Brussels, 08/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 9 January 2007, the European Commission is due to adopt a report confirming the continued reduction in the EU fishing fleet, particularly as a result of current cod, hake and sole recovery measures. It also notes an increase in fishing capacity removed thanks to public aid (national and Community) for fishermen to decommission their vessels. The Commission concludes, however, that this reduction in fishing effort seems relatively slight if account is taken of the great pressure on most Community fisheries, particularly for demersal species (those which live close to the sea floor, such as cod, hake, sole, haddock and sandeel).
6,500 fewer vessels in three years in EU15
According to information provided by Member States, the number of fishing vessels in the EU15 has gone from 83,965 on 1 January 2003 to 77,737 at the end of 2005, a 7.4% fall (6,300 vessels) in three years. Between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2004, the fall was 5% (4,283 vessels) indicating that the EU fishing fleet had lost a little over 2,000 vessels in 2005 (see EUROPE 9102 for last year's report). The largest decreases were recorded by those Member States most affected by cod protection measures (Kattegat, North Sea and Skagerrak, West Scotland, Eastern Channel, Irish Sea) and those fishing in the Baltic Sea. The Danish fleet shrank by 15% between 2003 and 2005 (from 3,815 vessels to 3,270), the Irish fleet was reduced by 12% (from 1,592 vessels to 1,402) and 14% of the Swedish fleet was lost. The British fleet fell by 8.8% (from 7,424 vessels to 6,767). The Spanish fleet lost more than 1,000 vessels (-8%) between 2003 and 2005, especially because of northern hake, hake and Iberian Peninsula prawn recovery plans. Italy was the EU15 Mediterranean country which lost most vessels (-8.5%, from 15,767 vessels to 14,419).
In the new EU Member States, the fleet contracted by 17% between 1 May 2004 (the date of their accession) and 31 December 2005, from 6,867 vessels to 5,695. The countries most affected were Malta (-37%), Poland (-24%) and Lithuania (-11%).
6% reduction in tonnage and 7% reduction in engine power in EU15
According to the Commission report, the overall capacity of the EU15 fleet fell by 117,000 GT (gross tonnage) and by 499,000 kW (kilowatts) between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2005, equivalent to a 6.27% reduction in tonnage and a 7.28% reduction in the EU15 fleet's engine power. In terms of tonnage, the countries most affected are the Netherlands (-15.3%), Finland (-14.2%), Denmark (-11.9%) and the United Kingdom (-9.4%). In terms of power, leading those most affected were the Netherlands (-16.7%), Denmark (-11.4%), Finland (-9.8%) and Greece (-9.6%). The Spanish fleet lost 3% of its capacity in tonnage, and more than 8% in power. The net reduction in 2005 was 50,000 GT, compared with 23,000 GT in 2004 and 44,000 GT in 2003.
Among the new Member States, the fleet capacity fell by 41,000 GT and 101,000 kW, a drop of 18% in tonnage (with Poland falling by 36%) and of 18% in power (with Poland suffering a 30% fall) in their fleets between 1 May 2004 and the end of 2005.
Destruction of vessels and entry-exit scheme
In 2003, 2004 and 2005, approximately 132,000 GT and 427,000 kW were removed from the EU fleet through the use of public aid (capacity which, under the terms of the December 2002 reform, cannot be replaced). The majority (112,000 GT and 373,000 kW) of these removals thanks to subsidies came from the 15 older Member States. In addition, the information received by the Commission shows that by 31 December 2005, all Member States had respected the entry-exit (of vessels in the fleet) scheme and reference levels. The only exception was Greece, which is still not complying with the “tonnage” section of the entry-exit scheme. The maximum tonnage was exceeded by only 0.29% by Greece.
Outermost regions
The report reveals that the fleet registered in the outermost regions of Spain (the Canary Islands) and Portugal (the Azores and Madeira) fell considerably between 2003 and 2005, both in terms of tonnage and power. A slight drop in the total number of vessels and their tonnage, and an increase in their power were recorded in the French Overseas Departments (Reunion, Martinique and Guadeloupe). Out of the seventeen segments in the outermost regions, in 2005, one exceeded its reference level in terms of power (“4FJ” vessels, less than twelve metres in Martinique) and another exceeded its reference level in terms of tonnage (“CA3” segment for vessels of over twelve metres registered in the Canary Islands and operating in international and third country waters).
Effects of the fishing effort reduction regimes
In 2005, the Member States implemented various measures to achieve a better balance between the resources available and the fishing fleets: reductions in fleet capacity, limitations on the number of fishing days, restrictions on access to resources, limits to the number of fishing licences issued, and reduction in fishing quotas. In 2005, all of the Member States declared that they were gradually reducing fleet capacity, both in terms of gross tonnage and kilowatts, achieved mainly by dint of vessel decommissioning programmes. Certain Member States, such as France, Belgium, Ireland, Spain and Italy, have also declared that the increase in fuel prices in 2005 also played a major role in reducing their fishing effort.
All Member States which fish in the zones in which there are species reconstitution plans (Kattegat, North Sea, Skagerrak, western Scotland, the eastern English Channel, the Irish Sea for cod, the Cantabrian Sea and the Iberian peninsular for hake and lobster, sole and hake in the Bay of Biscay), and those carrying out their activities in the Baltic Sea have been (more or less) affected by fishing effort reduction measures (limiting the number of days spent at sea by boats):
Denmark: the Danish fleet lost 12% of its days at sea due to cod protection measures.
Ireland: as well as the fishing effort reduction measures associated with the plan for the reconstitution of cod stocks in the Irish Sea and western Scotland, Irish fishermen are also observing a general mechanism to control fishing effort, which is applicable to deep-sea species and fishing for crabs and great scallops). In 2005, the country launched a new plan to get rid of 25% of the oldest vessels, the largest vessels and those most active in fishing for deep-sea species and the removal of the surplus capacity of the fishing fleet for great scallops. 22 vessels left the fleet in 2005 under this regime.
Netherlands: landing possibilities for plaice have declined sharply in recent years. The authorities and the sector have therefore taken initiatives to face up to this reality, with the decommissioning of 29 vessels and a reduction of the fleet of cutters (small ships), which made it possible to achieve a better balance between fleet and fishing possibilities. In 2005, the number of kW/days of the Dutch cutter fleet in the stock reconstitution plans own of the North Sea was reduced by 15% on 2004 levels.
Finland: a regime for the reduction of fishing capacity was drawn up, as there were too many vessels catching herring and sprat and because of the ban on the use of drift nets in the Baltic Sea. Finland has withdrawn 1378 GT and 6025 kW from the fleet, with the help of public aid. Fishing effort for the deep-sea fleet reduced by 15% between 2003 and 2005. Fishing with the aid of towed nets and static gear targeting deep-sea species (mainly cod) dropped by some 79% in 2005 (but relates only to a very small number of vessels). The largest reduction in fishing effort (-88%) concerns fishing for salmon, trout and freshwater species.
Sweden: thanks to multi-annual management and stock reconstitution plans in the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, fishing capacity has gradually reduced. The introduction of obligatory selective trawl nets depending on the size and restriction on coastal trawl and seiner fishing has increased the reduction in capacity still further. Special fishing licences for cod in the Baltic Sea curtailed the capacity for fishing for this species. Furthermore, purse seine fishing has been banned in two fjords. Possibilities for deep-sea herring fishing have also been scaled down and no further licences for coastal fishing have been granted to the largest deep-sea fishing vessels. Deep-sea trawl net fishing has been banned in zones of particular interest to basket-trap fishermen. Sweden has indicated that a greater reduction in its capacity is required in order to achieve a balance between capacity and fishing possibility.
Belgium: the activities of the fleet in 2005 covered the North Sea, the western waters and the Bay of Biscay. In each of these regions, the fleet was obliged to respect a reconstitution plan or a stock management plan (with the exception of the prawn fishing fleet). The national regime also provided for restrictions on the total number of days at sea authorised for each vessel per year.
Germany: the fishing effort reduction regimes have only had a limited impact on the fishing capacity of the German fleet, which operates mainly in the Baltic Sea. This country's fleet is considered to be well-adapted to the economic conditions of the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and to the problems of reduced availability of certain fish resources. For this reason, the German authorities have not been obliged to take measures to reduce their fleet.
Spain: this country has implemented measures to renew and modernise its fleet. Management of market entries and departures has helped to reduce fishing effort to a certain extent. In 2005, Spain imposed two plans on its fishermen, in the zones of the Gulf of Cadiz (reduction of trawl net and purse seine fishing activities). Limiting the number of days has helped to reduce fishing effort by around 32% on previous years.
France: Continental France's fleet capacity remained stable in 2005. No public decommissioning aid was granted. A new vessel destruction regime was planned for 2006 for the fleet targeting over-fished species. Limitations on fishing effort provided for by Community legislation affect around 850 vessels, but there was no actual reduction in capacity in 2005.
Portugal: the fleet was affected by restrictions to seine fishing (sardines), the reconstitution plans for southern hake, the reconstitution plan for Greenland halibut and decreasing quotas for deep-sea species. For the latter, Portugal used a licence system aiming to limit access by vessels to fishing in deep waters. 25 vessels have been removed from this segment of the continental fleet, representing a reduction of 5011 GT and 10123 kW.
Greece: there are no management or stock reconstitution plans for Mediterranean fishing. However, the government has applied readjustment measures to fleet capacity.
Italy: the downward trend in landings in 2005 can be put down to the reduction both the number of vessels and the level of activity. Taking the increased price of fuel into account, many operators have had to limit their fishing effort in order to contain their operating costs. The plan to reduce fishing capacity by dint of public aid saw some good results in 2005, as in previous years.
Cyprus: two demersal trawlers have been retired and two vessels given to local museums. In total, 2864 GT and 5423 kW have been definitively retired from the fleet.
Poland: due to the reduction in possibilities to land cod in the Baltic Sea, Poland has decided to destroy 270 vessels. The permanent withdrawal from fishing capacity stood at 15564 GT and 42237 kW.
Latvia: in 2005, 31 vessels were retired with public aid, due to the poor state of cod stocks in the Baltic Sea. The capacity of cod fishing vessels was reduced by 11%.
Lithuania: in 2005, the capacity of fishing vessels operating in the Baltic Sea and along the Lithuanian coast was reduced by 1576 GT and 3104 kW, due to vessel decommissioning financed by public aid. A reduction of 22% in the capacity of fishing vessels operating in the Baltic Sea led to an increase in fishing quotas for the remaining fishing boats. (lc)