Fisheries

• Friday, July 17th 2009 - 07:38 UTC

  Jumbo Humboldt squid “invade” shallow waters off south California

  

  Thousands of jumbo Humboldt flying squid — aggressive 5-foot-long with razor-sharp beaks and toothy tentacles — have invaded the shallow waters off San Diego in southern California, scaring scuba divers and washing up dead on tourist-packed beaches.

• Monday, July 6th 2009 - 09:54 UTC

  Brazil creates Fisheries ministry; plans 40% landings increase in 3 years

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva sanctioned last week the bill which confers the Special Secretariat of Aquaculture and Fisheries, SEAP, the status of ministry, enacted to boost the fishing sector and develop the country’s maritime and fluvial potential.

• Monday, June 29th 2009 - 11:16 UTC

  Whaling Commission could discuss ending commercial hunting ban

  

  The Whaling Commission (IWC) has suggested whale conservation could benefit from ending the commercial hunting ban. Dr William Hogarth's remarks came at the end of this year's IWC meeting in Madeira, Portugal, which saw pro- and anti-whaling nations agree to further compromise talks. A Greenpeace spokesman said the moratorium had to stay intact.

• Wednesday, June 24th 2009 - 03:57 UTC

  South Atlantic sanctuary on bargaining table of Whaling Commission

  

  Peace talks on whales and whaling are to continue for a further year. Delegates to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) annual meeting in the Portuguese island of Madeira agreed it was worth extending reform talks that began a year ago

• Thursday, June 18th 2009 - 01:49 UTC

  Fire on fishing vessel South Georgia waters

  

  KOREAN fishing vessel In Sung 22 needed assistance in South Georgia waters after a fire started on board.

• Thursday, June 4th 2009 - 15:30 UTC

  FAO suggests climate change talks should include fisheries

  

  Sixteen international organisations asked that the protection and optimisation of marine ecosystems, fisheries and aquaculture be included in the discussions leading up to the sequel to the Kyoto Protocol.

• Tuesday, May 26th 2009 - 12:22 UTC

  EU summit agrees to scrap (failed) rules on fishing quotas

  

  European fisheries ministers have concluded a meeting in Brussels with a consensus to effectively scrap current rules that decide fishing quotas. Environmentalists and fishermen alike have long argued the existing system - set annually - has failed the industry.

• Monday, May 25th 2009 - 17:44 UTC

  Decline in freshwater fish took medieval Europe to the open seas

  Medieval European fishermen first took to the open seas in about AD1.000 as a result of a sharp decline in large freshwater fish, scientists have suggested. They say the decline was probably the result of rising population and pollution levels.

• Monday, May 25th 2009 - 17:31 UTC

  EU fisheries policy up for review; 80% Europe’s stocks overfished

  

  European Union fisheries ministers are in Brussels to review rules on how much fish can be caught in EU waters. The EU's executive, the European Commission, says more than 80% of Europe's fish stocks are now overfished. The global average is 28%.

• Friday, May 15th 2009 - 09:29 UTC

  Argentina tightens conservation for polaca, hoki and Patagonian toothfish

  

  Argentina is tightening fisheries conservation in the South Atlantic. The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishery, and Food (SAGP&A) announced it will establish catch limits, intended to last 15 years, for polaca (Micromesistius australis), hoki (Macruronus magellanicus) and Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides).