WWF: EU must stop its seas from turning into the deserts of tomorrow

07 Jun 2006

Brussels, Belgium – Economic growth and competitiveness goals in the EU will fail if maritime development continues to take place at the expense of the seas and its wildlife, warns WWF.

Today the European Commission presented the Green Paper on a future Maritime Policy which aims to integrate policies concerning all marine-related activities (shipping, industry, trade, tourism, energy, fisheries and marine research) in order to boost competitiveness and growth. WWF is concerned that integrating these policies based only on economic growth will jeopardise the protection or the marine environment and undermine the goal of sustainable development.

“The EU needs to learn form the fisheries experience: when the environment is not a priority, long term sustainable economic growth is not possible. Billion of euros have been spent on fisheries sector in the name of economic growth but they just lead to less competitiveness and the annihilation of the marine environment,” says Carol Phua, Fisheries Policy Officer at WWF European Policy Office.

“If the Maritime Policy takes the same approach, we will face not just overfishing but a complete overexploitation of the seas.”

At present, the Maritime strategy is under the responsibility of the Directorate General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, while the Marine strategy (which is its very weak environmental counterpart) is under the Directorate General for Environment. According to WWF, this separation will just lead to conflicts and undermine both the economic and the environmental goals. It is therefore paramount to merge the two policies within a new single Directorate General for Marine Affairs.

For further information:
Carol Phua, Fisheries Policy Officer
WWF European Policy Officer
Tel: +32 2 740 09 28
E-mail: cphua@wwfepo.org