Brussels, 03/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - During September (probably on the 15th) the European Commission is expected to adopt an Action Plan for managing Mediterranean fishing which will complete the conservation of resources section of the proposed reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). One of the other written procedures soon to be adopted as part of reform of the CFP is a Communication on the development of fish farming in Europe. The eagerly awaited Communication on the social, economic and regional consequences of restructuring the EU's fishing industry is expected to be published at the end of the year since the Commission and Member States are continuing consultations over the issue.
To improve the management of fishing in the Mediterranean, the Commission will propose a series of action such as: Member States studying coordinated initiatives for determining larger fish protection zones; managing migratory fish stocks and other shared stocks of some pelagic and demersal fish at Community level; reviewing the current technical conservation measures (reviewing mesh size and minimum size of fish for landing); management programmes based on restricting fishing (of shared stocks); extending cooperation between fishermen's associations; national management within the 12 mile zone; and Community initiatives for strengthening international cooperation in managing fishing in the region through the relevant regional organisations.
Although the fish stock situation seems to be less concerning in the Mediterranean than in the Baltic or in the North Sea, the Commission notes that the available scientific data for the region are not complete (particularly for large prawns, red tuna from the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, white tuna and swordfish) and a large number of important fish stocks are overfished there. This is the case for hake (in the waters off Northern Spain, the Gulf of Lions, the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas, in Corsica, Sardinia, the Adriatic and the North-West Ionian), anchovy in the Spanish regions of Catalonia, Valencia and Alicante, mullet, nephrop and swordfish (swordfish stocks were last checked in 1995 but the rate of fishing, the expected high number of small fry caught and warning signs from fishing are factors of concern in the Commission's view).
The Commission's aim in terms of the fish processing and farming industries is to encourage research, set up an appropriate environment and lay down health standards. To this end, the Commission will be proposing a strategy with a view to: create jobs, particularly in areas dependant on fishing; implement common standards for organic fish farming to ensure distorted competition does not arise (since current EU legislation on organic farming does not cover fish from fish farms); adapting EU legislation on fish diseases to take account of recent changes in fishing methods, technology and management systems; setting up measures to ensure the welfare, biological needs and health of fish in fish farms; and introduce measures to cut sea pollution (euthrophisation caused by products fed to fish) and other measures to prevent the introduction and escape of non-native species.
Another Action Plan will also be adopted on improving scientific advice, in which the Commission will suggest to set up (in the long-term) a European centre for fish assessment and management which will bring together scientific expertise at Community level.