CFP must redesigned to be

modern, simple and sustainable according to the EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Joe Borg.

The EC today adopted a Green Paper on the future of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy. The purpose of the is twofold:

• to raise awareness of the challenges faced by the sector in recent years; and
• elicit a public response which can grow into a new, innovative and more consensual approach to fisheries regulation.

It raises questions such as:

• How can we ensure the long-term sustainability and the viability of fisheries?;
• How can overall fleet capacity be adapted while addressing the social concerns faced by coastal communities?;
• How can a culture of compliance be further developed?;
• How best can the CFP contribute to fisheries sustainability beyond EU waters?

Commenting, Mr Borg said: “We are asking questions even on the fundamentals of the current policy and should leave no stone unturned. We are not looking for just another reform. It is time to design a modern, simple and sustainable system for managing fisheries in the EU, which is able to last well into the 21st century.”

Fishermen and other interested parties – scientists, civil society and interested citizens, have until December 31 2009 to respond and have their say on the future face of European fisheries. The consultation is the first step of the process which should bring about a radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

The Paper analyses all the facets of fisheries policy today and explains why some problems persist despite the progress made since the reform of 2002. One of the main problems is the depleted state of European fish stocks:

• 88% of stocks are overfished (against a global average of 25%) and
• 30% are “outside safe biological limits”.

Yet in many fisheries two or three times more than what stocks can sustain is still caught. This is mostly as a result of fleet overcapacity which according to the EC is in fact economically inefficient because not only does it deplete stocks but it also constantly drives the industry’s profits down.

It says solutions need to be found to restore the worst-off stocks and at the same time guarantee that fish can continue to be a reliable source of revenue for fishermen.

Above and beyond overcapacity, the Paper identifies four other structural shortcomings of the present approach:

• the lack of precise policy objectives, especially with regard to ecological responsibility and integration with general maritime issues;
• a decision-making system that is too centralised and focused on short-term solutions which more often than not undermine long-term sustainability;
• a framework that does not give sufficient responsibility to the industry;
• the absence of political will towards compliance with the fishing limitations.

The Commission says these issues have to be considered in a context where Europe imports two-thirds of its demand in fisheries products.

The Commission is concerned that if a better environmental sustainability of fishing is not achieved in the coming years, the consequence will be impoverished seas and an economically unviable fishing industry. If, however, the next reform projects the Common Fisheries Policy into the 21st century, the benefits will not just be limited to fishermen or coastal communities, but will also be shared by Europe’s citizens, it says.

Although the Commission is only legally bound to review some parts of the CFP by 2012, the prevailing situation, particularly as regards stocks and fleet overcapacity, has convinced it of the need to launch the reform process now.

The consultation launched today will close on 31 December 2009 and the Commission will sum up its results in the first half of 2010. After further consultation with stakeholders, the Commission will then prepare an impact assessment report and develop a proposal for a new basic regulation. This could then be presented to the European Parliament and Council early in 2011, with a view for adoption in 2012.

In Scotland, John Scott MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, said:

“I welcome this opportunity to repair, redraft and reorganise the now discredited CFP, which has failed Scottish fishermen, their families and all of those connected with the Scottish fishing industry.

This will be a once in a generation opportunity to try and balance the clearly articulated needs of our fishing communities and recreational fishermen with the need to restore sustainable fishing practices.

Difficult as it will be, discarding must become a practice consigned to the history books as valuable fish stocks cannot be wasted and depleted any longer in this wasteful way as the world population grows and food stocks daily decline”.

Category: EU Government News