The question of sustainable fishing should be at the heart of the debate as it now seems vital in view of the climate collapse and that of biodiversity of which we are amazed witnesses. On October 8, eminent scientists warned that in the absence of radical public policies, humanity would face an irreversible and dramatic climate catastrophe, which would threaten our very existence on the planet. Less than three weeks later, on October 30, the Spanish region of Valencia was experiencing – very concretely – this climatic catastrophe, with more than 200 dead and many missing.
Today we are experiencing what seemed to us yesterday to be distant scientific projections, despite fifty years of observations since the visionary Meadows report of 1972. To get out of the rut, we must carry out an energy transition, but also protect and above all restore ecosystems. No salvation if the second lever does not accompany the first.
However, this is where the problem lies: there is no political will to organize this radical transition. On the contrary, the public authorities give us, day after day, the very unpleasant impression of putting all their determination into the destruction of the living world to make the Earth uninhabitable as quickly as possible. So, what can we say about the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who has open hatred for the wolf; wolf who made the mistake of devouring his pony Dolly. The situation is hardly less distressing in France and in the fishing sector, where one of the first actions of the new Minister Delegate for the Sea and Fisheries, Fabrice Loher (also mayor of Lorient, second largest French fishing port) was to go to Boulogne-sur-Mer (the largest French fishing port) to provide support to the “industry”. But which sector? That of the small coastal fishermen of the Gambetta quay, who are going out of business one after the other, destroyed by years of electric fishing and now by the no less problematic demersal seine? Or that of the industrial fishermen of the Loubet basin, where we find in particular this same demersal seine? There is no doubt, unfortunately, as the minister's proximity to the all-powerful boss of fishermen, Olivier Le Nézet, also from Lorient, is displayed. A proximity that sends shivers down your spine, because while rumors in the corridors of Brussels are that electric fishing is once again on the agenda, this gentleman has just signed an agreement opening the doors wide to demersal seine fishing.
At a time when the most consumed fish in France, namely tuna, is synonymous with public health scandal, human rights violations and destruction of ecosystems, the planned and rapid transition of the fishing sector should be at the forefront. heart of public debate. We urge public authorities to cut ties with the industrial lobbies who have led us into a corner and to finally listen to the warnings of scientists. The 15 points to save the ocean proposed by Bloom, as well as the 11 golden rules established by specialists for truly social and ecological fishing, outline the contours of this revolution. By reducing fishing pressure, protecting marine areas and banning the most destructive practices, we could rebuild a relationship of respect with the sea and achieve “sustainable fishing”. There's still time, but the countdown is on.
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