Brussels, 20/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Urgent efforts are needed to ensure that the European marine environment returns to a satisfactory state by 2020, according to a report published on 20 February by the European Environment Agency (EEA), which paints a worrying picture of the condition of the seas and oceans and states that the cumulative impact of human activities must be better managed in order to prevent irreversible damage to the ecosystems. This report is accompanied by recommendations from the EEA for the four marine regions and for the various member states. It is grist to the mill of the European Commission.
It will be presented by the European Commission on 3 and 4 March at the HOPE (“Healthy Oceans - Productive Ecosystems”) conference, to be attended in Brussels by all stakeholders for a reflection on how the bar can be set higher.
“The message is clear: Europe's seas and oceans are not in good shape (…). We must find ways to reap their economic potential without increasing the pressure on an already fragile environment, creating growth and jobs that are secure in the long term”, said Janez Potocnik, European Commissioner for the Environment.
This report shows that, unless something is done, the EU will not reach its self-imposed objective of having healthy and productive seas and oceans by 2020. The report reveals that most of the indicators are on red. 88% of fish stocks are under threat in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Nonetheless, fishing activities are becoming more sustainable, even though improvements are slow.
Thanks to the full reports submitted by the member states on the situation of their marine waters, on what they consider to be a “good ecological state”, and on the objectives they have laid down to achieve this scenario, much more is known about the problems faced and potential solutions to them. However, the lack of coordination between the member states is an obstacle to improving the situation. Reinforced cooperation would make it possible to achieve a good ecological state more easily and for less money, says the European Commission. (AN/transl.fl)