Joe Borg wins Swedish Seafood Award

Joe Borg's five-year tenure as EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries ends on a high note today, as he receives this year's Kungsfenan Swedish Seafood Award in Gõteborg, Sweden.

Dr Borg has been awarded the prize for his work, over the past five years, to put EU fisheries on a sustainable footing. While in Sweden, the former Commissioner will also be taking part in two seminars where he will speak about the work achieved at European level to promote the sustainability agenda in fisheries and maritime policy.

Upon being told of thethe prize, Dr Borg said : "I am honoured to be receiving this award with its strong focus on sustainability. Over the past five years, economic, social and environmental sustainability have been at the heart of our approach to fisheries in order to guarantee a viable future for our fishermen and the marine resources they harvest. I am gratified that you have considered my efforts worthy of this prestigious award. It means a great deal to me. It has been a privilege to serve as Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and I wish my successor, Ms Damanaki, every success in her new role. "

The Kungsfenan, first awarded in 2002, is conferred every year on individuals, organisations or institutions in two categories - sustainable fisheries and maritime gastronomy. There is also a special prize for innovation.

The award panel praised Dr Borg for his ability to "handle short-term interests in relation to more long-term ones with great personal integrity" and has characterised his work as having "enormous potential to create a trustworthy, sustainable fishing policy".