Brussels, 14/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 14 April, the European Commission promised to give renewed impetus to aquaculture through the reform that it will be proposing in July this year on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). According to the Commission, aquaculture is a sector of the future, as there is a great demand for sea products and sea fisheries resources are declining.
Speaking after a meeting in Luxembourg with European fisheries ministers, European Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki said they would do their best to develop this sector as part of their reform proposals. Although the sector provides good quality, healthy sea products for consumers, public demand for sea products is increasing, demand at present is mainly met by imports. The commissioner said this means there is great development potential for the sector of aquaculture, and that aquaculture is an answer to the problem of overfishing. In some ways, she explained, this is a measure for helping to conserve our fish stocks.
The Commission announced its intention to create an advisory committee on aquaculture for better cooperation with member states, the sector and stakeholders in order to obtain “the best possible results”. Also, the Commission wishes to cooperate with governments to help them to set their national aquaculture management plans in place “to raise momentum in this sector, which needs it”. Damanaki also intends to finance the sector as it should be financed as, she said, the aquaculture sector in Europe has been stagnating for over a decade.
During the Council, five countries (Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg and Slovenia) issued a joint statement on their priorities with regard to freshwater aquaculture and inland water fishing. Several countries raised the problem of the losses caused by cormorants (who devour the fish in aquaculture basins). Several countries called for sufficient Community funding for the sector (if not a specific fund). The United Kingdom and Sweden displayed reticence, however, on Community funding for aquaculture. (L.C./transl.jl)