Water, Marine & Fisheries

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Our Work

Our Marine Programme has a track record of analysing and commenting on the evolution of EU fisheries policies and related marine environmental initiatives for over a decade. The programme has launched a number of projects and studies on specific areas such as fisheries subsidies, indicators of sustainable fisheries, inshore fisheries management and governance of EU fisheries. In the next three years, the fisheries programme will focus on the reform of the CFP 2012 and the reform of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) in 2013 which are critical to ensuring sustainable EU fisheries in the next decade.

IEEP has a long track record of examining the challenges in the implementation of key marine and water legislation, which will dominate the EU environmental agenda for years to come, such as the Water Framework Directive (2000). More recently, we have extended our focus to the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008), the environmental pillar of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy. Together, these Directives set ambitious goals and management approaches to all surface waters, ground waters and marine waters.

IEEP has an established Fisheries and Marine Programme that has been analysing and commenting on the evolution of EU fisheries policies and related marine environmental initiatives for over a decade. The programme has launched a number of projects and studies on specific areas such as fisheries subsidies, indicators of sustainable fisheries, inshore fisheries management and governance of EU fisheries. Our work has been funded by Esmee Fairbairn, Oak and other foundations, the European Commission, Defra (the UK environment ministry), the fisheries industry and a range of NGOs.

Whilst the programme focuses primarily on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and fisheries management issues, we recognise that current discussions are increasingly set within the wider context of marine management, specifically the EU Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP). As a result, the Marine and Fisheries programme is increasing its activities taking into account the potential impacts of EU enlargement and the external factors which are likely to hamper progress towards better management of our seas.

We publish a bi-annual fisheries newsletter El Anzuelo. The newsletter raises awareness on the complex issues related to the implementation of CFP but also provides a platform for broader dialogue on fisheries and the environment.

More about our work in this area...

Latest in Water, Marine & Fisheries

Biodiversity proofing of the EU budget

This study shows how more can be done to firstly avoid and minimize detrimental impacts of EU funding on biodiversity, and secondly to increase biodiversity benefits.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands

This new IEEP-led report presents insights on the importance of wetlands in delivering ecosystem services that are needed to support human life, and also for people’s livelihoods and the world’s economies. The report shows that demonstrating and using the values of ecosystem services related to water and wetlands can lead to better informed, more cost-effective, and fairer decision- making.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands

This new IEEP-led report presents insights on the importance of wetlands in delivering ecosystem services that are needed to support human life, and also for people’s livelihoods and the world’s economies. The report shows that demonstrating and using the values of ecosystem services related to water and wetlands can lead to better informed, more cost-effective, and fairer decision- making.
The Ecosystem Approach in Marine Management

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive requires Member States to apply an “ecosystem approach to marine management”. This report defines the ecosystem approach and puts it into context by describing the challenges of applying it across Europe’s seas.
Guidelines on the Use of Market-based Instruments to Address the Problem of Marine Litter

Policymakers who are concerned with the negative impacts of litter, solid waste and debris in their ports, bays and coastal waters have long searched for effective ways to reduce this problem. This report ...
Socio-Economic Scenarios of European Development and Integrated Management of the Marine Environment

Integrated environmental management requires a holistic assessment of social-environmental interactions to which scenario analysis is well-suited.Building on a conceptual framework of individual choice ...
EU Moves to Criminalise Maritime Pollution

EU Policy Briefing note - 20 March 2008
Exploring Challenges for Managing Europe's Seas

The project European Lifestyles and Marine Ecosystems involved 28 institutions from 15 European countries and focused on the four major European sea areas: Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and ...
A European Union Marine Strategy Directive

This paper is published in volume 12 of the Journal of International Maritime Law. It includes details of the contents and development of the proposed Directive and how it relates to earlier versions. ...
Paper on the Proposed Marine Strategy Directive Published

Volume 12 of the Journal of International Maritime Law contains a paper by IEEP's Andrew Farmer on the proposed EU marine strategy Directive, including details of its contents and development and how it ...
Policy Brief for the EP Environment Committee: Marine Thematic Strategy

This briefing considers the following issues relating to the Thematic Strategy on the protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment: the adequacy of the proposal with reference to marine conventions ...
Issues with Marine Wildlife Enforcement - Report to the Countryside Council for Wales

This report assesses the state of marine wildlife enforcement in the UK’s 12-mile zone. A desk-based review was carried out, drawing on the results of other recent reviews and publications, along with ...
INDECO: Review of the Usage of Socio-economic Indicators on the Environmental Impact of Fishing Activities

This report constitutes deliverable number 8 of the INDECO project. The aim of the report is to review the usage of socio-economic indicators on the environmental impact of fishing ...
Brussels in Brief 7 - Developing the EU's Marine Policy

This is the seventh edition of IEEP's insert into the IUCN's Regional Office for Europe quarterly Newsletter. Brussels in Brief offers readers an informative and illuminating insight into the EU, its institutions ...
INDECO: A review of the current management framework - Policy objectives for which indicators are needed

This report constitutes deliverable number 4 of the INDECO project. The aim of the report is to identify the policy objectives for which indicators are needed as a tool to measure ...
INDECO: Indicators - An Overview Internal Paper for Discussion

This note was prepared as a follow-up on the INDECO kick-off meeting on 15.12.2004. It is not intended to be an exhaustive literature review. Rather its function is to assist in forging an ...
Challenges for Sustainable EU Fisheries - Conclusions from the high level conference

Under the patronage of the Dutch Presidency of the Council, IEEP and the Fisheries Secretariat organised a high level conference to discuss the environmental challenges facing the EU fisheries sector and ...
Proceedings of the IEEP/CCW workshop on the marine implementation of NATURA 2000 and its implications for inshore fisheries

The workshop, held in Aberystwyth on 9 February 2005, provided a timely opportunity to discuss the implications of implementing the habitats and birds Directives for the inshore fishing sector, especially ...
N2K In-shore Fisheries briefing 2

Natura 2000 in the marine environment
N2K In-shore Fisheries briefing 3

Species protection and the inshore fishing sector

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