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Destructive
Fisheries

Overview

Destructive and illegal fisheries can no longer be tolerated. They steal a common resource from the local communities and future generations. As a result of their actions sustainable fishermen go out of business, dolphins and seals starve, certain fish stocks approach the risk of collapse and consumers will soon find it too expensive to afford fish products.

Unfortunately Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fisheries are widespread in many parts of Greece. They apply a wide range of fishing practises, varying from trawlers and purse seiners that fish out of limits to dynamite fishing, spear fishing while scuba diving and catching endangered and protected species.

 

With the aim of combating IUU fisheries in the Greek seas, Archipelagos has formed the Fisheries Observatory. This network of local communities and fishermen provides valuable, confidential information about IUU activities in their area. The data is verified by the Archipelagos researchers as well as relevant regional and national authorities. The reports are later compiled and sent to the appropriate Greek and EU authorities.

It is very encouraging to observe an increase in cooperation from fishermen, local communities and visitors of coastal regions. This is developing a sense of responsibility for the health of the seas and fish stocks and is a prerequisite for the sustainable use of the seas to ensure viable fisheries for the future.

Latest News

Over Intensive Aquaculture or Sustainable Development?

The local communities and authorities in the region of Astakos – Echinades – Mitikas – Kastos – Kalamos in Etoloakarnania, western Greece, are claiming the obvious: to halt the increasingly intense degradation occurring in the waters of their region, as well as to restore the environmental destruction that has already been caused.  Archipelagos Institute of

Environmental NGOs call on an ambitious and science-based multi-annual management plan for small pelagic stocks in the Adriatic Sea

Archipelagos Institute with a big group of NGOs sent a letter to EU Member States—Fisheries Attachés, Members of European Parliament—Committee on Fisheries and to the European Commission—Commissioner Vella and DG MARE. You can read the letter below:     The Mediterranean Sea is in deep crisis. Over 90% of the assessed Mediterranean fish stocks are overexploited[1]. Despite

World Oceans Day: “Mare Nostrum or Mare Mortum?” Why does Europe support the destruction of the Mediterranean Sea?

Large fish at risk of extinction, 39 fish stocks over-exploited, catches of hake 5 times over sustainable limits, high degree of discards and by-catch, desertification of the seabed, high energy costs. All consequences of the industrial fisheries that receive the largest part of EU subsidies. While the world celebrates Oceans Day on the 8th of

Archipelagos in a Documentary of German national TV WDR

The documentary produced by the German public television channel WDR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xesnrSd6s-w  presents the research and conservation actions conducted by Archipelagos Institute, aiming to combat over-intensive aquaculture practices and to promote sustainable aquaculture in the Aegean and the Mediterranean sea.  Aquaculture in Greece has developed in recent decades, sadly under the criteria of economists and not

Archipelagos presents the effort for the establishment for a co-managed fisheries area

The Greek fisheries and sustainable management, among others, were the focus of the workshop on “Greek Fisheries and the Environment: Patterns, Trends and Prospects” organized Friday, October 17th, from the Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research and held in the auditorium of the Ministry of Environment.

Illegal fisheries with boat-seiner

The numerous, smaller or larger, illegal and destructive fishing practices, are a major problem that contributes to the emptying of our seas. In the framework of the work we carry out in Archipelagos, for the creation of a co-managed fisheries recovery area in the island complex in Lipsi, today we encountered one more such incident:

Dolphins and fishermen are fighting for survival. Can YOU help?

After the success of our previous campaign, Archipelagos are now launching a follow up crowdfunding campaign to support the protection of marine mammals and fish stocks in the Aegean Sea. We will do this by providing the local artisan fishermen with new, more sustainable nets!  http://igg.me/p/781451/x/4811424 With this 2nd campaign we we wish to raise even more money

Press Release – Illegal fishing practices in Mount Athos

One year has passed since Archipelagos, Institute of Marine Conservation, first reported to the national authorities the on-going incidents of illegal and destructive fishing practices taking place in the waters off Mount Athos. For more than a year now certain fishing boats, mainly purse seines, have continued openly illegal fishing practices in the area. The
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Local fishermen and scientists plan a co-alliance for a better future

For almost a year, our fisheries research team of Archipelago have been collaborating on a daily basis with the fishermen of Lipsi. We are preparing an innovative co- management project of fisheries where local fisherman will have an active role. For this purpose, we’ve collected daily data on fish production, but also on the condition
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What is the Future of EU Fisheries Subsidies?

EU Fisheries Council and European Parliament Reach Agreement on Future of EU Fisheries Subsidies On the 28th of January in Brussels, the European Union’s Fisheries Council and the European Parliament secured a deal on the future European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. The EMFF will make available approximately €6.5 billion from 2014 to 2020 to support

Archipelagos Research Institute at the 40th CIESM congress in Marseille

The 40th CIESM scientific congress took place last week in Marseille, France, during which Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation was able to present its important research findings related to the conservation of the Aegean Sea. CIESM (Commission Internationale pour l’Exploration Scientifique de la Méditerranée – International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean) was

Turkish trawlers fishing illegally in the Greek Aegean Sea

Repeated and provocative illegal fisheries malpractice in Greek territorial waters by large Turkish fishing vessels (trawlers), has been recorded by Archipelagos, Institute of Marine Conservation off Samos island in collaboration with fishermen in the area, on the 9th and 11th of September 2013. This pirate fishing is not the first recorded incident of its kind,

EU Fisheries Ministers Complete Gruelling Common Fisheries Policy Reform Negotiations

Brussels, 15 May 2013 – Early yesterday morning European Union Fisheries Ministers concluded a two day meeting on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP. Ministers were meeting to revise the mandate of the Irish Presidency so it can conclude CFP reform negotiations with the European Parliament.   In February 2013, the European Parliament voted

The European Parliament voted for the Restoration of European fish stocks

For decades, the European Union had failed to prevent overfishing in its shared seas. February 6th marks the date of a historic vote for Fisheries in the EU. With a sweeping majority of 502 to 137, members of European Parliament voted in favor of a new Common Fisheries Policy which will act to restore fish

6th of February Historic Opportunity for the European Parliament to stop Overfishing

OCEAN2012 Coalition and Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation – coordinator of OCEAN2012 for Greece and Cyprus- wish to bring your attention to a crucial vote that will take place tomorrow February 6th in Strasburg. This vote is a historic opportunity for the members of the European Parliament to take a decision that will lead to

The period of trawling begins. What is the impact on our seas?

The Greek seas are threatened with… bankruptcy as a result of decades of fishing without effective management. And the greatest threat? Intensive trawling, an industrial fishing practice, unknown to most in Greece. The fishing season for trawlers began again on October 1st and will run until May 31st. Archipelagos already recorded many instances of illegal

August 8, 2012 – Today You Start Eating Somebody Else’s Fish

We are consuming more fish than European seas can produce, reveals a report released today by nef (new economics foundation) and OCEAN2012. Fish Dependence: The increasing reliance of the EU on fish from elsewhere, reveals the extent to which we are importing fish by exporting overfishing. Normally fish stocks are a renewable resource yet according

Operation is Underway at the Fisheries Research Center in Fourni Korseon

Archipelagos’ Fisheries Research Centre has established itself on the island of Fourni with the help and cooperation of the local authorities and fisheries association. Since early April, Archipelagos’ multinational research team has been located on the island of Fourni, planning the Fisheries Effort Adjustment plan. This action aims to reduce overfishing in the area, mainly

Two rare large squid recorded in the Eastern Aegean

Two unusually large squids from the species of Ommastrephes bartramii were recorded on two consecutive days on the islands of Samos and Lipsi, in the eastern Aegean Sea. This species, commonly found in the Pacific Ocean, is a rare occurrence in the Mediterranean and particularly rare in the Aegean. On the 8th of March, in

Danger From Military Exercises

The planned military exercise by land units of the army during the period between the 24th January and 10th February inst., in the NW Chios island (Melanios region), eastern Aegean Sea, which is conducted with live ammunition “exclusively and strictly in a marine area” (!), insults any meaning of environmental caretaking and countermands the declarations
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