Brussels, 20/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 18 April, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new Community system for the collection, management and use of fisheries data. The new system will cover the whole process, from the collection of the data in ports or at sea to its use by the end-users, mainly scientists. The proposal differs from the 2000 regulation (Community framework for the collection and management of the data needed to conduct the common fisheries policy) in a number of ways: - in addition to biological, economic and social data, environmental data will also be collected to monitor the impact of fishing activity on the marine ecosystem; - there will be the possibility of imposing financial sanctions when national programmes are not up to standard; - new rules will be brought forward to improve access to data, including access to data such as Vessel Monitoring Satellite (VMS) data; - procedures will be simplified through the establishment of national programmes covering a 3-year period (rather than annual programmes). The average annual Community budget for data collection and scientific advice is €58 million for the period from 2007 to 2013.
The systematic collection of reliable data is a cornerstone of fish stock assessment and scientific advice, and is, consequently, of critical importance for the implementation of the common fisheries policy (CFP), says the Commission. It seeks to address the shortcomings in the current system in order to “provide the scientific community and fisheries managers with the data they need to take more effective management decisions”.
The Commission's proposal sets out a multi-annual Community programme for the collection of biological, environmental and social data relating to: - commercial fishing carried out by Community fishing vessels in Community waters and beyond; - recreational fishing in Community waters; - aquaculture activities within member states and in Community waters; - and fish processing companies.
The first Community programme will cover the period from 2008 to 2010 inclusive. Under the Community programme, every member state will be required to present to, and have accepted by, the Commission a national programme containing biological, environmental, economic and social data. In addition, member states will have to coordinate their national programmes with those of the other member states in the same marine area. They will also have to cooperate with third countries. (lc)