The European Commission should provide adequate funding for fisheries co-management and involve the fishing community more in the decision-making process, said members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries on Tuesday 28 March.
The committee adopted (22 votes in favour) a draft report by Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spanish) on the co-management of fisheries in the EU and the contribution of the fisheries sector to the implementation of management measures.
MEPs note that in general, fisheries are managed through a state-centred approach, which focuses on large-scale fisheries, but not on small-scale ones. On the other hand, there are examples of successful co-management at local and national level and MEPs want to pave the way for a smoother implementation of this management model.
To this end, MEPs stress the need for European legislation to apply this decision-making model more widely and for a legal framework with common criteria adapted to the particularities of different fisheries and regions.
MEPs call for co-management to be included in the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Furthermore, they ask the Commission to give priority, within the framework of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), to co-management models, with appropriate funding.
Seaweed. Furthermore, the committee adopted a draft resolution prepared by its Chair, Pierre Karleskind (Renew Europe, French), calling on the European Commission to provide sufficient funds for the development of the European seaweed sector, and welcoming the Commission’s intention to present a specific initiative to support the consumption of seaweed in the Union (see EUROPE 13100/23). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)