Brussels, 07/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - Addressing the Advisory Committee on Fishing and Aquaculture (ACFA) in Brussels on Thursday 6 December, European Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg said that “our two main priorities” for 2008 will be improving control of activities and a strategy for the sustainable development of European aquaculture. Borg spoke, too, about the main points of his proposals on fishing quotas for 2008, and the problem of the high price of fuel which is “seriously affecting” the sector (see also EUROPE 9559).
Control. On 17 October, the European Commission adopted a communication and a draft regulation combating illegal fishing (a certification scheme governing the import of all fisheries products, strict conditions on access to Community ports and transhipment). The initiatives, which will be presented next year will relate to increasing control of fishing activities to ensure compliance with Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provisions. “The new control rules should be simpler while, at the same time, strengthening the current framework,” Borg told ACFA members. “The enforcement of rules in the fishing industry is not designed to hound the sector,” he said, going on, “on the contrary, I would like us to work together to develop a culture of compliance with measures that are seen as essential to the sustainability of the fishing sector”. In conclusion, Borg referred to the conclusions of the Court of Auditors report on control of CFP rules, and indicated that, “Most of the problems highlighted by the Court are well known to the Commission”.
Aquaculture. The production of fisheries products through aquaculture will have virtually to double by 2030, if the growing demand for seafood is to be satisfied, the Commissioner said. In a context of increasing agricultural prices and renewed concerns over food self-sufficiency, the EU must consider the sustainable development of its aquaculture industry as a “strategic challenge”, said Borg. The new aquaculture strategy will have to “touch upon various policy areas (environment, health, research, markets and trade) … for adoption by the College of Commissioners by the end of next year”.
With regard to proposals on fishing quotas for 2008, Borg pointed out that the 11% increase in cod catches in the North Sea (in most other zones, such as the Celtic Sea, a 25% cut is being proposed: Ed.) had to be linked to reductions in authorised fishing days. Borg also announced that, next year, new recovery plans for endangered species, such as anchovy in the Bay of Biscay and horse mackerel in the Atlantic, would be negotiated. A revision of the cod recovery plan in the Atlantic was also under way and would be discussed next year, he said, too. (L.C.)