BSRAC Newsletter week 51

 

 

Dear BSRAC members and observers,

Here’s the last news of 2008 from the BSRAC.

                                                                                      

 

• A pre-Christmas reminder about the ICES Benchmarking workshops

 

The benchmarking workshop for Baltic cod takes place from 16^th - 23^rd January 2009 at ICES, in Copenhagen. The person co-ordinating the workshop for Baltic cod is Eero Aro, Senior Scientist, from the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Helsinki.  There is no detailed timetable yet. But normal practice is to start on the first day at 10.00 a.m. and finish about lunchtime/afternoon on the last day. There will be work during the weekend. Saturday is a normal working day, but Sunday will be somewhat shorter. If you have time for this workshop, and if you want more information about the contents of benchmarking for the Baltic stocks, please contact the secretariat.

 

 

·         Göteborg University - “Facilitating Governance of Baltic Sea Fisheries by Improving Communication among Stakeholders”  A workshop

Götheborg University will be holding its gcPLUS pilot workshop on 15^th-16^th January 2009 in Gdynia. Ewa Milewska (WWF) and Ryszard Malik (Association of Fishermen’s Sea-PO) are working together with the university on this. BSRAC Chairman Reine Johansson will represent the RAC.

 

 

• The Baltic 2020 process: “Best Practice in Fisheries Management”

 

As mentioned in weeks 49 and 50, Baltic 2020 is working on a project called Best Practice of Fisheries Management: Learning from other marine areas and applying it to the Baltic Sea context. The aim is to produce a report containing concrete fisheries management suggestions which can be used in connection with the revision of the Common Fisheries Policy. The final report will be presented in April 2009. An international science workshop will be held in Stockholm between 9^th and 12^th January 2009, and internationally recognised fisheries management scientists will participate. Sally Clink will represent the BSRAC. Please note that a later phase of the project is an International policy workshop, which is planned in Copenhagen 12^th – 13^th March 2009. BSRAC members are encouraged to get involved. 

 

• Last EU Fisheries Council of the year to set TACs and quotas for 2009

 

The Council started on Thursday afternoon. All ministers were gathered together for a first round to exchange viewpoints. Negotiations are underway as we write. See a press release from DG Mare on the preparations here:

 

http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/press_releases/2008/com08_96_en.htm

 

 

• Nord Stream: Over-trawlability trials in connection with planned pipeline

 

This was mentioned in week 50. These trails started on Wednesday 17^th December. They were carried out by SINTEF at the flume tank at the North Sea Centre, Hirtshals. Fishermen from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Poland and Sweden were there, as well as representatives from Nord Stream, DNV (Det Norske Veritas), Rambøll and Foga. The tests were presented by Romke Bijker, an engineer with many years’ experience in the pipeline sector. The fishermen were involved in the process, and their comments noted so as to adapt the combinations of the various elements of the test to real situations. After the tests, there was a question-and-answer session, where fishermen were able to put forward comments and concerns, such as: the power required to get the trawl doors over the pipeline, concerns about the board getting stuck as it passes over or along the pipeline, lost nets and the problem of ghost fishing, the effects of loose rock being laid under the free spans, and the risk of the trawl doors hitting this rock, and so on. The process was being filmed and participants interviewed. Once the tests are completed, the results will be analysed. The next step is for Nord Stream to hold meetings with the fishermen in each of the countries in February 2009 in order to discuss the results. The participants are encouraged to contact Foga if they have further questions:

http://foga.dk/index-filer/Page646.htm

 

• HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan Stakeholder Conference 2009, Tuesday 3^rd March 2009

 

The theme for the conference will be “Building blocks for a cost-effective implementing of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan”. Organisations and individuals from around the Baltic are invited to participate and to discuss political, economic and scientific pre-requisites for timely and successfully achieving a healthy Baltic Sea. The BSRAC has been invited to give a talk.

 

• Travel claims

 

We are waiting for a few more travel claims from you. Please send them to us as soon as possible.

 

• Commitment forms and payment for 2009

 

We would like to say a big thank you to those members who have already responded to our letter requesting commitment and payment for the next BSRAC year which starts in March 2009. We ask everyone else to reply in good time.

 

• Open  - and closed - over Christmas

 

The BS RAC office will be open:

on 22^nd  and 23^rd December

and on 29^th and 30^th December

Closed on 31st December and 2^nd January.

It will be business as usual again on Monday 5^th January 2009.

 

Don’t forget the coming meetings in 2009: check the BSRAC Website for information.

 

We would like to wish everyone in the BS RAC network a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.