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Take part in the Seabed 2030 survey – closes end of April 2021

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Source: NLA International on behalf of Seabed 2030

Last year NLA International Ltd working on behalf of Seabed 2030, launched an online survey to find out more about the status and potential of mapping the ocean floor. The survey collected views from across all interested sectors to help us better understand issues such as:

  • Why stakeholders feel it is important to map the seabed.
  • How interested parties are estimating the environmental, social and economic value of seabed mapping.
  • Where are the most urgent priorities for seabed mapping.

All of this will help us to corroborate – or challenge – existing thinking, and hopefully identify any areas of the seabed that may benefit from a more joined-up / collaborative approach.

We have been really delighted with the responses thus far – we have received nearly 470 detailed responses to date – and are currently hard at work analysing the initial findings.

However, it is not too late to have your say! We will be keeping the survey open until the end of April, and we would be very grateful if you could contribute your views.

To access the survey, please click here.

More information

Read the article: Marine Geospatial Data: the Cornerstone of the Blue Eonomy

Read more about the seabed 2030 Initiuative:  100% of Ocean Floor mapped by 2030

screenshot factsheet renewed partnership

A new agenda for the Mediterranean: the Council approves conclusions on a renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood

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Press release:  Council of the EU

The Council approved conclusions affirming the EU’s determination to renew and strengthen its strategic partnership with its Southern Neighbourhood. The objective is to address common challenges, take advantage of shared opportunities and unlock the region’s economic potential for the benefit of its people.

Spurring sustainable long-term socio-economic recovery and job creation in the Southern Neighbourhood is a key shared priority and the innovative cornerstone of the new Agenda for the Mediterranean. Working together, the EU and its Southern Neighbourhood partners can turn climate and environmental challenges, and digital transformation, into major opportunities for sustainable development, contributing to a just and inclusive green transition. The EU will use all its available instruments, including the NDICI-Global Europe and the European Fund for Sustainable Development plus (EFSD+), and engage with financial institutions to achieve this objective, paying particular attention to the human dimension and opportunities for young people.

Good governance, the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic institutions and the rule of law are also considered to be essential for long-term stability, security and sustainable development in the region. The EU will step up its engagement on these issues, and renew its efforts on conflict prevention and resolution, as well as on cooperation on security, migration and the preparedness and response capacities of healthcare systems.

The EU intends to strengthen the political dialogue across the Mediterranean by setting up annual meetings of EU member states’ and Southern Neighbourhood partners’ foreign ministers to review progress in the implementation of the new Agenda for the Mediterranean.

Read more on the EU Councils press release webpage

EU | Sustainable fisheries: Cooperation with Mauritania continues

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This article was published first in DG MARE’s website on the 09/07/2020. 

The EU is actively promoting sustainable fisheries around the world. In this context, the EU has on 7 July extended the protocol to the existing Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) with the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for one year.

The protocol promotes responsible fishing and sustainable management of fishing resources, including enhanced transparency measures. The extension ensures continuity in cooperation and further progress towards sustainable fishing.

The fisheries partnership agreement with Mauritania is the biggest mixed agreement for the EU both in financial terms and in terms of fishing opportunities. Under the current framework with Mauritania, the EU fleet is authorised to fish in Mauritanian waters for shrimp, demersal fish, tuna and small pelagics, up to around 287,000 tonnes per year. In addition to the fees paid by the European fleet, the EU pays a financial contribution of €61,625,000 per year, including over €4,000,000 to support the fisheries policy in Mauritania, in particular the improvement of research and fisheries governance.

Despite intentions to agree a new protocol, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the initial planning for the negotiations. The parties considered a one-year extension of the current protocols to be the most pragmatic approach to avoid interruption in the activity of Union fishing vessels in Mauritanian waters. The extensions will be on the same terms as the current ones, with identical fishing opportunities for EU vessels as well as identical financial contributions from both the European Union and the ship-owners. Meanwhile, negotiations for a new agreement and protocol will continue with a view to the adoption of a new sustainable fisheries partnership agreement, before the expiration of the agreed extension.

 

More information

WestMED National Event in Mauritania helps concretise the Blue Economy concept

The Mauritania section of the WestMED website presents the latest news of the Blue Economy in Mauritania.

 

WestMED National Event in Mauritania helps concretise the Blue Economy concept

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On 30 June 2020, more than 20 stakeholders from Mauritania gathered online to discuss the Blue Economy concept.

This national event was  organised by the WestMED Assistance Mechanism in cooperation with the National Coordinator in Mauritania of the WestMED Initiative at the Mauritanian  Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy.

It was a first of its kind meeting on the Blue Economy in Mauritania where many different organisations and institutions were represented from the private sector, the public sector and the academic world.

Next to an exchange of views, 10 ideas were identified that can be focused on to take the Blue Economy concept in Mauritania to a next stage:

  1. Promote the blue economy profile in Mauritania
  2. Skills and competences of actors for sustainable development (fisheries)
  3. Innovation to improve sustainability (e.g., waste/plastic management beyond collection, sewage treatment plants and sustainable fishing vessels);
  4. Plastic reuse experience in Senegal as pilot to capitalise in Mauritania (?);
  5. Capitalise on the (eco) tourism experience related to marine protected areas (example Nouadhibou) for coastal development with support for local capacities/skills;
  6. Desalination projects to improve access to water – be aware of MPA.
  7. Access to renewable energy (marine) for local communities
  8. MSP as an essential tool for good shared use of the sea and coastlines
  9. MSP as an essential tool to allow for a proper shared usage of the sea and littorals (pressure on coastal areas could be addressed through “green solutions”)
  10. Strategic study to identify priority activities to support a sustainable blue economy.

The National Hub Mauritania, together with the National Coordinator will study these initial ideas in more detail  and decide on a path forward.

Resources of the event: Agenda, Opening presentation (in French).

The Minister of fisheries agreed to organize a national event in the beginning of 2020

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During a hearing granted to the National Hub Manager, the Minister of Fisheries agreed to organize a national workshop under his patronage and to invite all ministers concerned (environment, petrol and mines, equipment and transport, etc.). In consultation with the national coordinator, it was considered necessary to organize the workshop in February 2020 after the completion of the fisheries strategy development process.

Strong involvement of the national hub in the process of developing the fisheries sector strategy of Mauritania (2020-2024)

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The national hub of Mauritania has been strongly involved in the process of developing the fisheries sector strategy. Indeed, the head of the national hub was approached by the Minister of Fisheries to participate in steering the process of developing the sector strategy for the period 2020-2024.

In this context, the head of the national hub has actively participated in the preparation of the communication of the Minister of Fisheries in the Council of Ministers on the start of the process of elaboration of the 2020-2024 fisheries strategy, the framework note of the process and the terms of reference of the pool of national experts responsible for developing the strategy.

This function reflects the Minister’s confidence in the skills of the national hub and will strengthen its strategic position at the level of the Ministry of Fisheries, which will have a very positive impact on the promotion of the WestMED initiative and its institutional anchoring in Mauritania. .

Development of synergies with FAO initiative and others initiatives

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The national hub took part in all the events organized at national level related to the promotion of the blue economy. He was involved in the evaluation of the 2015-2019 fisheries strategy and the development of a program for inland fisheries and fish farming in Mauritania (in collaboration with FAO). It is also involved in the ongoing evaluation of the management and development plan of the Banc d’Arguin National Park and the elaboration of a new plan for the period 2020-2024.

A continuous effort to promote the WestMED Initiative at the national level

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The head of the national hub has established a regular contact with the Minister of Fisheries, to make him aware of the WestMED initiative and its objectives and to obtain his agreement for the organization of the national event on the blue economy at the beginning of the year 2020. In this context, the Minister confirmed to the head of the national hub his availability to provide all the necessary support for the success of the activities of the national hub.

In other part, a mission is scheduled to Nouadhibou from 08 to 14 December, in which the head of the National Hub is involved. This mission will be an opportunity to inform the various institutions of the WestMED initiative (Nouadhibou Free Zone, fishing professionals, Nouadhibou Autonomous Port, artisanal port, Nouadhibou shipyard, etc.).