Invitation for an European Inshore Fisheries Seminar

The 7^th – 10^th of December 2000

 

This ’Inshore Fisheries Seminar’ seminar was, as part of EU funded project ECOast Fish, originally scheduled to take place in March 1999. But due to problems with financing, the seminar was postponed. We are now glad to inform, that the seminar will be held in December 2000.

 

ECOast Fish is an inshore fisheries project funded by EU (DG XIV), ’Den Grønne Fond’ and the Danish government and meant to promote European Inshore fishery by putting an emphasis on its advantages.

In Denmark, the project has carried out a nation-wide interview survey among Danish fishermen. The results have formed the criteria for ’Rules for Ecological Fishery’[1], The project has issued a debate paper distributed to all Danish fishermen. Furthermore, ECOast Fish has been in contact with app. 100 fishermen from northern Europe and thus created a broad network.

’The Danish Society for a Living Sea’ is responsible for ECOast Fish. The Society is an independent organisation with more than 250 members counting fishermen, consumers, biologists and politicians.

 

Now, we finally have financing settled and hereby invite interested people to participate. The project can accommodate 50 people. It is free to participate, food included and the project refunds travel expenses, internationally and in Denmark. Unfortunately we can not cover lost earnings. The seminar will be held in English and we expect, with help from volunteers, to translate between necessary languages.

The aim of the seminar is to: Strengthen the relations within the European inshore fishery and if necessary, to found and formalise future co-operation. Thus, the seminar wishes to promote an ecological sound fishery to the benefit of marine resources/environment, coastal communities and fishermen.

Inshore fishery conducts, in general, one-day fishing trips. The fishery is ecologically sound and does not use heavy dragging gear. The fishery uses gear/mesh that prevents unintended bycatch of juveniles. The fishery respects natural cycles and spawning periods.

 

Participators will be selected according to following criteria:

1.     Is an active fisherman involved in organisational work and/or projects.

2.     Is an active fisherman with interest in organisational work and/or projects.

3.     Is a former fisherman and active in organisational work and/or projects.

4.     Is a former fisherman with interest in organisational work and/or projects.

 

If You are interested in participating, or know relevant people who are, please contact ‘The Danish Society for a Living Sea’ on the following address:

Kattegatvej 3

DK 8500 Grenå

Phone: + 45 87 58 07 55

fax: +45 87 58 07 56

 e-mail: llh@levende-hav.dk, homepage: www.levende-hav.dk

 

With regards to further planning, we urge interested people to enrol as soon as possible, and latest: October the 10th 2000.

 

Kind Regards, on behalf of the ECOast Fish seminar group (Espen Nordberg, Kurt B. Christensen, Peder Pedersen)

 

[1] ’Rules for an Ecological Fishery’ (Not Organic) are criteria formulated by a group of Danish fishermen. The criteria describes how they think fishery should be conducted. The fishermen have founded their own P.O. and agreed to fish according to the criteria. In return, the value of the fish is increased.