Several NGOs that defend the preservation of marine resources called, on Wednesday 16 March, for the implementation of the principles and rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) rather than launching a reform of this policy.
A hearing on the reform of the CFP will take place on Thursday 17 March, as the European Commission is due to adopt a report on the functioning of the CFP at the end of 2022.
The NGOs’ findings are quite severe. They consider that the objectives of the CFP have not been achieved: 43% of fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic and 83% of those in the Mediterranean are still overfished, according to these organisations.
Vera Coelho of Oceana lamented the failure of Member States and EU institutions to properly enforce CFP rules. She found that the EU Council has continued to set quotas at levels that exceed scientific advice. She also regretted the shortcomings in the recovery plans for fish stocks.
Rebecca Hubbard of Our Fish pointed out that although the CFP does not mention climate change, she is calling for the environmental impacts of fishing to be minimised. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)