Portugal

Minister of Economy & Sea rejects deep sea mining “completely”

6 July, 2022

Author: Natasha Donn

Source: Portugal Resident

“Deep-sea mining is not a question we can ask today because it is completely out of the question in the coming decades”, said the Minister of Economy & Sea for Portugal, António Costa Silva, “We don’t know very well how the sea works. We know 5% of the sea. We need to know the dynamics of the oceans first”.

The minister was in the Azores, having had a meeting with the regional government to discuss, among other things, the creation of an Atlantic University in the archipelago, “to attract international researchers”.

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Deep sea mining – A sustainable choice for Portugal?

2 November, 2017

Source: Seas At Risk

In October 2017, Seas At Risk together with its Portuguese members organised a conference on ‘Deep sea mining – A sustainable choice for Portugal?’, which was attended by over 100 participants, including Portuguese and Azorean government representatives, NGOs and scientists. The conference also marked the launch of Oceano Livre, a coalition of Portuguese NGOs against deep sea mining.

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North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission makes limited progress to protect deep-sea species and habitats

14 November, 2014

London, November 14, 2014 – The North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) this week agreed to close six new areas totaling around 11,000 square kilometres to bottom fishing to protect vulnerable deep-sea species ecosystems and extended its prohibition on the catch of several shark species.

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International Mobilisation Against Deep-Sea Bottom Trawling on July 14th

7 July, 2014

On July 14th, European Fisheries Ministers will be meeting at the Council in Brussels. A reform of the EU deep-sea fisheries management regulation, including the ban of deep-sea bottom trawling, was proposed by Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki in July 2012. As trawlers continue to drag their nets, the Fisheries Council drags its feet mainly due to the pressure that countries such as France and Spain have put up to hinder the reform. These industrial fishing nations are now jeopardizing the adoption of the ban in Council.

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North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission Adopts New Regulation to Protect Vulnerable Deep-Sea Species and Habitats on the High Seas in the North East Atlantic Ocean

24 June, 2014

London — The North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, or NEAFC, this week has adopted stronger regulations for the management of deep-sea fisheries and the conservation of deep-sea species and habitats in the North East Atlantic. NEAFC is a regional treaty organization established to manage high seas fisheries in the North East Atlantic Ocean. The new regulation is expected to enter into force in September of this year. 

Continue reading North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission Adopts New Regulation to Protect Vulnerable Deep-Sea Species and Habitats on the High Seas in the North East Atlantic Ocean