Joe Borg nominated for Swedish award

EU Commissioner Joe Borg has been nominated for the Kungsfenan Swedish Seafood Award in recognition of his efforts to safeguard the EU's declining fisheries sector.

The prize is awarded every year in recognition of important achievements in sustainable fisheries and gastronomy.

Dr Borg said he was honoured to be nominated for the prestigious award. "Placing sustainability at the heart of our approach to fisheries to guarantee a viable future for our fishermen and the marine resources they harvest is essential," he said.

"We are fortunate enough to have the tools in place to help us do this, be it through the Integrated Maritime Policy, which focuses on the further sustainable economic development of our seas and coastal regions, or the Common Fisheries Policy, a reform process that was launched earlier this year. Under the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, we will be looking to ensure that an ecosystem approach forms the basis of our policy-making whereby Europe's fishing capacity is brought in line with the long-term sustainable exploitation of fishing resources," Dr Borg added.

As he is the sole nominee, Dr Borg has already declared he would be donating his share of the prize money, about €10,000, to an international charity.

Dr Borg won the Elisabeth Mann Borgese Award from the German Government last month for his efforts towards the formulation of an Integrated Maritime Policy for the EU.