In Strasbourg on Tuesday, 9 May, the European Parliament called for the establishment of a “non-binding voluntary regulatory framework on fisheries co-management”.
In adopting (583 votes in favour, 10 against, and 33 abstentions) the report by Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spanish) on co-management, the European Parliament has emphasised that any management framework should promote better management of fishing quotas between the outermost regions and their Member States while taking the particularities of each of these regions into account (see EUROPE 13151/13).
“This legislation, which is being developed in European regions and in some countries, needs to be taken up at the European level”, Ms Aguilera stated during the debate. “We need European legislation on fisheries co-management to harmonise and promote this project”.
Ms Aguilera concluded that the co-management system gives a large part of the management responsibility to those who directly exploit fishery resources (shipowners, fishermen, professional organisations or trade unions, NGOs, etc.) and takes social aspects into account.
Does the legal framework need to be changed to further enhance co-management? “The [European] Commission does not think so. The Common Fisheries Policy already contains a toolbox to provide tailor-made solutions based on scientific advice [...], and it also provides funding”, the institution replied. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)