The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is fit for purpose, said the NGO Oceana on Tuesday 15 April in its contribution to the consultation launched by the European Commission on the evaluation of this policy.
The CFP has significantly reduced overfishing in EU waters and increased profits for the fishing industry, according to the organisation. It believes that at a time of major economic and geopolitical upheaval, “it is not the moment to create more uncertainties and instability for fishers and coastal communities by re-opening a solid piece of legislation”. The current difficulties in fisheries management stem from poor implementation by the Member States, not from shortcomings in the policy itself, the NGO argues.
For Vera Coelho, Deputy Vice-President of Oceana, if EU countries implement and comply with its requirements, and if the European Commission holds them accountable through legal action, Europe can unlock the policy’s full potential, benefiting the ocean, fishers, and the blue economy”. EU countries are calling for reform (see EUROPE 13606/3).
Oceana’s contribution: https://aeur.eu/f/gf1 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)