The World Summit on Fisheries Sustainability, promoted by the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs in collaboration with FAO and the Imperial College of London, will be held at the Parador de Baiona on 15 September as the prelude to the World Fishing Exhibition-Vigo’09.
During the one day summit, the Spanish, international and EU administrations, representatives from Regional Fishing Organisations and Supranational bodies, scientists, environmental organisations and the fisheries sector will discuss different issues that affect fisheries sustainability and will tackle key aspects for the management of fishing resources.
The conference will include 12 speeches and several discussion sessions, as well as a wide range of topics, such as the implementation of the ecosystem-based management in fisheries and its practical introduction; the experience of the fisheries industry in reducing the impact of the activity in different fisheries; the fight against IUU fishing; the management of stocks in the high seas, not included in the sphere of activity of the Regional Fishing Organizations; and eco-labelling.
It is essential for the fisheries industry to take part in this event, as the sector is the one that has to implement and observe these regulations. Furthermore, its opinion is extremely necessary, given that it is the stakeholder with the lowest power and capacity to give its point of view, especially due to this global context in which the media impact of environment related news is outstanding. In fact, the film ‘The End of the Line’ has been recently premiered. It is a story based on a book with the same title that aims to draw the attention to what it calls ‘the great environmental disaster that people haven’t heard about’. Under the subtitle ‘imagine a world without fish’, the film shows a non-promising outlook and tackles aspects which are underlining the sustainability of fisheries, from the capture to the commercialisation of fully exploited species to their consumption in restaurants. It appeals to all the parts of the supply chain, including the consumer, for the preservation of the oceans, outlining, at the same time, a horizon for fisheries whereby sustainable management and stringent measures are necessary to halt the disappearance of fisheries before 2050.
In view of this and the increase in frequency of media and news attention alerting the consumers and businesses to the situation of the oceans, it is necessary to make an in-depth analysis of the situation. But, above all, it is essential to outline a context for the future, in which a series of strategies would be established in order to guarantee the survival of species, as well as to maintain the fishing activity and the communities dependent on it. We cannot forget that more than 47 million people make a living directly from this activity; this figure is considerably increased if we consider that each job in the sea generates four jobs inland.
Therefore, the World Summit on Fisheries Sustainability will provide experts in the fields of fisheries management with the opportunity to openly discuss the problems of the current fisheries management systems; the actual condition of resources and the stocks’ different exploitation levels; as well as how to prevent the pessimistic premonitions published in the front pages of the newspapers from coming true.
Further information on how to take part in this event is available at www.worldfishingexhibition.com/cumbrepesquera
