14 March 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mo Mathies | mo.mathies@nwwac.ie
T: +353 1 2144 143 | M: +353 87 238 2136
The patrol vessel “Ocean Protector”, chartered by the European Fisheries Control Agency, has arrived in Dublin Port for the 20 year NWWAC and PELAC anniversary
One of the three EFCA offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), the Ocean Protector, has arrived in Dublin port and will open its doors tomorrow morning, Friday 15 March, welcoming dignitaries invited to the 20th anniversary of the North Western Waters Advisory Council and the Pelagic Advisory Council.
The OPV Ocean Protector is one of the three inspection platforms chartered by EFCA, supporting Member States in the different EFCA joint deployment plans and other coast guard functions, such as search and rescue situations, maritime surveillance and pollution response. Its deployment enhances the EU capacity to improve the effectiveness of fisheries control operations in the EU and beyond.
The Chairs of the two Advisory Councils, Emiel Brouckaert and Sean O’Donoghue, expressed their gratitude to EFCA for their initiative and collaboration in bringing the vessel to Dublin Port for this momentous occasion. The presence of the Ocean Protector serves as a symbol of the enduring collaboration between EFCA and the Advisory Councils, highlighting the strides made in safeguarding Europe's fisheries resources and promoting responsible fishing practices.
The celebration of the 20-year anniversary event of the North Western Waters Advisory Council and the Pelagic Advisory Council is taking place today, 14 March, in Dublin Castle with an event in which the Advisory Councils will look back over the past 20 years of existence and the role of stakeholder voices in European fisheries´ governance. Stakeholders and decision makers will have the opportunity to celebrate the work of the ACs over the past two decades and aiming at developing a positive roadmap for the future within the scope of regionalisation in reaching the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy.
The tour of the OPV Ocean Protector will conclude the NWWAC and PelAC anniversary celebration, offering guests an informal and pleasant opportunity to close their visit to Dublin.
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