Brussels, 02/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - Alain Cadec (EPP, France), vice-chair of the European Parliament fisheries committee, has said that the proposal on the European fund for maritime affairs and fisheries (2014-2020 period) is “unacceptable” as it currently stands. He said that this fund “plans to reduce the European fishing fleet, get rid of subsidies to fishermen and put transferable quota management in place”.
He regretted that in its proposal, the European Commission did not mention the need to create companies in the fishing sector or develop access for young people to the fishing profession. Cadec pointed out that with regard to the objectives of protecting resources, “this is everybody's concern but it appears to me that the proposal for implementing transferable fishing quotas does not respond to this objective”. He highlighted the importance of support to the fisheries sector, which contributes to Europe's food autonomy, regional development and the economic dynamism of the maritime regions.
On 1 February, Cadec organised a seminar at the European Parliament, in collaboration with the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and the MAREMED project, on the theme of “What Future for European Fishing?” The European regions and parliamentary rapporteurs on fisheries reform expressed their opinions on the European Commission proposed reform.
Speaking on behalf of the European Commission, Lowri Evans pointed out that the EU imports two thirds of the fish consumed within the Union and that fish discards stand at 23%, which is very high. She said that she takes on board the concerns expressed by the regions and stated that the Commission does not intend to produce any more legislation but involve those working in the industry more.
The CPMR regrets that the Commission proposals on the future common fisheries policy (CFP) fail to provide any satisfactory answers to genuine multilevel governance, although the regions fully participate in the development of fisheries and aquaculture subsidiaries, whilst working towards economic and regional development.
Isabelle Thomas, vice-president of the Brittany regional council (France), asked whether the Commission would work out an inventory of available resources before making any decisions. In the context of individual transferable quotas that the Commission seeks to introduce, she said: “If quotas become a market, there will be a danger of speculation and instability: concentration helps big players and not the small ones, with significant repercussions on jobs.”
André Le Berre, president of the regional fisheries and fish farming committee in Brittany, stated that the social pillar had to be understood: - reintroduction of aid for modernising the fleet, and for enterprise start-ups and their extension; - support for implementing organic and temporary rulings; - aid for fishing diversification; - opportunities for requesting funds to improve the hard and dangerous work of fishermen.
Mireille Peirano, vice-president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region (France) deplored the fact that “small-scale coastal fishing has not been the focus of any particular attention, although it is the highest contributor to job creation and business in the coastal regions and although the latter is a source of cultural heritage that often contributes to the identity and attractiveness of coastal regions”. She also said that “the Mediterranean regions consider that transferable quotas will eventually lead to the disappearance of craft-based fishing”. She regretted the absence of measures to promote access to young people to the profession and the generational rejuvenation of the sector.
Javier Garat, secretary-general of CEPESCA (Spanish Fisheries Confederation) said that transferable quotas would be acceptable to industrial fishing (but would pose problems to craft-based fishing). He supports a reduction in discards but not their elimination.
Josie Simpson from the Shetland Islands Council (UK) mentioned the fishing industry's concerns about the ban on discards in multi-species fishing. (LC/transl.fl)