Need for marine research

European Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner Joe Borg opened the academic year of the Wageningen University and Research Centre, in the Netherlands.

He spoke on a holistic maritime policy, emphasising the importance of marine research and knowledge in the management and the seas and oceans.

He said the Green Paper on a future EU maritime policy, launched last June, has clean, safe and profitable oceans and seas as its main targets. The EU, he said, needs to become a leader in marine research.

During his visit to the Netherlands, Dr Borg had talks with the Dutch Minister for Fisheries Cees Veerman.