Brussels, 02/08/2001 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, Copa/Cogeca call for a reflection similar to that of the Green Paper on the Common Fisheries Policy to be embarked on for fish farming, so as to define "a long-term strategy and policy guidelines" for the sector that represents 25% of the supply in fish and that provides "numerous jobs in many regions dependent on fishing". Along the lines of its stance on the Green Paper as a whole (see EUROPE of 23 and 24 July, p.16), the organisation calls on the Commission to "contribute to rekindling the image of fish farming and raise the awareness of European civil society to the validity of this activity that suffers criticisms from various sectors, notably from tourism and the environment".
Copa/Cogeca calls on the Commission to take account of the multiple of facets of this industry: for example, marine fish farming (shellfish, bass and sea bream, salmon, turbot…) is different to continental fish farming (intensive salmon farming, extensive Cyprinus farming, new species of sturgeon, tilapia, eels). It also stresses the extensive Cyprinus farming is, notably, characterised by large surface areas, more often situated in poor, rural and wetland regions. "Cyprinus farmers, who play an important role in the framework of nature conservation and the protection of waters and the countryside, often find themselves up against many environmental constraints (preyed upon by cormorants and herons…) and must face large costs (periodic cleansing of the ponds..)", we read in the press release. The organisation calls for this type of farming to benefit from agricultural assistance under agri-environmental measures in the framework of programmes on the protection and upkeep of ponds.