13 March 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mo Mathies | mo.mathies@nwwac.ie
T: +353 1 2144 143 | M: +353 87 238 2136
Advisory Councils organise major event in Dublin Castle to celebrate 20 years in existence
The North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC) and the Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC) are proud to announce their joint celebratory event marking the 20th anniversary of the creation of (Regional) Advisory Councils in the Common Fishery Policy. The event, "The future of EU fisheries and regionalisation in the Northeast Atlantic", scheduled for March 14, 2024, at Dublin Castle, will celebrate the work of the ACs over the past two decades and aims to develop a positive roadmap for the future within the scope of regionalisation.
Emiel Brouckaert, Chair of the NWWAC, and Sean O Donoghue Chair of the PelAC commented: “This jointly hosted celebratory event is very timely to take stock of where we are in the aftermath of Brexit and to develop a roadmap for enhancing the role of Advisory Councils. This includes strengthening regionalisation in order to meet the very significant challenges for the future of the fisheries sector such as climate change and energy transition.”
Sean O’Donoghue specified: “Over the last twenty years the Pelagic Advisory Council has been at the forefront in making unanimous sustainable management recommendations for the pelagic stocks under its remit and in promoting innovative techniques such as genetics to use in stock assessment. I look forward to a fruitful discussion and outcome to our celebratory event.”
Emiel Brouckaert added: “Recent developments and crisis situations have emphasised the need for quality stakeholder advice to (EU) Fishery Policy Makers and Managers. In this respect the NWWAC focuses on a regional approach to address the complexity for the NWW demersal fishers to reach their social, economic and environmental sustainability objectives.”
Since their inception, the NWWAC and PelAC have been recognised as key stakeholders in the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). These Councils have brought together and aligned views of the fishing industry, environmental NGOs and other civil society organisations, fostering dialogue, building trust, and integrating stakeholder knowledge into decision-making processes ensuring sustainable management of marine resources in the Northeast Atlantic.
High-profile participants, including representatives from EU institutions, Member States, and the ACs membership, will gather to engage in meaningful discussions on the evolving landscape of fisheries management and regionalisation. The event programme features a panel discussion with distinguished speakers, such as Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (European Commission), a representative of the Belgian Presidency of Fisheries Ministries Council,
the Presidency of the North Western Waters Member States High-Level Group and the chairs of both hosting ACs.
The anniversary celebration not only marks a milestone reflecting on the Councils’ achievements of the past two decades, but looks forward to enhancing the role of ACs and regionalisation while forging a path towards a more resilient and prosperous future for Europe's fisheries and coastal communities.
As we look ahead to the future of EU fisheries, the NWWAC and PelAC remain committed to fostering dialogue, collaboration, consensus-building and sustainable practices for the benefit of present and future generations.
The event is co-funded by the European Union and sponsored by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Killybeg’s Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO), Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation (ISWFPO), Irish south & East Fish Producers Organisation (ISEFPO), Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO), Pelagic Freezer Trawler Association (FPTA), and Danmarks Pelagiske Producentorganisation (DPPO). More details about the event, including the programme can be found at nwwac.org.
Notes to editors
The North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC) is one of 11 fisheries Advisory Councils across Europe, generating multi-stakeholder advice to feed into the European Commission and Member States on key fisheries policy developments affecting their area of competence. NWWAC advice focuses on matters related to EU fisheries management and ecosystem considerations in the Irish Sea, the Celtic Seas and the Channel.
NWWAC website English: https://www.nwwac.org/english
NWWAC website French: https://www.nwwac.org/francaise
NWWAC website Spanish: https://www.nwwac.org/espanola
NWWAC Secretariat contact: Mo Mathies | mo.mathies@nwwac.ie | T: +353 1 2144 143 |
M: +353 87 238 2136
The Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC) is one of the 11 Advisory Councils for fisheries in the European Union and offers credible, science- and consensus-based advice to the European Commission and relevant EU Member States on the management of pelagic fisheries on behalf of its Membership. Its remit area covers pelagic stocks across all European sea-basins, excluding those in the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea. The PelAC has contributed significantly to the development of Long-Term Management Strategies (LTMS) for the stocks under its remit. Over recent years, the work of the PelAC has evolved to include added focus on ecosystem and climate considerations to its advice as well.
PelAC website: https://www.pelagic-ac.org/
PelAC Secretariat contact: Anne Marie Kats | a.kats@pelagic-ac.org | T: +31 6 2820 7317