Scale Matters: Quality Counts. Securing sustainability through the CFP Reform

We, the undersigned organisations, representing artisanal coastal and inland fishworkers, development and environmental NGOs and other stakeholders, share a common interest in placing European fisheries on a sustainable footing by supporting the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in ways which ensure the recovery of fish stocks and habitats, the promotion of best practice, a just allocation of fishing access based on social and environmental criteria, and an equitable distribution of the benefits derived from these activities.

New fisheries policies that reward best practices with preferential access to fish resources, and target capacity reduction programmes so as to eliminate the most harmful fishing methods would go a long way to placing European fisheries on a more sustainable footing.

This was recognized in the European Parliament resolution on the Green Paper adopted in February 2010. The resolution highlighted that, although local fishing communities should be given primary access to fish stocks, access rights should no longer be based solely on the criterion of historical catches. Rather, environmental and social criteria should gradually be introduced to determine who should have access to fishery resources, where the use of such criteria could foster a dynamic that would lead to improved fishing practices and a more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable fishing industry. (1)

A significant proportion of the European fleet is small in scale and fishes in a non-intensive manner, using a range of seasonally diverse fishing methods on a range of species, with a relatively low impact on the ecosystem. This artisanal segment of the coastal and inland fisheries generates considerable ancillary jobs and provides the social, economic and cultural fabric that sustains many communities, where it makes an important contribution to food supplies and political, social and economic stability. This has been highlighted in the 2009 Statement from the Brussels Workshop on Common Fisheries Policy Reform in the European Union and Small-Scale Fisheries (2) and in the 2010 La Coruña Statement (3), amongst others. However, the qualitative aspects of different fishing gears and practices have been largely overlooked by the Commission in its reform package.

Coastal artisanal fishers are likely to be marginalised under the compulsory regime of Transferable Fishing Concessions as proposed by the Commission. Such a regime will favour the most economically powerful enterprises rather than the most sustainable fishery activities. However, if treated fairly, managed responsibly and given well defined fishing access, these kinds of fishery activities have the potential to deliver healthy fisheries and sustainable livelihoods over the long-term.

European Commission projections show employment in the fish catching sector is set to decline by 60% over the next 10 years, with the heaviest losses falling on the artisanal sector, which employs around 65% of the fisheries workforce.

We therefore call on the Members of the European Parliament, the Member States of the EU, and the Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs to turn the tide by:

• Providing priority access to fish resources to those who fish in the most environmentally and socially sustainable way. Sustainability criteria should rank access to resources, favouring those who have the least impact on the marine environment, who can demonstrate compliance and who operate within and contribute to local communities;


• Revoking the compulsory nature of the proposed Transferable Fishing Concessions (TFCs) scheme and providing a range of tools to be selected and adapted to enable the allocation of access to fishing opportunities based on sustainability criteria;


• Including firm timelines for the development and adoption of multiannual plans that apply the appropriate measures through genuine bottom-up, participative co-management processes, through co-management committees, and giving due weight to sustainable development while ensuring the involvement and collaboration of all segments in the sector and stakeholders; and


• Establishing and applying clear conditions and protocols to avoid conflicts between different users targeting shared stocks or common fishing grounds.

40+ Fishing Boat Association

5 Terre Academy

Acció Natura

African artisanal fishing organisations confederation (CAOPA)

An Taisce

Archipelagos

Asociació de Naturalitstes de Girona (ANG)

Asociacion de Armadores de Artes Menores de Catalunya (ADAMEC)

Asociación de Defensa Medioambiental Salvemos Monteferro

Asociación para la Investigación del Mar (AIMARES)

Associació Catalana d´Oceanògrafes i Oceanògrafs (ACOIO)

Association des Ligneurs de la Pointe de Bretagne

Associazione Locale-Globale

Ateneu Juvenil, Cultural i Naturalista de Girona

Baltic Environmental Forum

Baltic Wolf

BirdLife Europe

Birdwatch Ireland

BLOOM association

Blue Ventures

Bridport Commercial Boatowners and Fishermen's Association

Cadgwith and Helford Fishermen's Association

Cardigan Bay Fishermen's Association

Centre d’Etude, de Recherche-Action et d’Appuis pour le Développement (CERAD)

Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB)

Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA)

Coastwatch Europe

Cofradía de Pescadores de Cedeira

Cofradía de pescadores de l'Estartit

Collectif Bar Européen

Comité Local des Pêches Maritimes et des Élevages Marins du Var

Community Atgaja

Community of Arran Seabed Trust Limited

Confraria de Pescadors de Sitges

Cooperativa Porto de Abrigo

Coral Cay Conservation

Cornish Handliners Association

Danish Society for a Living Sea

Danmarks Naturfredningsforening

Deepwave

DEPANA - Lliga per a la Defensa del Patrimoni Natural

Deutsche Umwelthilfe

Dingle Oceanworld

Donegal Small Islands Fishermen

Eastbourne Fisherman’s Protection Society

Ecologistas en Acción

Eko-Unia

Environmental Centre for Administration and Technology

Environmental Information Center

EuroNatur

Fair Oceans

Federación Galega de Cofradías de Pescadores

Finnish Association for Nature Conservation

Fish Fight

Fishermens Federation for Small-scale fishery in Sweden (SYEF)

Fishing For Jobs

Fondazione Cetacea

Fundació ENT

Fundació Mar

Fundación Lonxanet para la Pesca Sostenible

Fundacja Sprzatanie Świata - Polska

Galway Atlantaquaria

Gent del Ter

Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine

Global Water Partnership

Goede Vissers

Greenhouse Malta

GreenLife

Greenpeace

Hastings Fishermen's Protection Society

Iberian Biodiversity

Instituto Internacional de Derecho y Medio Ambiente (IIDMA)

International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF)

Irish Bass

Irish Seal Sanctuary

Irish Wildlife Trust

Irukandji Aquatik Films

Kenna EcoDiving

Klub Gaja

Latvian Anglers Association

Liffeysound Radio

Lighthouse Foundation

Lithuania Association

Lithuanian Entomological Society

Lithuanian Fund for Nature

Lithuanian Ornithological Society

M.E.E.R.

Marefondum

Marevivo

Marine Conservation Society

Marine Network of Friends of the Earth, England Wales and Northern Ireland - MARINET

Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles (Medasset)

Mediterranean Platform of Artisanal Fishers

Mediterrània-CIE

Mudeford and District Fishermen's Association

National Association of Small Boat Owners of Iceland

National Sea Life Centre Bray

Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU)

Nature Trust (Malta)

Nederlandse Elasmobranchen Vereniging

NEREO

Netherlands Inland Fishers Association

New Economics Foundation

New Under Ten Fishermen's Association

Noé Conservation

North West Traditional Fishermen

O Glaros

Observatori de deute en la Globalització

OCEAN2012

Oceana

OceanCare Switzerland

Oceanográfica: Divulgación, Educación y Ciencia

Orford and District Inshore Fishermen’s Association

Our Earth Foundation

People Uniting and Generating Aid for Development (PUGAD)

Pew Environment Group

Polish Ecological Club

Poole & District Fishermen's Association

Pro Wildlife e.V.

Prud’homie de Pêche de La Seyne-sur-Mer

Prud'homie de pêche de Sanary

Rede de colectivos Foro Social de Cangas

Reef Check

Scottish Creelers and Divers

Sea First Foundation

Seas At Risk

Share the World's Resources

Shark Trust

Sharklab

Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity

Societat Catalana d’Educació Ambiental

Society for the Conservation of Marine Mammals (GSM)

South Coast Fisherman's Council

Stichting de Noordzee

Submarinistas en Acción

Sustainable Development Initiatives (DVI)

Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust

Swale Fisherman`s Association

Swanage Fishermen's Association

Swedish Professional Fishermen's Association (SYEF)

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC)

Tethys Research Institute

The Fisheries Secretariat

The Gowienica Rivers Association

Union Intersyndicale des Petits Métiers de Pêche de Méditerranée (UIPMPM)

Verdegaia

Veterinaris Sense Fronteres (VsF)

VinVis / AKTEA

WWF Mediterranean Programme Office

(1) European Parliament report and resolution on the Green Paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (2009/2106(INI)), Paragraph 40

(2) Statement from the Brussels Workshop on Common Fisheries Policy Reform in the European Union and Small-Scale Fisheries: Paving the way to sustainable livelihoods and thriving fishing communities (pdf)

Be aware, act and care!

This blogpost is written by Greenhouse member, Christine Cutajar, who attended a seminar in Zemun, Serbia on Sustainable Development concepts.

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A cold fresh November morning welcomed me to Zemun in Serbia where I eagerly looked forward to the seminar. Throughout the 5 days we covered several concepts with regards to sustainable development through the various presentations, guest speakers, and activities. In this blog I will mention those particular ones which struck me the most.

As the participants represented different types of organisations, mainly those working for human rights and a few from green organisations I found it great that the link between sustainable development and human rights was mentioned by Aleksandar Jovanovic in his presentation. I believe that sometimes our western culture leads us to perceive this divide between what are our human rights and what is good for nature, while we forget that we are also part of it. This reminded me of what Paul Hawken says in his book Blessed Unrest, where he explains the following: '' the division between ecology and human rights is an artificial one, that the environmental and justice movement addressed two sides of a single larger dilemma. The way we harm the earth affects all people, and how we treat one another is reflected in how we treat the earth'' (p. 2). In fact, the result of major environmental problems are seen by some as the result of anthropocentrism, where people think they are superior to nature and are entitled to control and exploit it as they please.

The philosophy defined as deep ecology is indeed addressing this problem by adopting a holistic view of the world where every living thing in nature is seen as interlinked and dependent upon each other. All life in the world is appreciated and has the right to live and flourish. In this approach humans are viewed as being one of the many parts of our environment and the world, rather than being at the centre of the universe. The presentation then touched upon the concept of de-growth which advocates the exact opposite of commercial and materialistic development. A decrease in consumerism and dedicating quality time for the family, friends, community, art and culture will lead to more happiness and well-being. To achieve this one does not need to give up anything, but rather need to adopt simplicity in their everyday lives. In my opinion, there needs to be a shift in one's focus and thoughts by being more courageous to ask 'why' and 'how', and finding ways of improving one's life through critical thinking rather than living a comfortable life.

Another concept which I found very inspirational, was that presented by Ms. Tanja Azanjac who spoke about motivating and supporting citizens to become active citizens. Ms. Azanjac explained that it is important for people to be able to see and recognize the problematic situations around them and also to find their role in it. The question then remains ''How do we sustain and support citizens?'' She mentioned the successful story from her experience working with youth in Serbia, which was very encouraging. Ms. Azanjac also showed us a theoretical model, entitled 'The circle of courage' which is focused on a need-based approach as opposed to a right-based approach. This means that organisations need to be aware that they are addressing the needs of the volunteers they seek. It is also important to make concrete actions to build know-how and skills of motivated people. This is explained further through the 4 stages within 'The circle of courage'. Ms. Azanjac's presentation is included with this blog to explain the model visually. The first is the need for a citizens to belong. Organisations need to ensure that their activities as well as approaches to citizens are welcoming and generate a sense of belonging. Once the person feels this, then he will also feel comfortable to open up and show her/his skills where s/he also has a chance to master them and improve. These will make the individual feel important through his/her responsibilities and successful actions. The person can then fulfil his/her need to be generous by using the skills to help in different areas which interest him/her. Finally this experience will lead the person to become independent and start taking initiatives on their own. Thus, they become active citizens.

Besides having learnt from the presentations and group work in the seminars I also had the opportunity to meet fantastic people in the group, some of whom became my good friends from whom I have also learnt something during my stay. The seminar also led me to reflect further and realise more that our ethnocentric view of the world can very often lead us to focus very much on our human rights and less on our responsibilities in this life. I truly believe that as citizens we should adopt a deep ecology approach to life and place a lot more emphasis on our duties and less on benefits. This shift in our mindset can then lead to more sustainable lifestyles.

To conclude I would like to mention my appreciation for the efforts made by the people coming from Belgrade to show the rest of the participants a touch of the Serbian culture. During the seminar I felt that the organisers made very good use of resources and I was happy that there was very little use of disposable waste, such as the use of glasses to drink from rather than plastic ones. I think that for future seminars it would be a good idea if this was explained to the participants to increase awareness on such issues. Another idea I would like to express is that throughout the seminar participants would be required to be responsible consumers in their actions. For instance by using recycled paper and making sure to show participants that the papers used will be going for recycling.

Finally, I would like to sincerely thank Greenhouse for giving me this great opportunity, as well as ADAE in Serbia for being great hosts and having organised the seminar.

Time to bring out the tortoise in you.

This is an article by Greenhouse Executive Monique Agius which was previously published on the Insiter Magazine (and online at http://issuu.com/theinsiter/docs/theinsiter-v11e06_web_)

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What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare?...

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance:

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began. - W. H. Davies

We’re constantly running to some destination whether this is physical or a metaphorical one, all this at the expense of the journey. We’re currently living in a fast paced life in which we do not have time to stop and think, savouring the moment. Back in the 1980’s in response to a McDonalds outlet opening in Rome, Petrini a prominent activist who campaigned against the fast food chain started off the slow food movement. A movement which eventually grew over time to encompass other areas such as slow travel, slow money, slow fashion, slow sex, slow reading, and slow parenting amongst others.

The slow food movement, as already mentioned started off as anti-fast food movement. Nowadays, the slow food movement educates the public about the repercussions of fast food. Not only on one’s health but also on the environment. It also aims at creating awareness on how the food is produced and aims to preserve the local dishes. Instead of a ready made pizza, a person who advocates for slow food will rather take five hours to prepare a delicious home made stew. I suggest that the next time you’re strolling in Valletta past the parliament take a left and you should find a slow food restaurant, it is named after the food of the gods… Ambrosia.

Slow fashion or retail involves craftsmanship and will not be affected by seasonal changes. Unlike the current fashion system which we’re constantly bombarded with (just open a magazine and see how many pages are dedicated to models wearing clothes from X for the Autumn/Winter ‘11). I wonder, how many of us when buying clothes off a shop question themselves about 1) where does the raw material come from? 2) who produced it? Many might not be aware that somewhere someone is working inhumane hours to meet the demand posed by the so called developed countries. 3) is its production sustainable? With slow fashion, craftsmanship is involved, either by supporting local artists who dedicate their time creating an item or by opting for fair trade items. Slow retail also involves choosing to upcycle your clothes rather than throwing them away and donating or buying second hand ones from charity shops. All this as opposed to buying a dress which you ordered off from magazine only to find that half of your friends own an identical one.

The following might come in handy this summer, it helps on reducing your carbon footprint and gives you a new outlook on travelling. Slow travelling is not about reading as many guidebooks as one may lay his hands upon or exhausting a five-day holiday making sure you’ve visited every spot in town. Slow travelling is about connecting with the locals, taking strolls in the place one has travelled to and leaving possibilities open to whatever comes your way. Landing in mainland Europe and couchsurfing as you travel from one place to another being hosted by different people gives one the opportunity to connect and immerse into the daily lives of the locals. Opportunities such as WWOOF, World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, also exist. Where one in exchange of 5 hours of work a day can have free accommodation apart from reconnecting to mother earth.

Back to the poem I started off with, what I find one is experiencing in our time is time poverty. So slow down, live moments fully, laugh heartily, fall in love, make love, and truly connect with one another. I am aware that all this might sound cliché, but take into consideration that 2011 may as well be our last full year on earth J

Better do Green

This is a short article written by a friend of ours from Latvia, Dace Jece whom we have met on an exchange. Dace lives a very eco-centric and sustainable lifestyle because of her strong love for the environment better known as deep ecology. In this article she points some interesting ways of living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. On her website Dace goes into loads more detail and explains various interesting and fun ways of being a better greenie. Check it out at http://better-do-green.info.

Naturally, the hints and tips listed below are Dace's views and opinions, which might diverge from those of Greenhouse and it's members; nonetheless it is an interesting read and her website is full of good advice and an interesting perspective.

Rethink your current choices and try changing one thing a day/week/month. Doing something green is better than doing nothing. We all can be difference makers and workers for truly greener future

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Everybody knows something about green, sustainable living and carbon footprint. We are educated how to save energy by changing light bulbs, insulating our homes, choose public transport instead of driving own car. Many as well know how their diet choices impact the sustainability. Meat eating is linked with environmental destruction as livestock produces greenhouse gas and also contributes to water depletion.

There are few other less known green essentials:

1. Organic agriculture leads to more yields. Organic agriculture protects soil, does not pollute water and ensures biodiversity. Opt for organic food.


2. Minimizing or stopping use of alcohol and cigarettes saves a lot of grains, plants and fruits being used in their production. It gives more land to grow food for people, it can give access to land for starving, poor communities in the third world countries where big corporations have deals with governments to use the land, and from these deals only few are benefiting (corporation owners and bribed government officials).


3. Going medical drug free or using them only in true necessity, saves not only your long term health but also tap water. Tap water cannot be completely cleaned from second-hand drug residues. Sewage water also goes into rivers and oceans polluting marine life. Most drugs are also produced by experimenting on animals; supporting suffering is neither green nor human.


4. Daily hazardous chemicals found in personal care products, cosmetics, cleaning household products, packaging, medicines, food, clothes, building materials greatly pollutes not only your body system but also the environment. There are green choices and alternatives available.


5. Use of chemical hormone contraception contaminates drinking water (see 3), condoms increase the daily waste. Learn on nontoxic and natural contraception.


6. Putting the food scraps together with other rubbish wastes possible nutrient soil that can be created from that. Find a way to compost. If you live in a flat, find friends, relatives to donate your compost or a farmer in the market who is willing to take it. When composting you are actually growing soil!

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This is not an exclusive list however it is smart to start by setting reasonable, doable goals for yourself. Rethink your current choices and try changing one thing a day/week/month. Doing something green is better than doing nothing. We all can be difference makers and workers for truly greener future.

Stop the Bloody Slaughters (Environment Fair Part 2)

By Anthony Debono & Joseph Caruana, respectively

The Fish Slaughter: End of the Line Screening & Intro to the fish4tomorrow Campaign!

As part of the Environment Fair we organised a screening of the great documentary, The End of the Line , a film by Rupert Murray and based on the book by Charles Clover. Before the screening, Anthony gave the audience a brief introduction to the fish4tomorrow campaign (a sustainable fishing campaign launched by Greenhouse and friends which has recently been mentioned and supported by Dr Alan Deidun and Karen Mugliett in the local press!). You can find much more info on the campaign both on this blog and at the fish4tomorrow's facebook page.

The Bird Slaughter: Bird Migration Talk

On Friday, for the ending of the Environment Fair, we hosted a short seminar on Bird Migration in Malta, together with Birdife Malta. The scope of this short seminar was to reach out to local interested volunteers who might wish to join BLM and local birdwatchers for the Spring Watch to monitor the number of different bird species which migrate over Malta and report any illegal activity.

As Birdlife's volunteer Justine Hall explained in her presentation these camps are critical to ensure that the Birds Directive is properly enforced in Malta. But, these camps don't only prove a special case of the public taking action over lack the lack of enforcement by the authorities, these are also Unique Opportunities for everyone who wishes to learn more on different migratory birds which fly over our islands. During the last Raptor Camp together with BLM and GH volunteers I was able through the Camp experience to watch over 80 Marsh Harriers fly over Malta on their way back to the African continent. This experience is for free and the specialised people who make this camp possible is another astonishing aspect to this experience which I encourage everyone to get involved in!

The Call is Out!

Whoever wishes to attend the Spring Camp can easily do so by contacting Birdlife Malta. On the other hand you may join Greenhouse members and friends who will also be going to assist BLM during the Spring Watch. For more information send us an email on green.uom@gmail.com

The economy is not an act of god, we made it, we can change it.

This is an article by Ruth Chircop, student and Greenhouse member, on sustainble economies and previously published on the Insiter Magazine

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In the year 3500 an alien spacecraft was hovering around the planet known as Earth. This planet seemed to be full of biodiversity and a very beautiful planet to live on and it baffled the young aliens in the space shuttle why there is no more humans living on such a beautiful looking planet.

So the captain started explaining how the planet has spent the last 1000 years recovering its beauty after all humans extincted themselves through living in an unsustainable way and eventually burnt out the whole planet and made the planet an unlivable place for themselves.

Hopefully we may be still in time for the scenario above to be just exaggerated figment of my imagination. Right now our economic machine seems to be heading off the cliff to the abyss of environmental, economical, social and cultural catastrophe. We are not approaching the ecological limits to growth we are well past them. Matthias Wackennagel one of the founders of the footprint analyzes says that we will need the equivalent of two earths by the late 2030s to keep up with our demands. But we do not have two earth's and even if we did in a couple of hundred years time if we keep consuming, producing and creating waste at the same rate we are, we will run out of the second earth cause as Einstein points out “You cannot solve problems from the same thinking that created them. A radical change is needed. More economical growth in the rich countries is simply unsustainable. Serge La Touche a French economist, behind the Degrowth movement criticizes economic growth and consumerism.

The Degrowth movement is a political, economic and social movement based on environmentalist, anti consumerist and anti capitalist ideas. Key to the concept of growth is that reducing consumption does not require a decrease in well being but rather aim to maximize well-being through non consumptive means- sharing work, consuming less, while devoting more time to art, music, family, culture and community. In late 2001 he spoke in UNESCO conference in Paris calling for a selective economic contraction to stop environmental decay. His influence goes well beyond French borders. In Italy the magazine Carta spreads the critique of development and economic growth. Grass root movement networks formed Climate Justice Action, which aims to take the urgent actions needed to avoid catastrophic climate change including embracing Degrowth as an alternative. The idea is also spreading outside Europe. Ana Ester Cecena from the National Autonomous university of Mexico says Degrowth has also taken root in Latin America “We know that capitalism leads to large scale catastrophe. We need to confront it with radical changes in our way of life”

Sustainability is the key. We cannot continue consuming, creating waste, polluting and extracting from earth at the rate we are doing. Sustainability is the ability or capacity of something to be maintained or to sustain itself. It’s about taking what we need to live now, without jeopardizing the potential for people in the future to meet their needs. If an activity is said to be sustainable it should be able to continue indefinitely. “Sustainability is the optimal balance of natural, economic, and social systems over time." The Florida Center for Community Design & Research

And our economic system right now is everything but sustainable. We are extracting natural resources at a faster rate than they are being renewed. We are leading lives addicted to mindless consumerism which are depleting the planet's resources. A new way of measuring our well being is needed. One that is not based on continuous economic growth to the detriment of our planet. The kingdom of Bhutan has already done this. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was replaced by Gross National Happiness as its core metric of economic success. Bhutan is asking itself the question that everyone must ask: how can economics, cultural social and environmental issues be integrated in a sustainable way.

According to leading economist Jefferey Sachs this kingdom has “embarked on serious journey” and “the rest of the world’s economies should do the same”. We need a social and cultural conceptual change in the way we evaluate progress , and realize what is truly important in life. The economy is not an act of god we made it we can change it. We need to seriously consider ways of combining economic well-being with environmental sustainability, cultural vitality and social equity before, in the immortal words of Jim Morrison, "the shit house goes up in flames."