Brussels, 03/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - European fishermen and fish farmers are concerned at the negative fall-out from the reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP) as proposed by the Commission. They are particularly concerned at the rapid ending of discarding fish at sea, compliance with the principle of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for fish resources by 2015, and the removal of assistance for the modernisation of vessels.
Following the initial general reactions of the European fisheries and aquaculture sectors, Europêche (Association of National Organisations of Fishing Enterprises in the EU) and COPA-COGECA urgently call on the Commission “to avoid deviating from the basic objectives of the CFP stipulated in the TFEU”.
MSY. The 2015 Maximum Sustainable Yield objective, currently embedded in the new CFP being proposed is “very insistent and restrictive”, the fisheries professionals say. They are of the view that this objective should be overtaken gradually and with built-in flexibility, particularly in the case of mixed fisheries (where more than one species are present in the area being fished and are liable to be caught) or where information on the state of the fish stocks is unavailable. They state that it would not be very convincing to formulate MSY as a guiding principle of European policy when scientific research is able to deliver the data for less than 20% of European stocks.
Ending discards. Europêche and COPA-COGECA call on the Commission to recognise publicly the complexity of the problem of discards. The organisations argue for a “maximum progressive discard reduction”. The Commission proposal to put an end to discards is not realistic, they say. What will be done with unwanted by-catches that have to be landed? What kind of infrastructure will be needed on shore to process this fish? How can the costs of all these operations be covered? Rather than having a ban on discards, the sector is calling for more scientific research to develop fishing gear and techniques that will avoid unwanted by-catches as much as possible. Accompanying measures are also required that would take account of the economic impact of such a ban on the communities from which the fishermen come. The progressive introduction of multi-annual management plans for most European commercial stocks is welcomed by the sector.
Reliable scientific advice must form the basis of decisions on fishery management. Scientists often admit that they do not know the state of several stocks. Europêche and COPA-COGECA propose that Community support be offered for the creation and operation of networks, comprising operators, technicians and marine researchers, which would respond to precise demands on stock assessments, thereby ensuring that sound opinion forms the basis for Community legislation.
Public aid. The associations believe there is a need for some form of public support for the sector, to help it adapt to changes in the CFP (restructuring, and also modernisation of the fleet). Europêche and COPA-COGECA call for part (2-3%) of the funds available under the new European Fisheries and Maritime Fund to be devoted to transitional projects.
Transferable rights. The associations repeat that individual transferable concessions may not be best suited for small-scale coastal fisheries. Any decision on the setting up and allocation of such concessions must, they say, be matters for the sovereignty of member states.
Social. Europêche and COPA-COGECA welcome the fact that the Commission is finally showing concern for job attractiveness and decent working conditions.
Labelling. It is “essential”, according to the sector, that the labelling of fisheries and aquaculture products is improved. Labelling should indicate the product's origin, nutritional value and production process. It is also essential that defrosted products be displayed separately from fresh fish in order to avoid misleading consumers. The associations welcome the Commission's intentions to improve the gathering and dissemination of information through market intelligence.
Regionalisation. A decentralised system with greater involvement of the sector (self-management) is undoubtedly the way to go if there is a wish to create a culture of compliance with rules, the associations say. They note the Commission's intention to extend the role of Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) which essentially contribute to resource management and preservation of resources in each area. The organisations are, however, disappointed by the weakness of the Commission proposals on regionalisation.
Smarter financing. Europêche and COPA-COGECA acknowledge that future public aid for the sector will be reformed and will be in line with the objectives of the EUROPE 2020 strategy. They highlight, however, that “withdrawing support for scrapping vessels slows the reduction and modernisation of the fleet, whereby they are condemned to age, having a negative effect on the safety of those on-board”. Furthermore, given the high cost of fuel, “subsidies for purchasing cleaner engines are more necessary than ever”, professionals say. They call for fisheries agreements with third countries to be “maintained in their current form” as they are an essential tool for accessing available surplus resources and supplying the Community market with food which is beneficial to consumer health, maintaining jobs in Europe and helping the development of the fisheries sector in partner countries. (L.C./transl.rt)