Failure to reform the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) could be catastrophic for fish stocks EU Fisheries Ministers were told at a Luxembourg summit and following a presentation by Commissioner Maria Damanaki, Fisheries Ministers had an exchange of views on the available policy options for the reform of the CFP.

Unsurprisingly, the meeting was told that the fishing industry is currently going through a deep crisis; European fish stocks have been overfished for decades and the fishing fleets remain too large for the resources available and following a significant jump in the fish products imported, parts of the European fishing fleets are becoming more and more economically unviable.

The Commission’s presentation to the Council underscored the necessity of an appropriate review of the CFP by explaining that in absence of a reform, the outlook for the future would be catastrophic for preservation of fish stocks and economic situation of fisheries affecting strongly the social situation of people living from this activity.

The EU got us into this mess – will they get us out; their past record of poor policies and controls make it extremely unlikely particularly as they will have to resolve the argument of management by national quotas versus the introduction of individual tradable rights (ITR) at EU level.

Additional issues to be addressed are the devolution of decision-making to regional/national levels,  differentiated approach for industrial and costal and small-scale fleets,  discards reduction through development of more selective fishing gear,  better adaptation of fleet capacity to fish stocks availability,  responsible behavior all along the fishery chain, improved efficiency of controls and the promotion of aquaculture development.

Related posts:

1. Fishing decisions to be de-centralised
2. Keep your eye on the ball
3. UK Government response to CFP reform