Also by Ariana Densham

'No one owns the fish of the sea': landmark ruling prevents ocean privatisation

Posted by Ariana Densham - 10 July 2013 at 10:32am

The High Court ruling prevents big business from claiming ownership of fish stocks

This morning I was at the High Court in central London where a historic ruling was handed down on who controls the UK's right to fish.

An attempt by big fishing firms to protect their decades-long stranglehold on Britain’s fish was resoundingly defeated in court. The judgement gives back control of our seas to the public and the UK government, rather than big industry.

Article tagged as: judicial review, NUTFA, oceans, overfishing, richard benyon

Championing small-scale fishermen in court battle for fairer quotas

Posted by Ariana Densham - 1 May 2013 at 11:28am - Comments

Small-scale fishermen outside the Royal Courts of Justice

Imagine if someone claimed ownership of a percentage of the sparrows in the sky or a share of the deer in our forests? Would this seem absurd to you? I agree.

Unbelievably, this is now set to be the heart of an unprecedented court battle – except that it’s over who ultimately controls the UK’s fishing quota, and therefore who 'owns' the fish in our seas.

Article tagged as: CFP, NUTFA, small scale fishing, sustainable fishing, ukafpo

Revealing the NFFO’s members – opening Pandora’s Box?

Posted by Ariana Densham - 15 March 2013 at 12:43pm - Comments

How would you feel if you were betrayed by the very people who are meant to be protecting your interests? This is what we discovered about the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) last month. It turns out that instead of standing up for small scale fishermen, they have actually been trying to deny them the wider representation in Europe that they so desperately need.

Article tagged as: CFP, nffo, oceans, responsible fishing

Who holds the UK fish pie? We’d all like to know.

Posted by Ariana Densham - 5 March 2013 at 6:34pm - Comments

Sustainably caught wild bass, Newlyn

When did the world of fish become so secretive, and why? This is a question that I have been thinking about a lot recently, and which was today also questioned by The Times.

Article tagged as: artisanal fishing, CFP, fish, fishing quotas, sustainable fishing

The fishing giant that claimed their membership was 'this big' when it wasn't

Posted by Ariana Densham - 8 February 2013 at 6:33pm - Comments

Just how big is the NFFO's membership list?

Earlier this week, we exposed that the UK’s top fishing lobby – the National Federation of Fisherman’s Organisations (NFFO) – is not what it says on the tin. Traditional fishing is in crisis and it seems that small-scale fishermen aren’t getting the representation they deserve. Our investigation revealed some very interesting surprises and it has elicited a very fervent response from the NFFO.

Article tagged as: CFP, common fisheries policy, EU, fishing, nffo, oceans, overfishing

Caught out: major UK lobby plays smoke and mirrors with fishing reform

Posted by Ariana Densham - 4 February 2013 at 9:00am - Comments

At a time when we’re all concerned about what goes into our food, the phrase "it's not what it says on the tin,” has never been more appropriate. Our latest investigation into one of the most powerful and influential fishing industry bodies in the UK has exposed a clique of foreign fishing barons, including companies linked to illegal and destructive fishing.

Article tagged as: CFP, common fisheries policy, fishing, national federation of fishermen's associations, nffo, oceans, overfishing

Common sense discarded

Posted by Ariana Densham - 20 February 2012 at 4:55pm - Comments

Small scale fishermen in Cornwall

In the same way that discarding perfecting good fish, dead or dying back into sea is a disgrace, so is the attitude of many European fisheries ministers charged with ensuring sustainable fish stocks and viable fishing communities. For years they have ignored the obvious: that if they negotiated policies that allowed fish stocks to recover and championed low impact fishing, they would create more jobs.

Article tagged as: CFP, common fisheries policy, discards, NEF, richard benyon

Greenpeace and fishermen deliver 10,000 ‘fishy wishes’ to Cameron

Posted by Ariana Densham - 16 December 2011 at 11:52am - Comments

Greepeace and Nufta hand in CFP petition to Downing Street

David Ritter, Ariana Densham (Greenpeace), Jerry Percy and Paul Joy (NUTFA) and Ian Campbell (Ocean 2012)

Something unprecedented happened yesterday. Greenpeace campaigners and part of the UK fishing industry came together to deliver 10,000 messages from Greenpeace supporters about the need for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy to Number 10.

Article tagged as: CFP, common fisheries policy, number 10, overfishing, quotas, UK

Notorious Spanish fishing baron brought to justice

Posted by Ariana Densham - 4 December 2011 at 10:33am - Comments

Antonio Vidal Pego - boss of the Spanish fishing family operation

by. Credit: Greenpeace

Antonio "Toño" Vidal Pego was the focus of our recent investigations

Finally some good news for our seas. Toño, the head of the Vidal family network, and focus of our recent investigation in to illegal fishing and subsides in Spain was found guilty of fraud and condemned to one year and eight months in prison.

Article tagged as: benyon, CFP, common fisheries policy, oceans, spain, tuna

Fishy Business in Spain

Posted by Ariana Densham - 10 October 2011 at 11:18am - Comments

This animation highlights some very fishy business we exposed in Spain recently. The case we uncovered, followed a nine-month investigation into the fishy dealings of “Toño”, one of Spain’s notorious fishing barons. We exposed how his family network has amassed a list of convictions for illegal fishing and are continuing to operate around the world, putting vital fish stocks in danger.

Article tagged as: CFP, common fisheries policy, fishing, illegal fishing, overfishing

Greenpeace UK