Brussels, 11/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Monday whilst on a visit to London to present his reform proposals for the Common Fishing Policy (CFP), Commissioner Franz Fischler pointed out that with the expiry of the transition period for Spain and Portugal means that access to the North Sea will be open to all Member States (from 1 January 2003). He then went on to reassure British fishermen that there would be certain dispensations to free access, such as the 12-mile zone off the Scottish coast and the Shetland Box, that would be maintained in order to protect stocks. The Commissioner defended his proposals for reform of a sector that is often seen as being politically sensitive. All EU fleets will be effected by the state of stocks targeted in this reform, he explained, but "at the same time, fishing effort isn't going down, but up and it yields less and less".
Mr Fischler pointed out that the Commission strategy aimed to set up multi-annual management plans of stocks of fish threatened with extinction (cod in the North Sea, the West of Scotland and in the Irish Sea and hake in these areas and to the South of Ireland and in the eastern Channel). The Commissioner also congratulated the fishermen for their sea trials currently underway to prevent incidental catches of cetaceans and non-targeted species in fishing nets. To ensure a level-playing field, the Commission would propose measures to reduce such by-catches, minimise discards and protect sea birds, he explained.
Mr Fischler said, "once a vessel is scrapped with public money it cannot be replaced. If someone wants to introduce a new vessel, he can do so with private money but only after taking out at least an equivalent capacity, also with private money. Public aid will only be used to reduce fishing pressure, invest in security and hygiene on board, change to more selective fishing techniques or for social measures". As the UK authorities decided a number of years ago to end the allocation of aid for fleet renewal, Mr Fischler said that as a result of the reform, UK fishermen would be on an equal footing with their EU counterparts as competition would no longer be distorted by subsidies.
Mr Fischler said that, "once a vessel is scrapped with public money it cannot be replaced. If someone wants to introduce a new vessel, he can do so with private money but only after taking out at least an equivalent capacity, also with private money. Public aid will only be used to reduce fishing pressure, invest in security and hygiene on board, change to more selective fishing techniques or for social measures". As the UK authorities decided a number of years ago to end the allocation of aid for fleet renewal, Mr Fischler said that as a result of the reform, UK fishermen would be on an equal footing with their EU counterparts as competition would no longer be distorted by subsidies.