Brussels, 14/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - Numerous examples were presented at a European Parliament fisheries committee hearing on Monday 13 April of how to improve selectivity as new landing obligation rules (end of discards at sea) come into force. Several speakers highlighted the difficulty in mixed fisheries of implementing the obligation to land all fish caught.
Olivier Le Nezet, president of the association Blue Fish (and chair of the Brittany Fisheries Committee, France) set out the various initiatives taken by Breton fishermen since 1995 to improve the selectivity of fishing gear. He highlighted the cost of selectivity (purchase of gear, fewer fish caught, fleet movement, etc.).
Christopher Zimmermann, director of the Institute Baltic Sea Fisheries, gave examples of projects that allow cod to be targeted while avoiding the flat fish. Luis Arregui of the Spanish institute AZTI spoke about the selectivity schemes in the Bay of Biscay. Clara Ulrich of DTU Aqua (Denmark) showed the negative effects of technical measures and identified the advantages and disadvantages of changing management method (full documentation of catches, catch targets). Michael Heath of the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow) addressed the environmental approach in the ending of discards.
Juan Carlos Maneiro Cadillo, secretary general of MAR (Galicia), was highly critical of the new rules banning discards. He argued that these rules are incompatible with the principle of relative stability (allocation of fishing opportunities). The proposed mechanisms will not be enough, he forecast. Pim Visser, of VisNed, said that the end of discards rules would have the effect of putting the brake on innovation.
A European Commission representative noted that efforts to improve selectivity were increasing. He said that the Commission would bring forward a proposal on technical measures in 2015. The rules should be as flexible as possible, he stated, speaking of a “tool box” for fishermen.
Small-scale fishing and the ending of discards
On Tuesday 14 April a study on small-scale fishing and the end of discards was presented at the Parliament fisheries committee. It showed that discard rates in the north-east Atlantic were “in general, low”. It pointed out that most of the measures to reduce discards have been introduced in large-scale fishing. It is still not clear that ending discards will be effective in industrial fishing, the study, published by a number of universities, states.
Alain Cadec (EPP, France) who chairs the Parliament fisheries committee, recalled that the Parliament was still debating what is meant by small-scale fishing (for the Commission, it is fishing from a boat of less than 12 metres, using static gear). Small-scale fishing varies from one region to another, Cadec highlighted. He repeated his reservations over the ending of discards. “It will be very complicated”, he predicted.
Sebastian Villasante, who presented the study on small-scale fishing, answered questions from MEPs: - the study did not look at fishing capacity; - in the south of Europe, great importance is attached to where the fish come from and how they are caught (labelling); - it should be possible, if consensus emerges, to make the fishing quotas system more flexible; - implementation of the landing obligation could be delayed if there were problems in practical terms; - small-scale fishing is an activity that creates value, it has to be protected. (Lionel Changeur)