Discards are defined by the FAO as the portion of the animal catch that is thrown away at sea. The most recent report states that in the 1992-2001 period, 7.3 million tonnes of marine organisms were estimated to be discarded each year in the world, representing around 8% of the global catches. Oceana is campaigning to win European Union legislation to achieve substantial reductions in by-catches in the most significant discards fisheries by the EU fleet and by any vessel in EU waters.