Brussels, 29/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission report published on Tuesday 29 April on efforts made by the member states in 2012 to achieve a “sustainable” balance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities shows that the countries have reached their targets. However, the Commission calls on the countries to take adjustment measures regarding fishing capacity in order to preserve fish stocks.
Each member state is responsible for ensuring that its fishing capacity, expressed in tonnes (GT) and power (kW), is consistently equal to or less than the upper limits for capacity and power. The current entries in the EU Fleet Register show that all member states complied with these upper limits. Overall in 2013, the fishing capacity of the EU fleet was 16.4% below the capacity limits in terms of tonnage and 10.4% below the power limits (compared to 2012 figures). According to the EU Fleet Register, as of 31 December 2012, the fleet was made up of 76,023 vessels representing total fishing capacity of 1,578,015 GT and 5,807,827 kW. In terms of vessel numbers, the fleets were reduced by 1.6%, whilst tonnage and engine size were down by 2% and 1% respectively. Decommissioning with public aid was the most used management tool to reduce fishing capacity. Between 1 January 2007 and 31 July 2012, €464 million were allocated under the EFF (European Fisheries Fund), which corresponds to a cessation of fishing activities for around 3700 vessels. France states that, for most of its fisheries, fleet levels are stable and in a situation of balance in line with fishing possibilities. Ireland notified an increase in its fishing capacity of 1.29% in GT terms and 2.25% in kW terms. The United Kingdom reported an increase in capacity for its vessels targeting molluscs and crustaceans (scallops), whilst the fleets of demersal trawlers generally reduced their capacity. Spain continued to reduce its fishing capacity in 2012, with 429 deletions from the register, 147 of which received state aid. (LC)