Organisations
GREENPEACE
Greenpeace stands for positive change through action. They defend the natural world and promote peace.
They investigate, expose and confront environmental abuse by governments and corporations around the world.
They champion environmentally responsible and socially just solutions, including scientific and technical innovation.
Website: greenpeace.org.uk
MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
Our seas are under immense pressure: too many fish are being taken out, too much rubbish is being thrown in and too little is being done to protect our precious marine wildlife and vital fish stocks.
MCS' vision is for seas rich in wildlife, abundant fish stocks and pollution free beaches and bathing waters – seas that are fit for wildlife to thrive in and for people to enjoy, and seas that will support future generations with abundant resources.
They champion the need for marine wildlife protection, sustainable fisheries and clean seas and beaches.
Their many successes and campaigns to date include the introduction of Marine Acts to better protect our seas and marine life, and influencing sustainable seafood choices by major retailers and consumers through the Good Fish Guide.
The MCS have also brought together thousands of volunteers in Beachwatch to clean our beaches of litter, and campaigned for Marine Reserves Now! to create safe havens for wildlife and fish populations to recover.
Website: mcsuk.org
CLIENTEARTH
ClientEarth is a public-interest environmental law organisation that addresses issues including marine protection, deforestation, energy efficiency, and the transparency and enforcement of environmental law.
Our marine protection work currently focuses on the common fisheries policy and sustainable seafood.
We believe that all fish and seafood sold in the UK should be from sustainable sources - which is why we set up the Sustainable Seafood Coalition (SSC). The SSC, supported by Fish Fight, is made up of major seafood businesses who want to make seafood more sustainable but are frustrated with the lack of progress in legislation. The SSC is creating a voluntary code of conduct which will address discards, seafood labelling and the diversification of seafood available to consumers.
You can read about all of our marine protection work here.
OCEAN2012
Transforming European fisheries
Vision
Our vision is of healthy oceans with abundant fish and wildlife contributing to human well being.
Mission statement
Our mission is to ensure that the 2012 reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy stops overfishing, ends destructive fishing practices and delivers fair and equitable use of healthy fish stocks.
Our broad alliance of organisations employs scientific evidence and extensive experience in engaging decision-makers and stakeholders at all levels.
Website: ocean2012.eu
RSPB
With over a million members, the Royal Society of the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is Europe’s largest wildlife charity. The RSPB works for a healthy environment rich in birds and wildlife, not just nationally but also internationally in harness with similar conservation organisations in a global partnership called BirdLife International. The RSPB has wide-ranging terrestrial and marine programmes throughout the UK. We develop and advocate policies to sustain seabirds, shorebirds, other sealife and marine habitats through sound stewardship of coastal and offshore waters as a pre-condition for a viable fishing sector and other human activities at sea.
Our focus is across a huge geographical spectrum, from shellfisheries in The Wash to longline fishing in the Southern Ocean. A major current RSPB focus is the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, along with another dimension of ‘unwanted catches’ – our ongoing push for an EU Plan of Action for minimising seabird bycatch in EU fisheries. BirdLife has an office in Brussels to facilitate our work on these fisheries issues and other key EU policies. We also have a history of working constructively with the fishing industry at home and abroad to find ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management.
The RSPB supports Hugh’s FishFight for the compelling way it has put discarding on the CFP reform agenda as one of the most blatant symptoms of unsustainable fishing practices. While several seabird species around our coasts have prospered on a diet of discards over several decades of industrial trawling, the RSPB perceives this as essentially another human distortion of the marine environment – discards need to be curbed to help restore fish stocks and the rebuild a more sustainable food web.
Now that FishFight has highlighted the problem so powerfully, the over-riding focus now has to be on giving fishers the incentives and technology they need to avoid catching discardable fish in the first place. The RSPB hopes that FishFight will also help focus the CFP spotlight on the need to avoid catching not just fish but also all the other marine wildlife that fisheries take as ‘incidental bycatch’, notably seabirds, marine turtles and sharks. Like fish discards, the solutions to avoiding the capture of these non-target species are already out there and in routine use in many regions of the world – FishFight has exposed how far short of best fisheries practice the EU has fallen compared with much of the developed world. We now need to translate the enormous public demand for action into political will and lasting solutions for ‘clean’ fisheries.
Website: www.rspb.org.uk
SUSTAIN
The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
Sustain represent around 100 national public interest organisations working at international, national, regional and local level.
How they work:
They operate in collaboration with our membership and:
• Facilitate the exchange of information to strengthen the work of the membership, and help promote their activities to the media and to policy makers.
• Develop networks of members and allied organisations to devise and implement policies on particular issues of common concern.
• Advise and negotiate with governments and other regulatory agencies to ensure that legislation and policies on food and agriculture are publicly accountable and socially and environmentally responsible.
• Encourage businesses to produce, process and market foods which are good for health and the environment, and to devise, invest in and maintain policies and practices that make sustainable food choices the easy choice.
Sustain have an extensive range of publications covering our current and past areas of work.
Website: sustainweb.org
BITE-BACK
Bite-Back is an influential and pioneering shark and marine conservation organisation with a mission to halt the trade and consumption of vulnerable fish species.
Bite-Back also promote sustainable fishing, protect ocean habitats and inspire worldwide respect for the marine environment.
Website: bite-back.com
FISH2FORK
Fish2fork is the world’s first website to review restaurants according to whether their seafood is sustainable, and not just how it tastes.
It is produced by the people behind the film, The End of the Line.
"Hugh has chosen well in deciding to highlight the obscene practice in EU waters of discarding a significant amount of the catch and makingit, at times, illegal to land prime fish that are already dead," says Charles Clover, author of The End of the Line and editor of Fish2fork.
"We need to make fishing more selective if there are to be any fish in thefuture and reducing discards would be a good place to start," added Clover, also the chairman of the Blue Marine Foundation.
Website: www.fish2fork.com
WWF
WWF believes in a future where people and nature thrive.
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has failed our fish stocks and marine environment, fishermen and coastal fishing communities. It needs ambitious reform and there is no time to lose.
Reform will breathe life back into our oceans creating abundant fish stocks and a sustainable livelihood for the fishing industry and fishing communities. WWF is campaigning with decision-makers, fishermen and industry to make discarding of fish is a thing of the past by introducing a system that limits catches rather than landings.
We ask for:
• an integrated and coherent set of policies so that fishermen only catch what is needed when it’s needed
• fisheries to be managed regionally and under long-term management plans designed to ensure the recovery and rebuilding of marine ecosystems and fish stocks
• the principles of the policy to apply to all European fishing boats wherever they operate in the world.
Read more about WWF’s solutions to the Common Fisheries Policy
Angling Trust
The Angling Trust is the single, unified, body seeking to represent the interests of England's 1 million plus recreational sea anglers.
We recognise the need for fundamental reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and will encourage any campaign that puts fish first by reducing fish mortality through more selective fishing methods and reducing discards.
The need to restore our fish stocks to their former natural state is our priority. Recreational sea angling is the most low impact use of our publicly-owned marine fish stocks allowing highly selective retention, coupled with the satisfaction of an outdoor pursuit.Our aim is for the implementation of EU and UK fisheries management measures that result in the restoration and abundance of more and bigger fish.
Website: www.anglingtrust.net
global ocean
Global Ocean is a marine conservation charity established in 2006 to conserve marine life. Its objective is to heighten public awareness about the plight of the seas and to secure funding for conservation projects around the world.
To do this, Global Ocean aims to:
· Fund small projects with big impacts
· Protect marine species
· Generate an affinity to the marine world to encourage individuals to positively contribute to marine stewardship
· Facilitate relationships between marine conservation bodies to guarantee long term sustainability of the oceans
Website: www.globalocean.org.uk
EFTTA - The European Fishing Tackle Trade Association
EFTTA has lobbied the EU institutions for more than a decade to seek changes to the CFP, on a range of issues including discard. We also lobby for the CFP to treat the recreational fishing sector on an equal footing with the commercial fishing sector.
About 10 million Europeans go sea angling – more than a million in UK alone. EFTTA´s members provide recreational sea and freshwater anglers with the equipment they need to catch fish. The single most important ingredient for our business is fish and healthy fish stocks. It is frustrating to see so many fish discarded. These wasted fish amounts to much more than the combined catch of all sea anglers. To reduce the amount of discard within the present management system, serious fine-tuning and a range of changes are needed.
Website: www.eftta.com
THE ANGLING TRADES ASSOCIATION
The Angling Trades Association is pleased to provide its wholehearted support for HFW's Fish Fight to end the unnecessary and unethical practice of discarding commercially-caught sea fish. It is crucial for the future of recreational sea angling that the oceans support plentiful, robust and sustainable populations of catchable fish.
ATA Chief Executive Dr Bruno Broughton commented: “We must all shoulder some responsibility for allowing the continuation of the wasteful and counter-productive policy of discarding fish. Now is the time to get involved, ahead of the Common Fisheries Policy reform in 2012 by joining the Fish Fight initiative and campaigning for the end of this abuse of marine fish stocks.”
Website: www.anglingtradesassociation.com
The Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers
The Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers and its affiliated members from all over the UK supports the Fish Fight Campaign 100%, the practice of discards along with other methods of bad practice when pillaging the sea’s all over the world has to be controlled to ensure that generations to come will still have the opportunity to engage in sea angling. Can you imagine a sea with no fish because the EU has not got the methods or practises to control the environment that they work in.
Website: www.wfsa.org.uk
The Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network
SSACN's focus is on conservation issues in the Scottish marine environment, especially those affecting sea anglers.
Scotland was once a major sea angling centre based around species that were not readily available elsewhere in the British Isles. Inefficient and ineffective fisheries management and practices have left many species depleted in several areas and many habitats have been destroyed.
We are passionate about the conservation of fish, regeneration of stocks and their management for the benefit of all.
Website: www.ssacn.org
Wake Project
Wake Project is a non-profit shark and ocean education society. Our mission is to advocate for healthy eating, encourage positive ocean interaction and nurture a better understanding and respect for the marine ecosystem.
Our primary objective is to raise awareness of ocean issues through the production and distribution of our activity-driven, scientifically comprehensive and visually impactful teaching materials and games.
Website: www.wakeproject.net
MARINELIFE
MARINElife is a Charity established to co-ordinate and develop a growing portfolio of global conservation research and monitoring projects.
Through these we aim to further the conservation of the wildlife of coasts and oceans through scientific investigation and educational activities. MARINElife continues to work in partnership with a number of other research groups, spearheading an international initiative, the Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC) that aims to describe changes in the status of whales and dolphins at a European scale.
Website: www.marine-life.org.uk
OCEANUS
Oceanus is an Italian NGO that is a member of the European wide coallition OCEAN2012.
Fabio A. Siniscalchi, the president of Oceanus wrote, "In our age we all have one mission, to protect and preserve the planet to the next generations! Fish Fight is a big opportunity to connect people from all around the world. The Ocean needs new strategies and now it's time to act all together!"
Website: www.oceanus.it
Project AWARE Foundation
Our Oceans once seemed like an infinite resource, but today, they face so many threats, that their future is in question. Discards are a waste of natural resources and disruptive to marine ecosystems. Like Fish Fight, we believe consumers have the power to conserve fish stocks. Project AWARE is joining the campaign to challenge scuba divers to use this power to help conserve underwater environments, improve management of diminished species and preserve fisheries for future generations.
In open ocean (pelagic) longline fisheries – sharks are known to make up more than a quarter of total catch, technically as bycatch or non-targeted species. Overfishing, including bycatch and finning, is considered to be the main reason for increased extinction risk in many shark species worldwide. Scientists estimate that as many as 73 million sharks are killed each year to support the global fin trade. Project AWARE calls for greater ocean protection including better shark conservation measures. We encourage people to put pressure on politicians to listen to the scientists and act upon their recommendations.
The Project AWARE Foundation is a non profit organisation working with divers and water enthusiasts to conserve underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. The Foundation and its dedicated volunteers are committed to conservation initiatives including:
· Underwater cleanups and marine debris prevention
· Coral reef conservation, monitoring and data collection
· Shark education, reporting and conservation
· Improved management policies and marine protection efforts
· Environmental training for divers and education programmes for kids
Website: www.projectaware.org
OCEANA 
Oceana, founded in 2001, is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation, protecting marine ecosystems and endangered species.Our offices in Europe, North America, Central America and South America work together on a limited number of strategic, directed campaigns to achieve measurable outcomes that will help return our oceans to former levels of abundance.
We believe in the importance of science in identifying problems and solutions. Our scientists work closely with our teams of economists, lawyers and advocates to achieve tangible results for the oceans. Over 500,000 collaborators and cyber activists in 150 countries have already joined Oceana.
For more information, visit www.oceana.org
LPO
The LPO (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux), is a French national non-governmental organization (NGO) which works to protect birds and the ecosystems on which they depend, in particular associated fauna and flora. LPO is the French Partner for BirdLife International.
The LPO supports Fish fight to reduce the shocking waste of discarded fish. LPO/ BirdLife France believes in sustainable use of fisheries resources.
Website: www.lpo.fr
EIFCA
EIFCA seeks to lead, champion and manage a sustainable marine environment and inshore fisheries for the East Coast. It works to secure the right balance between social,environmental and economical benefits to ensure healthy seas, sustainable fisheries and a viable industry.
Website: www.esfjc.co.uk/EIFCA
ICSF
ICSF is an international NGO that works towards the establishment of equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector.
A readymade solution to the discards problem is staring policy makers in the face: small scale coastal fishing fleets that fish in a non-intensive manner, using a range of seasonally diverse fishing methods on a range of species, which have a relatively low impact on the ecosystem. The potential of such operations for stopping overfishing, ending destructive fishing practices, and delivering fair and equitable use of healthy fish stocks needs to be fully recognized and placed at the heart of the CFP reform.
"Providing access to fisheries based on the impact of effort, including levels of discards, rather than on some quasi historic right or the ability to simply purchase quota, would be a major step forward. Providing encouragement to change gears would be further step that would pay dividends almost immediately. It would seem far more sensible to reward those with the least environmental impact with improved access to fisheries."
Jeremy Percy, CEO of NUTFA, UK
“The most important thing in mixed fisheries is to have clear and feasible objectives for selectivity. If the Commission's position does not shift from the “dogma level” – i.e of “zero discards” –, it will do more harm than good to the very notion of selectivity”.
René-Pierre Chever, Secretary of the Guilvinec Local Fisheries Committee, France
See http://eussf.icsf.net for more details
Biaza 
BIAZA is the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. We are the professional body representing the best zoos and aquariums in Britain and Ireland.
We have over 100 zoo and aquarium members who pride themselves on their excellent animal welfare, education and conservation work. BIAZA leads and supports its members and helps promote the work of good zoos and aquariums.
The BIAZA Aquarium Working Group fully support the Fish Fight Campaign.
Website: http://www.biaza.org.uk/
Community Centred Conservation (C3)
Community Centred Conservation (C3) is a grassroots, community-immersed conservation organisation, 
focused on bridging thegap between managers, scientists and the people that actually use and depend on natural resources.
Through scientific research, education programmes and awareness raising campaigns, we aim to achieve ourvision of a planet where future generations thrive in harmony with their natural environment.
Website: www.c-3.org.uk
