European Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella said at the EU Council of Ministers on Monday 6 March that the 2017 Our Ocean conference, to be held in Malta on 5 and 6 October would also incorporate the blue economy and maritime security into the discussions (see EUROPE 11665).
These two important issues for maritime affairs will be in addition to those already discussed in previous years – this will be the fourth Our Ocean conference – marine pollution, marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries and climate-related impacts on the ocean. Commissioner Vella said that the geographical focus of the conference will be slightly different. “We will place more emphasis on ‘our oceans’ - the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the Indian”, he told European agriculture and fisheries ministers.
France suggested that discussions should also include, for example, biodiversity, Bluefin tuna, monitoring measures and deep water fishing. Sweden and Portugal expressed their pleasure at how the event was being organised. Spain highlighted the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which is depleting fish stocks, destroying marine habitats and distorting competition for honest fishermen. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)