Brussels, 22/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - A delegation from Europêche and COGECA met Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki on Monday 21 November to discuss a number of important issues, including social dialogue, shark protection and negotiations on fishing quotas for 2012.
Gerard Van Balsfoort, current chairman of the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (ACFA) stressed the importance of maintaining and enhancing structured consultation of stakeholders at European level through the ACFA. He called on the commissioner to communicate in a transparent and objective manner in the interest of the market and taking full account of the socio-economic consequences of the policy currently being pursued.
After highlighting the key role of research and innovation in making the fisheries sector in Europe more competitive and sustainable, Europêche President Javier Garat said that the issues of training, health, safety and employment had to be taken into account in the new common fisheries policy (CFP). He called for the support of the Commission for a far-reaching action plan from the sector's social partners, a plan which meets the priorities of the EUROPE 2020 strategy and the integrated maritime policy. Giampaolo Buonfiglio, speaking for COGECA, said that, in proposals on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2012 to be negotiated at the Fisheries Council on 15-16 December, science cannot be seen as the unquestionable starting point. For a large number of fish stocks, the Commission is recommending a 15% TAC reduction “without clear biological justification”, fisherman believe. In some cases, the reductions proposed by the Commission are even more restrictive than the scientific recommendations and are seen by the sector as “unbearable” (prawns and blue whiting, for example).
On the proposal on shark finning (see article above), Garat said that the Commission “is creating a problem that doesn't exist within the EU”. “We feel that the practice of finning, that is, throwing sharks back into the sea after their fins have been removed, has to be opposed, even though the removal of fins on board, under carefully monitored conditions still has to be authorised since the various parts of the fish are usually frozen on board and then marketed through different channels after landing”, he argued.
Those who attended the meeting also argued for the renewal of a number of outstanding fisheries partnership agreements (with Morocco, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Gabon, Mauritania, and others) and raised the issue of the gradual appropriation by Norway and Russia of fishing rights in the Svalbard peninsula. (LC/transl.rt)