As every year, the prospects for LIFE’s members, and the fate of the resources they depend on, hang on the discussions, negotiations, and decisions on setting catch levels and accompanying measures for Baltic fisheries in 2018. Our position, based on numerous discussions with our Members, is outlined below, a position...

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The various forms of exploitation of migrant wage-workers occurring predominantly in the agricultural sector in Europe can’t leave us indifferent. Nor can the repression and violence of States and European institutions in response to the massive migratory flows engendered by socioeconomic, climatic and political destabilization in many countries. In this...

Certain regulatory changes went in a different direction. The first of EU discard plans, applicable for the Baltic Sea and adopted in late 2014, temporarily decreased the minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) for cod from 38 to 35 cm until the end of 2017. One of the reasons cited by...

Acoustic protection for marine mammals: new warning device PAL

Organic farmer, author, and educator Jean-Martin Fortier hosts a workshop at ASU on profitable small-scale farming. This event was made possible by ASU's Food Systems Transformation Initiative in collaboration with University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Steadfast Farm and National Young Farmer's Coalition.

This Newsletter is a simple snapshot of our external activities. In addition, the LIFE staff in the UK, Brussels, Poland and Spain respond to a vast range of queries related to our sector and continuously develop and promulgate policies related to small scale, low impact fishing and fisheries.

Andy Cato is a farmer who combines modern animal traction, beef cattle and crops on his farm in the Southwest of France. He shared the story of his experiments to improve his soil and his farm’s productivity, finding ways to limit tillage in the context of organic agroforestry production with...

Climate and environmental action, developing the circular and bio- economy, creating high quality jobs in the agriculture sector, for all these issues, involvement of rural areas is crucial to deliver real results. However, speaking at the Agri Innovation Summit 2017 on 12 October, Commissioner Phil Hogan explained that "this potential...

Farms in Northern Ireland face a series of challenges due to the crisis in farm profitability which saw farm incomes drop by 16% in 2014/15 and a devastating 46% in 2015/16. Low prices threaten many farms since low profitability makes it less appealing for the next generation to take over. In...

The second newsletter of the SIMRA project has been published! It provides information on SIMRA’s progress after one year of working on the project; on SIMRA’s first stakeholder workshop in Bratislava, Slovakia, in October 2016; and on SIMRA’s first results such as a social innovation definition, the launch of innovative...

The 2016 EIP-AGRI workshop in Krakow focused on building innovative food systems and supply chains which connect producers with consumers. The workshop covered both the perspective of the farmer and of the city, giving cities easy access to fresh, safe and healthy food, benefiting local producers and contributing to local...

Facilitating access to succession brokers for farming families in all EU Member States is necessary in order to broach the difficult conversation about the transfer of land between generations, CEJA also calls the EU to pay a particular attention to young people not coming from a farming background by implementing...

This study presents an overview of Blue Growth emerging industries and investigates the linkages with the traditional maritime activity of fisheries with emphasis on small-scale fisheries. Positive synergies are investigated as well as possible opportunities (and threats) that Blue Growth can or should offer to small-scale fisheries and coastal communities...

The digital single market offers many opportunities for agriculture and food value chains -up to the consumer- to become smarter, more efficient, more circular and more connected. This event will place Horizon 2020 investments in farm and food digitisation in their broader policy context and showcase successful and inspirational projects....

In its October 2016 advice, ICES advised that all anthropogenic impact on eels – including recreational and commercial fishing at all stages, hydropower, pumping stations, and pollution should be kept as close to zero as possible. At the end of August of this year, LIFE Members from the Baltic Sea area,...

The European Commission has proposed new fishing quotas for 2018 but new rules create a paradox whereby fishermen won’t actually be able to cast off and go out to sea. The Commission proposed new fishing quotas for 78 fish stocks in the Atlantic and North Sea on Tuesday (7 November). Fisheries...

Pescado artesanal is an online platform and a communication campaign to increase the consumption of artisanal seafood. The online platform pools products of four auctions, making local seafood more accessible to buyers.

LIFE members, staff and scientists explain current challenges and future opportunities to give the right to fish Bluefin Tuna back to small-scale fishing communities. Small-scale fishers play a vital role for coastal communities. For centuries they fished for Bluefin tuna, which provided a significant seasonal source of income for them. Since...

Future policies towards livestock farming and trade in the UK and EU should support a shift to healthy sustainable diets and develop more coherent approaches to environmental objectives such as climate change, protecting nature and high animal welfare.