Brussels, 27/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - At the first European Maritime Day on 20 May, the Association des Organisations Nationales d'Entreprises de Pêche de l'UE (Europêche) unveiled the findings of a survey on the image of fisheries. These findings show, among other things, that 75% of those interviewed in five member states (France, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium) had never heard of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
“The results collected reveal that EU consumers have a very poor knowledge of fishing activities, fisheries management, policy and the work of fishermen,” Europêche says in a press release. More than 53% of those interviewed thought that fishing activities had increased over the last 20 years and almost 60% believed that all stocks were declining. Moreover, 44% believed that there was not enough fisheries legislation (not knowing that almost 1,000 texts are currently applicable in the sector). The result in Denmark, where fishermen have been conducting information campaigns on their industry for several years, was a different (34% of people thought there was not enough legislation).
The findings reveal that European citizens have a very poor knowledge of the restrictive measures that apply to fisheries (reduction of total allowable catches and quotas, limitation of days at sea, management plans for certain fisheries, strengthening of technical measures, etc). Similarly, they are unaware that there has been a constant reduction in the number of European fishing vessels (of roughly 30% in the last 10 years).
Professional fishermen conclude, then, that it is imperative to launch a communication strategy to better familiarise EU citizens with the realities of the fisheries sector. (L.C.)