The UN report, ‘Towards a Green Economy’ , claims that a paradigm shift to a “green economy” can start the move towards a sustainable world while generating high growth rates. The report contains a chapter on fisheries which contends that fisheries subsidies – estimated at around US $27 billion a year globally, and US$ 3 billion in the EU – result in more damage than long-term gains to national economies. The UN strategy includes limiting subsidies to those used for management, which would generate estimated global savings of US$ 19 billion annually. The total value added to the global economy from fishing in the green scenario is estimated at US$ 67 billion a year, compared to US$ 17 billion a year with current fisheries. This would be a net increase of US$ 50 billion a year. Key to achieving this is a reduction in excessive fleet capacity. The key points in the fisheries chapter are here

TAGS: World, fisheries, sustainable, greening, green economy, UNEP, fisheries subsidies, overcapacity

A new report calls for some of the biggest cuts to Newfoundland and Labrador's fishery since the collapse of cod stocks in 1992. The report was prepared by Tom Clift, a business professor at Memorial University. He is the independent head of a steering committee made up of industry and union leaders. It recommends the province spend $450 million to buy out harvesting and processing licences. It says inshore fleets should be cut by up to 80 per cent, and that nearshore fleets should be reduced by up to half to help remake the fishery as a self-sustaining, international competitor.It suggests that only between one-third and two-thirds of the fishing fleets now operating are viable. More here  Fisheries Minister Clyde Jackman says the province is reviewing the report but can't cover the amount recommended. In response the Liberal Fisheries critic has called for the resignation of the Minister terming the failure to act "a complete abrogation of leadership on the part of the Fisheries Minister and the government of Kathy Dunderdale.”

TAGS: N.L. fishery, massive cuts urged, restructuring, licence buybacks, sustainable, fisheries, fishing,Tom Clift, Clyde Jackman

Opposition is growing in the USA,particularly in the Northeast, against the catch shares program being promoted by NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco. The NOAA fisheries budget proposes big increases in spending to expand the program, including $1 million to fight lawsuits launched by groups of fishermen. Seven senators and representatives joined U.S. Sen. Kay Hagen, D-N.C., Wednesday in signing a letter telling Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to abandon the catch share campaign which "does not have broad based support from the fishing industry" because of harm it has already done. More here

TAGS: US fisheries, catch shares, individual quotas, NOAA, Jane Lubchenco, sustainable, fisheries, fishing