Funding for Fisheries from European Union?

LIFE+ Call for proposals
The first call for proposals for projects funded under the new LIFE+ programme has been launched.

LIFE+ call for proposals 2007-2008
The first call for proposals for LIFE+ was published in the Official Journal on the 4 October 2007 (OJ C232).

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

LIFE+ CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2007 (2007/C 232/05)

The Commission invites legal entities established in the European Union to present proposals for the LIFE+ selection round 2007.

Applications

Proposals must be written on specific application forms. These forms and the application guide that includes detailed explanations in regard to eligibility and procedures can be obtained from the Commission's website on the following address:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm

Proposals must be submitted on CD-ROM or DVD in an electronic PDF format that is based on a scan of the original printed A4 format paper forms.

Beneficiaries

Proposals may be presented by legal entities registered in the Member States of the European Union: Public and/or private bodies, actors and institutions may receive financing through LIFE+.

The following themes are covered by this announcement

1. LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity projects

Principal objective: To protect, conserve, restore, monitor and facilitate the functioning of natural systems, natural habitats, wild flora and fauna, with the aim of halting the loss of biodiversity, including diversity of genetic resources, within the EU by 2010.

2. LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance

Principal objectives:

— Climate change: To stabilise greenhouse gas concentration at a level that prevents global warming above 2 °C.

— Water: To contribute to enhanced water quality by developing cost-effective measures to achieve good ecological status in view of developing the first river basin management plan under Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Water Framework Directive) by 2009.

— Air: To achieve levels of air quality that do not give rise to significant negative impacts on and risks to human health and the environment.

C 232/10 EN Official Journal of the European Union 4.10.2007

— Soil: To protect and to ensure the sustainable use of soil by preserving soil functions, preventing threats to soil, mitigating their effects and restoring degraded soils.

— Urban environment: To contribute to improving the environmental performance of Europe's urban areas.

— Noise: To contribute to policy development and implementation on environmental noise.

— Chemicals: To improve the protection of environment and health from risks posed by chemicals by 2020 by implementing chemicals legislation, in particular Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (REACH) and the Thematic Strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides.

— Environment and health: To develop the information base for policy on the environment and health (the Environment and Health Action Plan for 2004 to 2010).

— Natural resources and waste: To develop and implement policies designed to ensure sustainable management and use of natural resources and waste, and to improve the environmental performances of products, sustainable production and consumption patterns, waste prevention, recovery and recycling; To contribute to the effective implementation of the Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste.

— Forests: To provide, especially through an EU coordination network, a concise and comprehensive basis for policy relevant information on forests in relation to climate change (impact on forest ecosystems, mitigation, substitution effects), biodiversity (baseline information and protected forest areas), forest fires, forest conditions and the protective functions of forests (water, soil and infrastructure) as well as contributing to the protection of forests against fires.

— Innovation: To contribute to developing and demonstrating innovative policy approaches, technologies, methods and instruments to assist in the implementation of the Environmental Technologies

Action Plan (ETAP).

— Strategic approaches: To promote the effective implementation and enforcement of Community environmental legislation and improve the knowledge base for environmental policy; to improve the environmental performance of SMEs.

Whilst any project proposal dealing with the above-mentioned priorities is welcome, the Commission would favour those dealing with climate change.

3. LIFE+ Information and Communication

Principal objective: To ensure regular and effective information flow to provide the basis for policy decisions on the environment, and to make information on the state and trends of the environment accessible to citizens.

EU Cofinancing rates

1. LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity projects

— The rate of Community financial support shall be a maximum of 50 % of the eligible costs.

— Exceptionally, a maximum cofinancing rate of 75 % is applicable to proposals which target priority habitats/species of the Birds' and Habitats' Directives.

2. LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance

— The rate of Community financial support shall be a maximum of 50 % of the eligible costs.

— This rate shall be a maximum of 30 % of the eligible costs for proposals ‘expected to generate substantial revenue’.

3. LIFE+ Information and Communication

— The rate of Community financial support shall be a maximum of 50 % of the eligible costs.

Deadline

Project proposals shall be submitted to the national competent authorities by 30.11.2007. Project proposals shall be forwarded to the national authority of the Member State in which the beneficiary is registered.

Proposals will then be submitted by the national authorities to the Commission by 15.1.2008.

4.10.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 232/11

Budget involved

The overall budget for project action grants under LIFE+ in 2007 is EUR 187 000 000.

At least 50 % of the above-mentioned amount shall be allocated to measures to support the conservation of nature and biodiversity.

The indicative national financial allocations for 2007 are as follows:

Country Indicative amount Country Indicative amount Country Indicative amount

AT EUR 3 509 000 FI EUR 6 696 000 MT EUR 2 148 000

BE EUR 3 858 000 FR EUR 16 357 000 NL EUR 5 996 000

BG EUR 4 025 000 EL EUR 6 356 000 PL EUR 8 858 000

CY EUR 2 000 000 HU EUR 4 673 000 PT EUR 5 236 000

CZ EUR 3 710 000 IE EUR 2 944 000 RO EUR 8 139 000

DE EUR 21 762 000 IT EUR 16 457 000 SE EUR 7 685 000

DK EUR 4 591 000 LT EUR 2 574 000 SI EUR 4 029 000

EE EUR 3 098 000 LU EUR 2 044 000 SK EUR 2 857 000

ES EUR 20 028 000 LV EUR 2 500 000 UK EUR 14 871 000

More information

More information including the application guidelines and application forms can be found on the LIFE

website:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm

It is also possible to contact the relevant national authorities:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/crime/index.htm

Fishy tails at the Riding Mill open days

Anglers are being offered a chance to see behind the scenes at the
Environment Agency's fish monitoring facilities at Riding Mill near
Corbridge in Northumberland.

The facility monitors salmon and sea trout in the River Tyne and
collects information on the number of adult fish returning to spawn and
juveniles migrating out to sea. Hosting a fish counter, an underwater
video system and two fish traps, one for smaller fish and one for
adults. The information gathered at Riding Mill is used to help manage
the fishery.

Open Days are being held on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th of November.
Visitors will be given a guided tour of the Mill which will enable them
to see at first hand how the centre works.

They will also be able to take part on a fish scale reading workshop,
where the techniques used to assess the age and growth of fish will be
demonstrated, and see how electric fishing is used to survey populations
of juvenile salmon and trout in the Tyne.

Expert staff from the Environment Agency will be on hand to answer
questions and provide an update on progress with the salmon and sea
trout monitoring work underway on the river.

Niall Cook, ecological appraisal officer at the Environment Agency said:
"In providing valuable information on fish catches and fishing effort,
anglers play an important role in our monitoring work. These open days
give us a chance to explain to them how this and the information we
gather from our monitoring at Riding Mill helps us to conserve and
manage stocks of game fish on the river."

Visitors are being offered a choice of attending one of four sessions
spread over the two days.

Session 1 Friday 9th November 10am to 12noon

Session 2 Friday 9th November 2pm to 4pm

Session 3 Saturday 10th November 10am to 12noon

Session 4 Saturday 10th November 2pm to 4pm

Entrance to the open day is free but spaces are limited to a maximum of
15 visitors per session. To reserve a place on one of the sessions
please ring the Environment Agency's external relations team on 0191 203
4179 or email elizabeth.bunting@environment-agency.gov.uk

Eurpean Shark Week - Take action today

The Shark Alliance have launched the first ever *EUROPEAN SHARK WEEK* which will be
running from 8th -- 14th October. Using the catchy slogan /'Every Fin Counts!'/

Across Europe, aquariums, dive groups and conservation organisations will be getting
involved in numerous activities -- from holding presentations and talks, to running
participatory events and competitions to highlight the dramatic decline in European shark
populations, the role Europe plays in the global shark trade, and the threat that
European Union's poor shark policies pose to sharks around the world.

Throughout the week, as many people as possible will be encouraged to sign "fins" (hence
the catchphrase /'Every Fin Counts!'/), expressing their support for effective shark
conservation measures.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

1. Download Fins from http://www.sharkalliance.org/do_download.asp?did=28543 , or if you
prefer, we can send as many as you require to your address; just email Denis at
_Deniskelly9@aol.com mail to:Deniskelly9@aol.com>_ with the relevant info.

2. Take the fins into work, the pub, in fact anywhere you can get plenty of people to
sign ; Let the kids get involved as well.

3. Sign an online 'fin' at http://www.sharkalliance.org/makemyfincount.asp

4. Send an e-card to make others aware http://www.sharkalliance.org/ecards2.asp?cardid=21

When SOS was formed they identified four species of sharks that required immediate
management plans to stop the rapid decline; since SSACN came into being we have continued
to support this argument at every opportunity.

Defra and Scotland's new Marine Directorate will be taking proposals to this years EU
talks to restrict commercial fishing on two of these species; the Porbeagle and the
Spurdog.

Supporting 'Every Fin Counts' is essential if we are to help keep the pressure up and get
the politicians to put conservation ahead of commercial greed and political expediency.

Thanks and regards.

SSACN

RiverCare Handbook - Get it here

If you manage a river section for your fishing club or if you want to resuscitate a river section in a town near you read the RiverCare Handbook, a joint venture by Anglian Water, EnCams and The Environment Agency.

http://www.rivercare.org.uk/downloads/rivercare_handbook_edition_1.pdf

Brilliant!!!

15th November 2007 - A Special Day at The Royal Geographical Society

Earthwatch Institute Presents;

The Annual Earthwatch Debate: 'Precious Resources, Multiple Threats'.

Thursday 15th November 2007

7.00pm at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7

Chair: Alastair Fothergill

Series Producer for 'The Blue Planet' & 'Planet Earth'

Five scientists will be arguing why an investment of a trillion dollars in their chosen ecosystem - forest, mountain, freshwater, marine and polar - would most benefit the rest of the world. It is sure to be an entertaining evening, if a difficult choice, for you, the audience, who will be voting for the nominal winner.

Speakers:

Forest: Dr. Yadvinder Malhi
Reader in Terrestrial Ecology, Oxford University Centre for the Environment

Freshwater: Rob McInnes
Head of Wetland Conservation, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Marine: Dr. Matt Frost
Coordinator of the Marine Environmental Change Network, The Marine Biological Association

Mountain: Prof. Martin Price
Director, Centre for Mountain Studies, Perth College

Polar: Prof. Lloyd Peck
British Antarctic Survey

Doors open at 6.00pm (cash bar).

Tickets £10.00; student & senior citizen concessions £5.00.

Free to Earthwatch supporters and volunteers.
Followed by an optional buffet supper - tickets for debate + supper £25.00.

To book your space and for further information telephone (01865) 318856

or e-mail events@earthwatch.org.uk

Nearest Tube: South Kensington.

Details on http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/events/debates_2007.html

And earlier the same day –

Thames Estuary Partnership Annual Forum 2007

Come and join the TEP Annual Forum from 10.00 to 16.00 to discuss the theme of Living with the River in Drought and Flood. Ranging from the strategic to some of the fascinating detailed project work being undertaken on the River Thames today.

The format of the day has been developed in response to last year's feedback to allow two sessions for networking and display opportunities.

Details on http://www.thamesweb.com/event.php?event_id=239

Wandle Rehabilitation Project Launched In Wake of Fish Kill

Following the pollution of the River Wandle on Monday 17 September, which killed thousands of fish and invertebrates, a meeting yesterday agreed an ambitious vision for a new project not only to restore the river to its pre-pollution condition but also to continue the improvement that had been in progress before the incident. The meeting was co-ordinated by the Anglers’ Conservation Association and was attended by the local angling clubs, the Wandle Trust, the Chief Executive of Thames Water, two of the company’s senior directors, fisheries staff from the Environment Agency and was hosted by the National Trust. Thames Water admitted responsibility for the pollution and apologised unreservedly to everyone concerned.

Agreement was reached between all parties that:

• The announcement of this project will not have any bearing whatsoever on any future criminal prosecution of Thames Water by the Environment Agency, whose staff attended the meeting in an advisory capacity only;
• There will be an immediate appraisal of the damage caused by the pollution by independent fisheries scientists and ecologists, jointly instructed by all parties;
• Thames Water will commit to core funding and supporting a five year rehabilitation plan for the river in partnership with the local community and key land-owners;
• Failsafe measures to provide state of the art pollution monitoring at the sewage treatment works will be in place by the end of 2007;
• The feasibility of biological tertiary treatment – gravel and reed beds – to improve effluent quality and protect against any future incidents will be investigated on the outflow from Beddington Sewage Treatment Works;
• Thames Water will pay compensation to the local angling clubs and angling businesses for their immediate losses;
• A web forum should be set up immediately on www.wandletrust.org to capture the views of local people about the measures which should be taken to put right the damage;
• A draft plan for rehabilitating the river will be published early in 2008 and the local community invited to comment, including at a public meeting before it is finalised;
• Suitable fish should be identified immediately for restocking, which will be undertaken in line with the recommendations of the independent report, but only when it is clear that the river will be able to support the new stocks.

David Owens, Chief Executive of Thames Water, said: 'We accept full responsibility for this incident and apologise to the many people who have been affected. We know that rehabilitation will be a long process, and that significant costs will be involved, but we want to get started as soon as possible. The first step is to commission an independent survey of the river to assess the damage and identify what work is required. We are committed to working openly and co-operatively with the Environment Agency, the ACA, angling clubs, the Wandle Trust and the local community on a plan that will not just restore the river but - in the longer term - improve it, for the benefit of people and wildlife. We are pleased that the Environment Agency are closely involved in this process, which is entirely separate from the ongoing investigation into the incident by their legal team."

Bob Collington, Wastewater Operations Director of Thames Water, said: "My whole team are deeply upset by this incident. It is a huge disappointment after a year in which we have made big improvements to the performance of our sewage treatment works, with the lowest ever number of incidents. The work we were carrying out at Beddington was part of that process. Our investigation into what happened hasn't finished. But in summary we were cleaning the tertiary treatment filters to improve the quality of the effluent entering the river. Three of the four sets of filters had been cleaned successfully, using acid and a concentrated bleach solution. This is a routine operation. But something went terribly wrong. Until the investigation is complete, the process has been banned at all our sites. I can confirm that procedures will be tightened and that we will be installing advanced monitoring equipment, imported from the USA, as soon as possible."

Mark Lloyd, Executive Director of the Anglers’ Conservation Association said: “whilst everyone regrets that this incident ever happened, we are delighted that Thames Water has responded not only by accepting responsibility and promising to compensate those affected but they have also agreed to go the extra mile and commit to core funding the long term improvement of the river. This is a very welcome change from a company that the ACA has previously had to fight through the courts. We hope that this sets a precedent for any future pollution events not only by Thames Water, but by the rest of the water industry.”

Theo Pike, Trustee of the Wandle Trust and Senior Vice President of the Wandle Piscators said: ”we are delighted to have been assured of Thames Water’s commitment to working with the local community to mitigate the effects of this environmental disaster, and provide real partnership in restoring the Wandle to its rightful status as the best urban chalkstream in the world”.

Zoe Colbeck, Property Manager for the National Trust’s Morden Hall Park, said: “The River Wandle is an incredibly import resource for the local community and for wildlife. Over a number of years we have been working with the Environment Agency and other partners to improve the water quality and associated habitat. We are delighted that Thames Water have decided to contribute to this process and we are looking forward to working in partnership with them over the coming years.

We hope this experience will also help us work more closely with Thames Water across the whole of the SE region.”

Charles Rangeley-Wilson, presenter of the BBC’s Accidental Angler series, said: “Catching and releasing a 2 ½ pound trout from the River Wandle this August was probably the most significant moment in my fishing career. I'd dreamt about doing this for a decade. It meant a lot to me that this urban river was recovering from centuries of pollution. That trout was an old warhorse of a fish and to think that it had endured for so long only to die in this recent, disastrous pollution was very depressing. Despite my despair at that news I'm now really delighted to see that the ACA has worked so quickly with Thames Water and the local community to develop an ambitious plan to get the river back on its upward curve of recovery as soon as possible.”