Brussels, 13/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - In a report published on Friday 10 June, the European Commission said that great progress had been made over the last few years in reducing the size of the EU fishing fleet.
Overall, significant progress has been made across the EU in recent years in balancing fishing capacity and fishing opportunities, according to the report on efforts made by member states in this area in 2014. Reducing fleet capacity over the last few years has helped improve the state of overfished stocks, so that fisheries are coming closer to the goal of maximum sustainable yield, the Commission adds. Furthermore, better implementation of guidelines has allowed better analysis of imbalances in the various fleets. Member states' reports reveal, nonetheless, that further effort will be needed in certain segments of the fleet to reduce the imbalances identified, particularly in the Mediterranean.
Inactive vessels. A general overview of the EU fleet shows low vessel utilisation. The highest levels of inactivity can be seen in fleets of small-scale vessels - in other words, vessels measuring less than 12 metres (m): 93% of inactive vessels were less than 12m in length, while vessels between 12m and 24m accounted for 6% and vessels over 24m less than 2% of inactive vessels.
The Commission notes that, in 2014, there was an overall increase in the number of fleet segments for which member states have identified structural overcapacity. As a result, member states submitted 17 action plans containing the adjustment targets and tools to achieve a balance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities and a clear time-frame for implementation. Member states have opted for a variety of measures to reduce capacity including the introduction of transferable fishing concessions or permanent cessation (vessel decommissioning).
€935 million for decommissioning of vessels. The report shows that, between 2007 and 31 May 2015, 4,267 vessels were decommissioned with public support, with total public expenditure of almost €935 million (€333 million for Spain, €160 million for France and €150 million for Italy). The European fisheries fund (EFF) provided €546 million of this sum. Vessels decommissioned with EFF support cannot be replaced. In addition, 2,077 vessels were removed from the fleet without public aid.
Between January 2014 and November 2015, following the trend of the previous ten years, the fishing capacity of the EU 28 member states decreased by 0.8% in kilowatts (KW) and by 1.3% in gross tonnage (GT). In November 2015, 85,065 vessels were registered in the EU fleet register. These figures show a reduction of 0.6% in number of vessels (excluding in the outermost regions) in 2015. The fishing capacity of the EU fleet was 18.42 % below the capacity ceilings for tonnage and 11.60% below the power ceilings. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)