Rev.

10 Dec 2013

EAA working plan 2014 - SUMMARY

Note: COM=European Commission; EP=European Parliament

Fish species: Salmon North Atlantic - Among other things: attend the annual NASCO meeting 3-6 June, France Salmon Baltic Sea Baltic salmon management plan on hold due to the EP-Council legal dispute; hydropower and other obstacles in the rivers still a huge problem; open sea salmon fishing/mixed stock fishing still allowed; aquaculture to be boosted as part of the revised CFP Sea Bass EU sea bass management plan is pending a TAC could be introduced for the first time Predators: Cormorants The CorMan project ends early 2014 to follow up. A pan-Nordic cormorant management plan seems to be one plausible way forward. SEA affairs: CFP reform of 2013 implementation issues (discard/release mortality, regionalisation, EMFF). Other CFP and maritime related policies and law making going on this year. Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). EAA sits the Marine Strategy Coordination Group. More EAA manpower needed for this group and subgroups. RACs. EAA is represented on all 7 old RACs - need for EAA representation on new Aquaculture RAC. Marine litter high on the EU agenda. FRESHWATER affairs: Water Framework Directive, WFD (EAA has a seat at the WFD SCG group. More manpower needed and/or team up with other NGOs) to follow the two subgroups Floods and Environmental Flows (hydropower related). Hydropower small scale hydropower (and dams). Our campaign and lobby efforts continue. FRESH- and SEA WATER affairs: The review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive - pending Protection of Biodiversity and ecosystem services as well as conservation and management of natural resources high on the EU agenda 2014 Salmon farming, closed systems EAA resolution adopted by the General Assembly, Aug 2013, and position paper published: Wild Salmon and Aquaculture - Threats and solutions Invasive Alien Species. COM draft for a Regulation published in Sept EP committee vote Jan 2014; plenary vote in Feb or March. A Code of conduct on Recreational Fishing and Invasive Alien Species has been drafted under the Bern Convention - to be adopted end of 2015. Projects and campaigns: Intergroup on Recreational Fisheries, European Parliament an EAA-EFTTA project EAA website Web project: European Parliament elections promote angling friendly MEPs Fund raising EAA arranged seminars - to be arranged within the Intergroup on Recreational Fishing Documentation and position papers various, as support for prioritised lobby issues EAA engagements on standing committees and councils etc.: - The WFD-SCG working group - 7 present Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) + new Aquaculture AC - The Marine Strategy Coordination Group - ICPDR, the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube - EAA ad-hoc presence at various conferences and expert groups as required (FAO/EIFAAC, Council of Europe/Bern Convention, GFCM, ICES etc.) - MARLISCO marine litter project - 2011-2014 (not EAA as such - Jan Kappel in his own capacity) - 7th World Recreational Fishing Conference: 1-4 Sept 2014, Sao Paulo, Brazil EAA internal meetings 2014: - Board meetings: January, June, Aug/Sept (General Assembly) - General Assembly: August or September - EAA Subgroups: 10-11 April, Aug/Sept (General Assembly), Nov/Dec - Task Force Cormorants: At the General Assembly - Task Force Alpine Waters: At the General Assembly - Task Force Sea Bass: As needed, and General Assembly - John Crudden / Jan Kappel / Sarunas Zableckis: Monthly and/or as required - EAAEFTTA meetings: as required Development of the organisation: Increase the membership of EAA. Update the EAA website and Facebook page, keep them maintained and develop them further. Also keep alive EAAs YouTube and Twitter pages. Issue more EAA press releases Increase the staffing level Seek external funding for EAA (response from EU on our NGO funding application expected January 2014)