Brussels, 06/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 4 November, the European Commission adopted a report on serious infringements to the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in 2006. The report shows that the number of infringements detected by member states that year was down slightly. The Commission has called for stronger and more harmonised sanctions against those caught breaking the rules. On 14 November, European Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg will present a legislative proposal to reform the regulation on fisheries control.
According to the Commission report, member states detected a total of 10,362 serious infringements, down 1% from 2005. Yet, between 2005 and 2006, the total number of vessels in the EU fell by 10%. Serious infringements numbered 7,298 in 2000, 8,139 in 2001, 6,756 in 2002, 9,502 in 2003, 9,660 in 2004 and 10,443 in 2005. Italy (3,868 infringements for 14, 093 vessels), Spain 2,061 infringements for 13,357 vessels), France (1,360 infringements for 7,698 vessels) and Portugal (1,352 infringements for 8,715 vessels) detected 83% of infringements. In 2006, 20% of serious infringements related to storage, processing, marketing or transport of fisheries products in conditions that did not meet the commercialisation standards in place; 18% related to unauthorised fishing, 13% to falsification or failing to record data, and 10% to failure to comply with rules on minimum sizes. The number of cases involving interfering with the VMS (satellite-based vessel monitoring system) rose sharply. In 2006, 7,973 proceedings resulted in sanctions being imposed. This represents 77% of the total number of recorded infringements, down on the 83% of the previous year. The average fine imposed in the EU after proceedings which resulted in sanctions was €1,548 in 2006, the same as in 2005. The average sanction varied from €170 in Slovenia to some €6,070 in Belgium. The Commission also notes that only 10% of cases (1,082) resulted in withdrawals of licence. This measure was used more in Greece and Spain. The total amount paid by the fishing sector in sanctions in 2006 (€9.281 million) remains “negligible” and affected only 0.04% of fishing vessels in service.
“This incongruity in the level of penalties allows the fishing industry to consider disbursements imposed for infringements to the CFP rules simply as an ordinary running cost of the enterprise and this removes any real incentive for them to comply,” the report states. The Commission suggests inter alia that the suspension of licences to fish or to carry out a professional activity should be used more commonly. It notes considerable differences among member states in the sanctions imposed for the same type of serious infringement and highlights that, overall, sanctions do not provide a sufficient deterrent.
The Commission, therefore, intends to launch an “ambitious reform” of the EU policy for fisheries control. The aim is to prevent one country's fishermen “migrating” to another country where sanctions are less severe. The Commission also proposes to develop a new harmonised approach to inspections and control, strengthen the effectiveness of cross checking systems of data, enhance its capacity to ensure compliance with CFP rules, encourage the use of modern technologies and, finally, foster a culture of compliance. (L.C./transl.rt)