On February 7th the European Parliament approved with 502 votes in favor, 137 against and 27 abstentions, the new reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The new policy aims to are:

· Ensuring the survival of the marine environment through sustainable fisheries by setting the limit of catches from each species each year, without jeopardizing future regeneration.

· Ending discards ( unwanted fishes that are thrown back died ): To end this wasteful practice, the Parliament voted to oblige fish vessels to land all catches from 2014, in accordance with a schedule of species dates for different fisheries.

· Give priority to long-term planning and science-based data to help industry organize its activity.

The new Common Fisheries Policy will take effect in 2014 and will replace the current, in force since 2002.

ADDA Ong has been one of the 47 partner organizations, which sent a letter to all MEPs, requesting their vote to end overfishing.