European Union Framework for Data Collection in Fisheries

Under the umbrella of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU together with the European Commission organised a high level conference and ministerial meeting in Sofia, the outcome of which was the signed declaration on sustainable fisheries in the Black Sea. The CoR was represented by Mr Olgier GEBLEVICZ, who underlined the importance of small scale fisheries for the economic ecosystem of small coastal towns.

Collection, quality and availability of marine data have been identified as major issue for further development of EU policies on maritime affaires and fisheries, including all aspects of Blue growth. The goal of the seminar is to discuss how policy in this field can potentially catch up with latest developments and which approach is the most suitable for local and regional authorities throughout Europe, identifying possible solutions. Particular accent during the discussion will be put on cartography and mapping for the purposes of integrated maritime policy and maritime spatial planning, and the importance of an methodological approach to the use of data for the development of the blue economy.

The seminar was followed by a practical session of the new functionalities of the European marine data portal EMODnet. Those new functionalities allow local and regional authorities throughout Europe to access freely available marine and socio-economic data in an easy-to-use format that allows them to better plan their activities in the field of the blue economy – something the CoR asked in recent opinions.

CoR rapporteur Geblewicz participated in the International Maritime Congress, organised in the premises of the European Parliament, where he will delivered a keynote speech.

CoR NAT commission adopts the draft opinion after the first discussion.

Appointment of Mr. Geblewicz as Rapporteur

EESC adopts in plenary session its opinion "Datain the Fisheries Sector"

European Commission adopts the draft regulation on data collection in fisheries (Com (2015) 294 final Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL concerning the establishment of a Union framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy (recast))