Delivering our commitment to improve fishery management at Our Oceans Conference

Our oceans conference

Since 2014, Our Oceans Conference have invited world leaders to look forward and respond, delivering high-level commitments and transforming the challenges ahead into an opportunity for cooperation, innovation and entrepreneurship. The 2017 edition of the conference with the theme “An Ocean for Life” was upon invitation only.

It was hosted by the European Union in Malta, at the heart of the Mediterranean. Skretting was represented by Trygve Berg Lea, the Group's Sustainability Manager.

Skretting supports the United Nations sustainable development goals. Goal number 14 addresses our oceans. Improper marine management results in overfishing. The lost economic benefits from the fisheries sector are estimated to be around US$50 billion annually. The Our Ocean Conference is looking for commitments to tackle these critical issues, reversing overexploitation and fighting IUU fishing, helping to manage our common resources at sustainable levels, with a long-term, ecosystem-based approach.

Skretting engaged this year in a project in Peru support fishery stakeholders in Peru to manage their fishery to the highest environmental standards. It is the world’s largest single species fishery and has for decades been an important source for fishmeal and fish oil to us.

In Malta Trygve B Lea delivered this commitment:

“Skretting, in partnership with the Peruvian National Fisheries Society National Fishing Association of Peru, IMARPE, Cargill Aqua Nutrition and CeDePesca, announced the launch of a comprehensive Fishery Improvement Project in Northern Humboldt Current System, with the aim of strengthening research, management and sustainability in applying the ecosystem approach to the Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens) stock, being one of the most important single species fisheries worldwide. The project commits to: improve the management system to facilitate catch control rules in the case of low biomass, by March 2020; to organize the data gathered by the industrial fishing vessels and encourage further technological development for better assessment and monitoring of the ecosystem by March 2020; to achieve a certifiable status by March 2020.”

Group photo from 'Our Ocean, an Ocean for Life' in Malta. Among others with the participation of Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC, Neven Mimica, Member of the EC in charge of International Cooperation and Development and Karmenu Vella, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Also present HRH Prince Charles of Wales and HRH Prince Albert of Monaco.