Natural Economies
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Billtacular
nef’s Natural Economies team demonstrates that managing the environment sustainably provides greater benefits to society and the economy. We develop and advocate economic policies that enhance human well-being by protecting and supporting crucial ecosystems.
Our work on fair and sustainable fisheries is internationally acclaimed, and used in the European Parliament and across the European marine NGO community. Key-note studies we have published in the field include No Catch Investment and Jobs Lost At Sea. Our other research areas of expertise include climate change, environmental markets (such as carbon pricing), energy, ownership of natural resources, ecological limits and the links between the natural environment and well-being.
Besides carrying out economic research, we advance our goals through policy, education and campaigning work. Current programmes include the marine socio-economics project to help marine conservation NGOs influence policy-making and work more effectively by training them in economic theory and concepts, valuation techniques and ecological economics. We are a key partner in the Ocean 2012 coalition working to ensure that the reform of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy ends destructive fishing practices and delivers a fairer, more sustainable use of fish stocks. Linked to this is our Paint a Fish campaign (www.paintafish.org) to educate the next generation of voters and consumers about the issue of overfishing, and encourage them to make their voice heard in the run-up to the reforms.
Team members
- Aniol Esteban, Head of Environmental Economics
- Chris Williams, Marine Socio-economics Coordinator
- Fernanda Balata, Campaign Co-ordinator, Paint a Fish
- Griffin Carpenter, Economics Modeller, Environmental Economics
- Roslyn Wood, Natural Resources Economist
Blog post // May 13, 2013
It’s crunch time for EU fisheries
The future of Europe's fish stocks now lies with EU Fisheries Ministers. More
Blog post // May 10, 2013
It is more fish, not fuel subsidies, that will support UK fishing fleets
Fuel tax concessions are an inefficient use of public money - it would be better spent on restoring fish stocks to their full potential. More
Blog post // May 9, 2013
Help us make the economic case for sustainable fishing
A once-in-a-decade opportunity to secure the future of EU fisheries. More
Publication // May 2, 2013
Economics in policy-making - briefings
These briefings give a basic introduction to economics, and outlines its use in policymaking.
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Publication // April 15, 2013
Sustainable fisheries make economic sense
A summary of nef fisheries research to date.
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Blog post // April 11, 2013
Fish Dependence: highlighting the EU’s overfishing problem
The 2013 update of nef’s Fish Dependence report shows that Europe’s stocks are still seriously mismanaged. More
Publication // April 5, 2013
Fish dependence - 2013 update
The increasing reliance of the EU on fish from elsewhere.
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Blog post // February 7, 2013
MEPs vote to end overfishing - a big win for European taxpayers
Years of research and campaigning on sustainable fisheries by nef and many other organisations have finally paid off after an overwhelming majority of the European Parliament voted to end overfishing. At a vote in Strasbourg yesterday, 502 against 137 MEPs supported many of the key demands that nef and a strong coalition of other NGOs including OCEAN2012, Greenpeace and WWF, had been pushing for.
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Blog post // January 16, 2013
Paint a fish and help restore EU fish stocks for future generations
Two-thirds of EU fish stocks are currently overfished. This continued mismanagement means we are annually losing potential value of 1,800 million euros, money which could go towards supporting tens of thousands of much needed jobs.
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Blog post // November 19, 2012
The natural solutions to our economic problems
In the face of economic uncertainty, there is a well-known line that global governments repeat over and over again: the economy comes first. When there’s no money, so they claim, protecting the environment is a luxury we can’t afford.
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