The High-Level Group of the Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism published an opinion on Thursday 30 November on “Food from the Oceans”, which lays great emphasis on developing aquaculture and enforcing the rules. The questions asked of the experts was: How can more food and biomass be obtained from the oceans in a way that does not deprive future generations of their benefits?
In their policy recommendations, they propose that consideration be given to making fish-farming a strategic sector for the EU and that cooperation in this area be extended within sustainable fisheries partnership agreements between the EU and the countries of the South. They suggest, too, the EU should support the deployment of best practice and dialogue with stakeholders in the fisheries sector.
Lastly, the scientific advisers say that, to sustain fish stocks, enforcement of existing rules should be improved, “broadening as necessary the regulatory toolbox, inter alia, to ensure that all by catch is recorded and landed, and optimising and fully enforcing the legal rules that facilitate or constrain the harvesting of food from the ocean”.
The scientific opinion is available at: http://bit.ly/2ivVM6K (Original version in French)