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BLUE CHARITY BUSINESS… IN BRUSSELS 2013 - Week 7

What a week!

The Global Ocean Commission, with PEW in the background and Global Ocean Legacy, Fish

Fight 2.0, Bloom Association and finally Brussels Business, all just one week after the European

Parliament vote on its position on the CFP reform.

It has been a week of intense activity for Blue Charity Business. We would like to decode it for

you, in the light of information we collected to write the Blue Charity Business report published

in November 2012.

Just as for the Blue Charity Business report, the aim of this note is not to condemn US

charitable foundations or environmental NGOs. It aims to connect objective but scattered

evidence in order to improve transparency and fairness in the CFP reform process and, most

importantly, in its future implementation.

Blue Charity Business report authors

Thursday14 February 2013.

NOTE CONTENT

AFTER THE CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO, PEW FOCUSSES ON THE FRENCH EEZ WITH ITS GLOBAL

OCEAN LEGACY PROJECT

FOCUS ON THE GLOBAL OCEAN COMMISSION

PEW’S MULTIPLE PARTNERS NETWORKS

BLOOM ASSOCIATION AND PEW

« BRUSSELS BUSINESS » INVESTIGATION EXPOSES POWERFUL BRUSSELS LOBBIES

WORRY OF MEDIA LYNCHING AND INTIMIDATION OF ELECTED PARLIAMENTARIANS? FISH FIGHT

2.0

Original text in French. Please accept our apologies regarding the quality of the translation.

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The PEW1 foundation gets together with the ADESSIUM Foundation, SOMMERVILLE COLLEGE

and OCEANS 5 (a coalition of charitable foundations including OAK, WAITT, MARISLA, MOORE,

PLANET HERITAGE) to form the Global Ocean Commission, a private interest coalition that

wants to regulate the High Seas. It has a strong presence in Europe through its own ENGO

(Pew Environmental Group), other ENGOS that it has created and ENGO coalitions it has

initiated and is steering. It is also active in France.

The process used by Pew is a well-oiled mechanic introduced with the PEW Ocean

Commission in the US in the years 2000. The Ocean Commission was private at first, later taken

up by government and always piloted by high profile individuals (Leon Paneta who later

became Director of the CIA under OBAMA 1 and Defence Secretary General under OBAMA

2), some linked to Pew during their career (e.g. Jane Lubchenco who became head of

NOAA).

AFTER THE CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO, PEW FOCUSSES ON THE FRENCH EEZ WITH ITS GLOBAL

OCEAN LEGACY PROJECT

PEW has recently widened its Global Ocean Legacy [GOL] program, which aims to create

the world’s largest marine areas closed to fisheries. Today the extension of its geographical

scope is targeting French Polynesia and New Caledonia. The very same program led to the

creation of the Chagos Archipelago MPA. The Chagos Archipelago also know as British

Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is leased to host one of the world’s largest US naval bases, the

Naval Support Facility (NSF) Diego Garcia. British sovereignty over the Archipelago is

contested by Mauritius where many Chagossians were evacuated after the islands were

forcibly depopulated.

It is important to note that the UK lease of the Chagos Archipelago to the US expires in 20162.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea3 will now hear the Chagossians claim against

the UK jurisdiction to proclaim the MPA and denial of their fishing rights. The case is expected

to be heard in the first half of 2014.

For its project in the French outermost waters, PEW has

recruited a former French military strategy specialist, Jean-

Paul MICHEL (CV4)

Pew’s French front man was hired for his knowledge of the workings of the French

administration5. It seems to be a familiar strategy for PEW, under cover of marine protected

areas closed to fishing, PEW claims to help the government. In the case of France, help to

comply with pledges of the "Grenelle de la Mer" [national debate for the implementation of

RIO +20 commitments regarding MPAs). By contrast the position is disturbing as it is held by a

non-governmental organization that has at heart the defence of American maritime interests

1 http://www.pewtrusts.org/

2 http://www.7lameslamer.net/Chagos-la-Grande-Bretagne-mise-en.html

3 https://sites.google.com/site/thechagosarchipelagofacts/eppz-mpa/legal-challenges-to-mpa

4https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:zYX7GDawqEEJ:www.consilium.europa.eu/Content/Others/08_05_13%2520CV%2520JP%2520MICHEL.pdf+

&hl=fr&gl=fr&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShtkp6G-ui9B36HxEyDyhxpyyA8CS3SAlfiuYNFu-

vQ9HDXHswtuTbTdepiqqp3PxWxXgBEdpqVp8DDtCTgdkkBFXWX6MpjfnCXcqgGfaSHyd5B-

lZIw6K5SiOA3wM08NO4xuif&sig=AHIEtbTHRwaMqy3zn_rtckVVRUJnyPuFvA)

5http://www.pewenvironment.org/about-us/experts/meet-the-experts/jean-paul-michel-85899442318

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(see the proof of its commitment6 in favor of the ratification of the International Convention of

the Law of the Sea by the U.S., via the American Sovereignty campaign 7).

Jean-Paul Michel and GOL are currently in talks with the Regional Government of French

Polynesia8. He is recruiting some staff for New Caledonia and French Polynesia. See here9 for

a description of this program.

BACK ON THE GLOBAL OCEAN COMMISSION

The 12th of February 2013 we witnessed the official launch of the Global Ocean Commission,

an entirely private project. But the project was initiated some years ago. Oceans 5 launched

it in 2011. Identifying among the main threats weighing upon oceans: fishing, climate

exacerbated by overfishing, and the rest [which description implies that will be sustainable

uses: offshore oil & gas, marine aggregate, deep mineral, and offshore wind]. Oceans

without fishermen?

For background and more information on this project see: The involvement of PEW10, origin of

the project11 and initial partners of the project12.

The search for proximity and legitimacy with governmental officials is so strong that the

French newspaper LE MONDE believed it was a process initiated by the United Nations13.

David Miliband

To coordinate the project, former politicians accustomed to high-level salons and circles of

power have been recruited. Such as David Miliband, former British Foreign Secretary. David

Miliband was in post in the Foreign Office when the Chagos Archipelago Marine Reserve was

declared, with the help of the Global Ocean Legacy of PEW14.

But also Jose Maria Figueres (former President of Costa Rica) and Trevor Manuel (Minister in

office in South Africa), former cabinet members of the governments of Chile, Australia,

Indonesia, Canada and Nigeria. All these countries either have been in relation with PEW

regarding the reform of their fisheries, or have major interests in offshore oil exploitation.

6 http://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_detail.aspx?id=328754

7 http://www.ratifythetreatynow.org/

8 http://www.mrm.gov.pf/?q=node/196

9 http://www.mrm.gov.pf/sites/default/files/98676280-Global-Ocean-Legacy-Conservation-des-Milieux-Marins-pour-le-Siecle-Nouveau.pdf

10 http://www.globaloceancommission.org/about-the-commission/partners/

11 http://www.oceans5.org/#!2011-projects/vstc1=global-ocean-commission

12 http://www.oceans5.org/#!who-we-are

13 http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2013/02/11/l-onu-se-penche-sur-la-protection-de-la-haute-mer-le-dernier-far-west_1829966_3244.html

14 http://www.pewtrusts.org/news_room_detail.aspx?id=58257

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Finally, it also involves world business leaders, and Pascal Lamy, current director of the World

Trade Organization15.

The link between the WTO Pascal Lamy and PEW may be that of states subsidies to the fishing

industry16. This is a matter of concern both regarding the role of subsidies in the creation of

overcapacity, and also some ideological views on the role and use of public aids (which

exclude charitable donations, created with donations benefiting from public tax exemptions,

and thus are private).

To promote the formal launch of the Commission, we note again a simultaneous release of

news articles in national newspapers, the French Le Monde and UK The Guardian. Normally

such simultaneity is not by chance. It is the result of a single agency communication, regular

customer of PEW: the company "Communications Inc." which provides simultaneous and

coordinated communication programs for marine conservation in Europe17 [it received U.S. $

1.14 million in 2010 from PEW see p 818]. Their clients include: WWF - SHARK ALLIANCE (ENGO

coalition led by PEW) - OCEAN 2012 (ENGO coalition led by PEW) - JM Kaplan Fund - IPSO

(International program on the state of the Ocean promoting consistently large marine

protected areas) - HIGH SEAS ALLIANCE - GREENPEACE - FRIENDS OF THE EARTH - FISH FIGHT -

DEEP SEA CONSERVATION COALITION (ENGO coalition led by PEW).

Le Monde titled Feb. 1119: “The UN focuses on the protection of the High Seas, the last Wild

West”.

As The Guardian February 9 20 “David Miliband to head global fight to prevent eco-disaster in

oceans. Note at the end of article list of fish that should or should not be eat.”

Callum Roberts, also in THE GUARDIAN (February1021): “The High

seas are too precious to be left to plunderers and polluters”. He

promotes the Global Ocean Commission.

Callum Roberts of York University22 is closely linked to PEW. He was awarded a PEW Marine

Science Fellowship in 2000 23. He was still an advisor to this program in 201024. He is also highly

connected with regular PEW partners as indicated in his biography. His research focuses on

the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems.

15 http://aquaculturedirectory.co.uk/global-ocean-commission-created-to-reverse-degradation-of-high-seas/

16 http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/press-releases/pew-and-eu-transparency-launch-fishsubsidyorg-8589935307

17 http://communicationsinc.co.uk/clients.cfm

18 http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/562/562307147/562307147_201106_990.pdf

19 http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2013/02/11/l-onu-se-penche-sur-la-protection-de-la-haute-mer-le-dernier-far-west_1829966_3244.html 20 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/09/lawless-high-seas-threaten-the-planet

21 http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/10/stop-plunder-of-the-high-seas

22 http://www.york.ac.uk/environment/our-staff/callum-roberts/

23 http://www.pewenvironment.org/research-programs/marine-fellow/id/8589941899

24 http://fsi.stanford.edu/news/naylor_in_spain_with_the_advisory_committee_of_the_pew_fellows_program_in_marine_conservation_20100929

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PEW’S MULTIPLE PARTNERS NETWORKS

The Blue Charity Report [link after text] provides ample evidence of Pew’s links to other

organizations, providing funds or through direct or past control. For example:

- Creation of Environmental NGOs: PEW environmental group; SEAWEB (cf. Seafood

Choice Alliance program, COMPASS training for European journalists), and OCEANA.

- Funding of Research Groups (Program Sea Around Us University of British Columbia led

by Daniel Pauly; Lenfest forage fish Task Force with M. Philippe Cury as an advisor25, 26)

- Creation of Research Centers [ex Pew Institute for Ocean Science] now part of Stony

Brook University, New York.

- Creation and broadcast of scientific communication programs (COMPASS and

Lenfest Ocean Program)

- Conservation research and project fellowships funding (174 PEW Marine Fellowship)

- Lobbyist think tank based in Washington DC (Pew Research Center), the third largest in

the US.

- PEW Ocean Commission

- Environmental NGO coalitions coordinated by Pew with its staff taking on Secretariat

and Communication duties: Ocean 2012, Shark Alliance, Deep Sea Conservation

Coalition, fishsubsidies.org. OCEAN 2012 has a transparency declaration on the

European Parliament website stating « 0 euros funding» because it is an informal

coalition, with no legal status27. However PEW has spent between 1.25 and 1.5 millions

euros over the twelve months 07/2011 au 06/201228 on lobbying in Brussels.

- In total, since 1996, the Blue Charity Business report identifies more than 190 millions

de US$ funding from PEW on world oceans conservation questions.

PEW strategic thinkers are not alone... Check again the Blue Charity Business report by

Collectif Pêche et Développement. Foundations Packard, Moore, Walton, Waitt, Adessium,

Marisla etc also contribute financially, often through cross-financing. At least 70 millions de

US$ were spent on lobbying in Brussels in that year, in addition to the 1.5 millions d’euros. And

90 millions US$ (most likely under-estimated) were spent to fund research largely used for

lobbying (« science-based lobbying »).

Pew’s network puts direct pressure on all levels of the democratic machine of government:

- direct lobby of elected representatives (cf. Pew Environmental Group Brussels office),

- direct lobby of European Commission officers,

- network of journalists through Seaweb and Communication Inc. company

- appropriation of scientific activities for lobbying purposes

- campaign to mobilize poll signatories, scientists via les Pew Marine Fellowship (174)

and/or ENGOs brought together inside coalitions

- Use of so-called local (national) ENGOs as fronts

- One-sided opinion polls based on slanted questionnaire.

BLOOM ASSOCIATION AND PEW

Without entering into the debate on the issue of deep-sea fishing, it is interesting to examine

closer financial support given to the Bloom association.

Prior to the debate on deep seas by the European Parliament29, the association launches

another media campaign, this time on 13 February 2013, targeting public funding to the

25 http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/other-resources/pew-fellows-program-in-marine-conservation-newsletter-fall-2012-85899434585

26 http://www.oceanconservationscience.org/foragefish/task/cury.html

27 http://t.co/OlblmSH2

28 http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/consultation/displaylobbyist.do?id=46834536998-79&isListLobbyistView=true

29 http://www.lemarin.fr/articles/detail/items/peche-profonde-bloom-degaine-avant-les-auditions-au-parlement.html

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Scapêche fishing company30. The aim of the campaign is to demonstrate that the fishery is

unprofitable and only maintained by public subsidies.

The association has 5 members according to its European declaration of interest published

recently31. Membership fees amount to 13 965 € in 2011, compared with 131 601 € from other

sources of gifted funds, for a total budget of 186 601€.

Bloom, in an offer of internship 15 January 201332, writes that it is a “deliberately small structure

for more efficiency”. In an older internship offer from 27 April 2010 reference 29344 posted on

the emploi-environnement blog33, it added “Bloom is an NGO supported by large

international Foundations”. “- Structure délibérément petite pour plus d’efficacité, BLOOM est

une ONG soutenue par de grosses fondations internationales.”

Who are these “large international foundations” funding Bloom who are not listed in its

European transparency declaration?

Support was visibly acknowledged at the “Abysses” (The Deep) exhibition34: prestigious

supporters include the French National Museum of Natural History, as well as the TOTAL

foundation and the MBARI foundation– Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. On its

internet site, Bloom mentions that its passion for deep oceans was triggered by a visit of the

30 http://www.bloomassociation.org/fr/intermarche-sous-perfusion

31 http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/consultation/displaylobbyist.do?id=824008510430-67

32 http://www.planetemploi.net/stage-action-educative-conservation-marine-bloom/

33 http://www.emploi-environnement.com/fr/gestion_offre/visu_offre.php4?reference_offre=29344

34 http://www2.mnhn.fr/abysses/data/pdf/abysses_dp.pdf

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Monterey Bay Aquarium35. The aquarium was created in 1984 par the Packard family, whose

foundation [The David and Lucile Packard Foundation) is repeatedly identified in the Blue

Charity Business report36.

Bloom is also an active member of three coalitions piloted by PEW37: Shark Alliance38, OCEAN

201239 and the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition40. By doing so, it benefits from the collective

services financed by PEW, notably communication through its “Communication Inc.” agency

already mentioned. Numerous press releases refer to Ms Patricia Roy of Communications Inc.

in the UK (cf. media contacts)41.

Finally, one can simply mention the 150.000 US$ PEW marine Fellowship granted to Ms

Nouvian42 in 2012 to work on a “project aimed at bringing transparency to subsidies granted

to the fisheries in France“. This is presented as a research project that aims “to analyse the

ways by which [financial aid] contribute or not to a fair and sustainable management of

marine resources.” Needs to be read in reference to Bloom of 13 February 2013.

Ms Nouvian is currently a “personality associated” to the French “Conseil Economique, Social

et Environnemental ».43

Some ENGOs claim to represent civil society. One may wonder if they are not representatives

of interest groups.

« BRUSSELS BUSINESS » INVESTIGATION EXPOSES POWERFUL BRUSSELS LOBBIES

An investigative film has just been released

about « Brussels Business ». It describes

lobbying mechanics44. The film concentrates

on lobbying by large corporations. But the

mechanisms described are exactly those

used by ENGOs with fisheries, for which they

received at least 70 millions de US$.

This type of documentary evidence clearly shows a system that lacks transparency, not a

conspiracy theory. It is partly to increase transparency that the main protagonist of the film,

lobbyist himself Pascal Kerneis, contributed to its production.

Let us simply remember that, today, it is very difficult to identify or trace the financial flows

involved:

- The declaration of transparency of Pew Environment Group is very succinct.

- the coalition OCEAN 2012 does not show the actual size of the support of the

foundations to the coalition.

35 http://www.bloomassociation.org/fr/claire_nouvian

36 http://www.mbari.org/about/

37 http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/consultation/displaylobbyist.do?id=46834536998-79&isListLobbyistView=true

38 http://www.sharkalliance.org/content.asp?did=37014

39 http://ocean2012.eu/members?search=&filter=France

40 http://www.savethehighseas.org/aboutus/members.cfm

41 http://www.bloomassociation.org/download/2012_Communique_BLOOM_28%20nov_VF.pdf

42 http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/press-releases/french-conservationist-claire-nouvian-awarded-2012-pew-fellowship-in-marine-conservation-

85899372248/fr-FR

43 http://www.atomes-crochus.org/breve65.html

44 http://brusselsbusiness.arte.tv/fr/film

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- WWF does not give details of its donors 45 while the Blue Charity Business report

identified between 2007 and 2010 that Oak Foundation contributed U.S. $ 8 millions on

programs specifically dedicated to the reform of the CFP, and Tubney Charitable Trust

also funded GB£ 520,000.

- Greenpeace claims its funding is based solely on donations from citizens46, while the

report identifies U.S. $ 1.8 million from Oak Foundation.

Friedrich Moser, one of the authors of the film says "the EU suffers from a democratic deficit"47.

In addition to this film, The Brussels Business, in collaboration with TV channel ARTE, has

launched a direct democracy initiative48. It raises a question, puts it to the vote of citizens. A

bias in this approach comes from presenting the views of two opposing lobbyists, which gives

the impression that answering the question amounts to plebiscite one or the other lobbyist.

However, it is an initiative to move towards more transparency and against the weight of the

swing lobbies whatever side they take.

Brussels Business

online survey, 14

February 2013

Finally, in other fields, some specialized writers on economics are concerned with the specific

weight of American interests in the formulation of European public policies. In this article

translated February 11, 2013, the British author Glyn Moody takes the example of the

protection of computerized data 49: "Complicity between U.S. lobbyists and MEPs behind the

citizens’ back".

These mechanisms are extremely similar to those identified in the Blue Charity Business report,

as operated by Environmental NGOs. Complicity is a strong word we do not support here

regarding the CFP reform lobbying. But influence appears to be strong when comparing

initial ENGO propositions and resulting amendments.

45 http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/consultation/displaylobbyist.do?id=1414929419-24

46 http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/consultation/displaylobbyist.do?id=9832909575-41&isListLobbyistView=true

47 http://www.presseurop.eu/fr/content/blog/3395531-friedrich-moser-l-ue-souffre-d-un-deficit-democratique

48 http://brusselsbusiness.arte.tv/en/discovery#d-0

49 http://www.a-brest.net/article12413.html

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WORRY OF MEDIA LYNCHING AND INTIMIDATION OF ELECTED PARLIAMENTARIANS? FISH FIGHT

2.0

The vote Wednesday 6 February 2013 in European Parliament plenary session is very

informative. 502 "for" and 137 "against" the text voted in the PECH Committee, which is very

close to the proposals put forward by ENGOs. Note the major difference between this and

the vote of the Parliament's Fisheries Committee, which is composed of MEPs more familiar

with fisheries issues: 13 "for" and 10 "against". But MEPs in this special committee have

themselves been the subject of intense lobbying activities and media pressure via social

networks, such as twitter, or email. These are the famous campaigns "tell your MEP" which

include floods of pre-formatted messages on electronic messaging and twitter accounts.

These campaigns have been widely reported in the press including The Guardian. Funding

has even been specifically by the OAK Foundation to develop pressure on public opinion

and MEPS, see the project DOMINO50.

Having a closer look, more specifically on votes in plenary from British MEPs: 12 abstentions

out of 67, for a total of 27 European abstentions. The only country where the number of

abstentions was this high. What happened? It is impossible that so many MEPs did not have

an opinion on the issue, given the magnitude of fisheries articles in the media and especially

the British media, such as THE GUARDIAN. One answer seems plausible, fear of displeasing

Environmental NGOs.

Voting Results "fishing" of 6 February 2013 at the European Parliament plenary

Always in the United Kingdom, let's especially consider the media war machine set up by the

chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (HFW), the "father" of the Fish Fight51, supported by almost all

ENGOs among which the PEW-led OCEAN 2012. Enlightened people, mediated, freethinkers

advocates, chefs in the UK have a media access via Channel 4. HFW has succeeded in

attracting the attention of public opinion on discards by referring any fault to the European

Union and the Common Fisheries Policy. Carefully avoiding questioning about the role of the

British private quotas system called FQA, and specifically their leasing. All the while excessively

demonizing any person who was thinking differently from him.

50 http://www.oakfnd.org/node/3131

51 http://www.fishfight.net/

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Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is a master in the use of media pressure. In France, Le Monde

published an advertisement financed by Fight-Fish and Client Earth in June 10, 2012

presented below. The Blue Charity Business report presents all the technical media pressure

implemented by Fish Fight. See p 38.

Note also that given the media strength of Fish-Fight, he had secured the support of virtually

the most of the British political class, and all organizations including fishery representatives.

What is the new workhorse of Fish Fight: Marine Conservation Zones - MCZ. English ENGOs

thanks to the funding of Tubney foundation largely participated, following a national process,

to define of 127 new MCZ reference no fishing zones. The government has proposed not to

accept all in the absence of sufficient scientific evidences52. With the support of fishing

professional organizations concerned about the size of these zones and their dogmatic

designation.

HFW is now lobbying for the forced recognition of these areas, changing the scope of the Fish

Fight campaign and claiming the support previously gained on the discards issue53. The

method is the same: Play on citizens’ emotions thanks to images taken out of context and

presented as scandalous. The angle of attack is now the "scandal" of shellfish dredges and

trawls destroying the seabed. The issue of 14 February 2013 on Channel 4 has provoked many

reactions ... from British fishermen. We'll see how this will change supports by the fisheries

sector in HFW.

Fish Fight new look [2.0].

Slight snag, these areas also relate to traditional fishing areas of other European fishing fleet.

But the designation of these areas is not a European mandate. Only national.

It is worth noting that in the process of reform of the European fisheries policy, immediately

after the vote of the European Parliament, comes the trilogue that will mainly be negotiated

between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.

Already the British press puts pressure on the Minister of Fisheries Benyon: February 11, 2013, on

the blog of The Guardian, George Monbiot wrote54: Will EU discard ban force the hand of our

disastrous Fisheries Minister? This puts pressure on the MCZ question, and also on the future of

the trilogue negotiations.

52 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmsctech/uc727-vi/uc72701.htm

53 https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EvgWYoxB-m4

54 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2013/feb/11/eu-fishing-discards-ban-richard-benyon

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Pressure on ministers will also certainly continue.

Lob A full page published by lobbyists in Le

Monde in June 2012 targeting the French

Fisheries Minister.

Blue Charity Business reports:

- The first report http://www.peche-dev.org/spip.php?article685

- Follow up http://www.peche-dev.org/spip.php?article691

- The seas’ eco-conquerors : http://www.peche-dev.org/spip.php?article693