge the EU to increase oversight of its beneficially owned fleet, including EU-owned vessels operating under the Senegalese flag. ➡️Learn more about the carding process here https://lnkd.in/gURF_ysd ➡️European commission decision: https://lnkd.in/gqHTcWuA #IUUFishing #SustainableFishing #ProtectOurOceans #FightIUUFishing

Yesterday, Scottish Government launched their Seabird Action Plan consultation. This is our chance to speak up for Scotland’s seabirds and secure the protection they need. If you are at all interested in our marine environment or our internationally important seabirds please add your voice to: • Protect seabird prey fish species to ensure seabirds have plentiful food • End the ongoing bycatch of seabirds by fisheries to minimise adult seabird deaths • Clear all Scottish seabird islands of invasive predators – and prevent them from returning – to defend seabirds and their young • Protect the most important areas for our seabirds on land and sea to provide safe spaces for breeding, feeding, and rearing their young • Ensure marine development delivers positive funding and outcomes for climate and nature Sign the e-action here: https://lnkd.in/d6kih--s

World Oceans Day is celebrated annually on June 8th to raise awareness about the protection and preservation of ocean resources. This day, proposed by Canada in 1992 and officially recognized in 2008, highlights the importance of our oceans, which cover over 70% of Earth’s surface and produce at least 50% of our oxygen. Overexploitation and pollution have severely impacted marine life. For 30 years, Somalia has struggled to protect its coastline, leading to illegal fishing and unsustainable resource use. The Ministry of Environment of Puntland calls on all Federal and State Ministries of Fisheries to enforce policies that protect our coasts from pollution. The theme for 2024 is “Awaken New Depth.” #WorldOceansDay #OceanConservation #Puntland #Somalia #AwakenNewDepth