Brussels, 21/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - The recent Commission proposal on technical measures brought criticism from a number of representatives of the fishing sector at a hearing in the European Parliament's fisheries committee in Brussels on Monday 21 March.
Gérard Romiti, president of France's Committee for Maritime Fisheries and Fish Farming (CNPMEM), was critical of the inconsistencies in the proposals (which date from 11 March). In his view, a number of the provisions in the text do not comply with the objectives of the new common fisheries policy (CFP), including Article 4 which sets a cap of 5% of catches being under the minimum legal size. Romiti argues that this is not consistent with landing requirement rules. There is similar inconsistency on reference mesh sizes (120 mm proposed for some nets, compared with 100 mm at present). In addition, the CNPMEM feels that some of the environmental measures are ill-suited to the reality on the ground, such as the requirement that vessels of over 12 metres be equipped with acoustic deterrent devices to keep cetaceans at a distance and measures to protect sea birds. Lastly, some minimum sizes, for example, that of the Manila clam, are not suited to differing regional situations. Romiti, like a number of other speakers, called for clear rules in a tool box (major Community principles) with technical measures decided at regional level and contained within multiannual management plans.
Barry Deas, vice-president of Europêche and chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (UK), laid great emphasis on the negative effect of the current, overly-complex technical rules. “It's time for a re-think. Use should be made of regionalisation to ensure that decisions are taken as close as possible to where the fisherman operate”, he said. He argued that regionalisation should have a greater role to play and that micro-management should be shunned. He backs a “minimalist approach from the European institutions and a flexible regulatory framework”.
Kenn Skau Fischer, fisheries policy adviser for the Danish Fisheries Association, stated that the technical measures would lead to discards because of the rules on the composition of catches. He also criticised the current co-decision procedure (which means it takes time to change the rules) and went as far as to question the need for an EU regulatory framework for technical measures. In his opinion, technical measures should feature in multiannual management plans for the various species and in discard plans and be like a tool box.
Gabriel Mato (EPP, Spain), suggested that the regionalisation formula contained in the proposal was the right one and he also supported inclusion of technical measures in multiannual management plans. Among issues of concern, he said that the Commission must not be given a blank cheque to determine everything with regard to technical measures by means of delegated acts. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)