Brussels, 11/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - Spain, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Portugal, which last December founded an informal group of "Friends of Fisheries", recently adopted joint conclusions presenting their concept of the future of the common fisheries policy (CFP). According to this paper, the general objectives assigned to the CFP are: (1) to manage fish resources on a sustainable basis; (2) to guarantee the supply of the Community market; (3) to preserve and reinforce fishing and aquaculture activity in the Community from production to marketing, taking account of the economic, social and regional dimensions of these activities, of the Mediterranean dimension and its specific needs, and of the necessity for better acceptance of CFP rules by fishermen.
This contribution by the group of "Friends of Fisheries" differs on a number of points not only from the objectives defended by Commissioner Franz Fischler, but also from the positions defended by the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden or Austria, which are calling for radical reform of Blue Europe. The Commission, for its part, hopes to be able to respect its timetable for the adoption of legislative reform proposals. Due to the European Parliament's delay in adopting its opinion on Mr Fischler's Green Paper on this subject and the extension of the interdepartmental consultation period, the Commission is not certain at this stage that it will be able to present on 20 March next the first package of proposals for regulations (which must be matched with a communication summarising the Green Paper debates and presenting the main points of the reform). The first package of legislative measures is expected to concern the main chapters of the CFP, so that a first policy debate on the proposals can be held at the Fisheries Council in April.
The socio-economic dimension of fisheries is at the heart of the concerns of these six Member States, which are the most concerned by this activity. They therefore intend to defend the establishment of a genuine social dimension by means of a regulatory framework on working, safety and hygiene conditions, social protection for fishermen and the maintenance of communities dependent on fisheries. Concerning the economic dimension, they support the maintenance of provisions on the FIFG funds adopted for the period 2000-2006, especially those that give weight to: - the importance of the development of aquaculture for supplying the market and diversifying fishery activity; - recognition of the multifunctional nature of fisheries by responding to the concern for diversification, including in terms of earnings (e.g. development of "fisheries and tourism" activity); - financial support for temporary cessation linked notably to plans for restoring certain fish stocks. While the financial means foreseen in the FIFG programme must not be used to increase the Community fisheries effort, in contrast, "aid for renewal and modernisation of fleets is legitimate and necessary", state the joint conclusions.
Concerning another important aspect of the CFP, namely management of resources, all members of the group consider that the policy of total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas, which it is imperative to supplement with relevant technical measures, must be reviewed on two essential points: (1) the process leading to the issue of scientific opinions on fish stocks must be improved, particularly through "more open dialogue" among scientists, those responsible for management and fishermen themselves. Scientists should suggest several scenarios to management officials, so that they can assess the consequences in terms of conservation and the socio-economic situation; (2) management of TACs and quotas must be based on a multi-annual approach to prevent fishermen being subject to "erratic variations in their activity from one year to the next". Moreover, to reduce discards, there is a need to study solutions such as the setting of quotas for by-catches and/or multi-species quotas. While acknowledging that management of fisheries effort is entirely relevant for certain fisheries and that it is needed as a general measure as far as the Mediterranean is concerned, the six countries consider that, as far as possible, it would be best to avoid superimposing TACs/quotas and fishing effort systems.
To show consideration for the sensitivities of Spain (which, unlike the other members of the group, wishes to abolish the 6-12 mile zone) and of Ireland (which firmly supports maintenance of The Hague preferences and restrictions for the Irish Sea, a view challenged by the others), the "Friends of Fisheries" used rather vague wording to the effect that the CFP is "based on the general principle of …/…
of granting waters a Community dimension", and on the need to protect coastal communities and certain sensitive areas". In addition, reference is made to "the very great development of fishing as a sport" that "must be the subject of very attentive examination at Community level, especially in the light of the stocks conservation policy".
The other aspects of the Cfp developed by the group are the following:
External policy: these Member States reaffirm the importance of this chapter regarding both its economic and political dimensions. They would like an "ambitious and proactive policy for the European Union so as to preserve the capacities of our flotillas to be able to fish in both international waters and in the EEAs (exclusive economic areas) of third countries". According to them, this presupposes increased presence by the Union in international organisations and especially in regional fisheries organisations. They also recommend a policy aimed at "confirming and developing" fisheries agreements and call for a harmonisation between northern and southern agreements, notably in the use of quotas, "without prejudicing the principle of relative stability, and this to secure a fairer distribution of the benefits of these agreements". This group recommends a "firm policy" towards illegal fishing and vessels flying flags of convenience which do not respect provisions relating to stock conservation and management, and, moreover, recognise the relevance of joint-ventures (these countries would like conditions to be set up in favour of the development of the latter).
Fleet policy: this new policy will have to take account of the efforts at flotilla reduction undertaken by Member States in the context of the Cfp. Thus, it is necessary to set up an "incoming-withdrawing" system of fishing vessels, guaranteeing that in no case the fisheries capacity can increase. However, according to them, "appropriate measures should be adopted to allow for, for reasons of safety, living conditions and quality of fish processed on board, an increase the power and tonnage of vessels that are renewed". So as to respond to the problem, raised by the Commission, of the general over-capacity of European fishing in relation to available fish stocks, this group says that it discussed the possibility of setting up a voluntary and adjustable mechanism (in relation to over-capacity) for fleet withdrawal, open at Community level, applicable in a uniform measure in all Member States and based on attractive aid and financial participation, "a priori" totally at the Community's expense.
Environment: they would like the Cfp to help in a harmonious inclusion of fishing and fish farming in its environment and call on managers to redefine the precautionary approach, notably by a pertinent setting of reference points, and to apply it to fish resource management, taking into consideration, not only the opinions and information provided by scientific bodies, but also the economic, social and territorial repercussions of these measures. "Effort is needed to reduce rejects as much as possible, notably through the selective nature of devices", one may also read in the group's conclusions. Fishing not intended for human consumption is a subject of particular concern, according to these countries. "This fishing, practised with not very selective devices raises problems for fish stock conservation due both to the accessory catch the juveniles of the bottom-dwelling species and to its effects of the food chain linked to the reduction of food for predators of the fish species targeted. Consequently, it would be necessary to draw up a report on the effects of this type of fishing and a "cost-benefit" analysis of the activity", they consider.
Control: the report calls for an effective, strengthened and harmonised control policy, notably regarding inspection procedures, as well, as far as possible, regarding penalties. It would like Commission involvement in this area, and considers that the latter should assume the responsibility for the control and inspection operations in waters governed by regional fisheries organisations.
Mediterranean: aware of the weakness and shortcomings of the common fisheries policy in the Mediterranean, these Member States would like the future fisheries policy to be adapted to the specific nature of the activity in that region and that it be articulated around the following elements:
- renovation and the strengthening of the General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean (GFCM), especially to define common rules of management and their application to all Mediterranean bordering countries;
- the setting up of a system for managing fishing more appropriate to …/..
the multispecific nature of Mediterranean fishing than a TAC and quota system (a system is needed that uses diversified instruments like management and monitoring plans and licences);
General review of the 1994 regulation on technical measures.
Market policy. the reform should take market policy into account and to this end at the next WTO round, it will be necessary to avoid dismantling the last remaining border protection, particularly for sensitive products, in order to preserve Community preference on the one hand and also to improve and develop the value of Community production through an ambitious product quality programme, explain the "Friends of Fishing" countries, adding that it is essential to guarantee market supplies and the Community fish processing industry (with the priority being accorded to fish destined to be eaten by human beings rather than fish processing).
Fish farming. The Community has to adopt an ambitious fish farming programme since fish farming is an important tool for the economic development of specific regions, stress the Friends of Fishing countries, noting that it should be taken into account that the Community spends on fish product imports.
Ultraperipheral regions. The specific nature of the problems of ultraperipheral regions, some of which are directly dependent on the fishing industry, must not be overlooked, as was stressed in the Treaty of Nice.