European Commissioner Karmenu Vella from Malta, who is responsible for Environment, Maritime affairs and Fisheries will today receive the German Ocean Award, during the Our Ocean conference, taking place in Bali.
This Award is being presented as recognition for his work for protecting and preserving the ocean, and making it part of our economy in a sustainable way.
Commenting on the Award, Commissioner Vella said, “this award is not about me. It is about the coordinated response the European Commission has developed to protect and sustainably use our ocean.”
“It is a reflection of our world leading plastics strategy, which will reduce marine litter, of our global efforts for better ocean governance, of our work with governments around the planet to stop illegal fishing, of our promotion of renewable ocean energy, and of our efforts to lead the way at home on sustainable fishing. This is an award for a European wide effort for the promotion of sustainable ocean use,” he added.
The European Commission last week committed another €300 million for clean, healthy and safe oceans during the Our Ocean conference in Bali.
The Commission said that 10% of all EU waters have already been designated as Marine Protected Areas, which is two years ahead of the initial deadline set.
It explained that with “effective management, adequate funding and robust enforcement, it can have both conservation and economic benefits.”
Over the last 6 years the number of stocks that are fished at sustainable levels has risen from 20 to 54 – out of 76, for which such advice was available from the International Council on the Exploration of the Seas, the Commission said.
The Award to Commissioner Vella also follows the overwhelming support of the European Parliament to the Commission’s Single-Use Plastics proposal.
The German Ocean Award,under the patronage of the Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein, is awarded to well-known individuals who have shown special commitment to the cause of preserving and protecting the world’s oceans.
Photograph: Twitter