Ireland: 24 hours to save our seas

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http://www.avaaz.org/en/ireland_save_european_seas/?cl=1355078044&v=10852

European seas and the communities that depend on them face catastrophe unless our leaders act now to protect them. In 24 hours, the Irish government could join a growing European call to strengthen fishing limits, but only if they hear from concerned citizens from across Ireland first.

The EU is currently reforming its “Common Fisheries Policy”, but the proposals don’t go far enough towards saving our seas through science-based catch limits. Ireland is one of the first countries to review the new plans and our government is hosting a public consultation for the next 24 hours. Let’s flood the consultation with calls for tighter catch limits and make Ireland an ocean champion who will set the tone for other countries to stand up and fight against Europe’s powerful and dangerous commercial fishing industry.

Let’s flood the public consultation on fishing limits before it ends at midnight on Friday -- and let Fisheries Minister Coveney know that we support him in becoming an ocean hero. Click below to send a message:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/ireland_save_european_seas/?vl

72% of the EU’s assessed fish stocks are dangerously overfished, and current EU fisheries management has failed to stop allowing member states to catch fish well above the levels scientist recommend. Setting viable fishing limits is a must to allow stocks to recover, and to give dependent communities a future.

Experts fear that within 40 years our oceans could be completely fished out. Some say efforts to limit fishing is hostile to fishing communities -- on the contrary, only a strong, science-based commitment to resuscitating fish stocks will prevent the total collapse of fishing communities in the coming years. But a growing number of countries within Europe are recognising that we must take urgent action. Ireland is taking a bold step in holding this public consultation on catch limits, and if we come out strongly in favour of Minister Coveney it will encourage other EU countries to stand up to the powerful fishing lobby.

For too long, we’ve treated our seas as indestructible -- vacuuming up fish, dumping our dangerous waste, and assuming that there are no consequences to our actions. We have an opportunity in the next 24 hours to support Minister Coveney in ending overfishing by putting science in charge of determining our fishing policies, not short-term corporate interests. Click below to save our seas:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/ireland_save_european_seas/?vl

We've already fought and won on oceans. Actions from Avaaz members were pivotal in a UK government decision to create the world’s largest marine protected area, and over a million of us persuaded the International Whaling Commission to uphold the global ban on commercial whaling. But we’ve still got a long way to go in our struggle to save the world’s oceans. Right now, our fight is in Europe, one of the world’s biggest catchers and consumers of fish. If Ireland can become a champion for a better European fishing policy, it will be a huge step forward towards a brighter future for all our oceans.

With hope,

Stephanie, Iain, Alice, Ricken, Emma, Pascal and the rest of the Avaaz team

More information:

Invitation to the public to discuss fishing limits for 2012:
http://www.fishingnet.ie/FO2012/intro.htm

Minister Coveney on the reform of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy:
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/press/pressreleases/2011/july/title,56747,en.html

Cod collapse due to overfishing and political failure:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/sep/30/uk-cod-collapse-overfishing

BBC “Q&A: Reform of EU Fishing Policy”:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14143606

New Scientist "No more seafood by 2050?":
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10433-no-more-seafood-by-2050.html

Cod Mislabelling Four Times More Prevalent in Ireland:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110714190900.html
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