Brussels, 26/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 25 May, EU fisheries ministers debated the European Commission's ideas in the green Paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The issues which are proving most divisive are the arrangements for managing fishing quotas and the ban on discards.
Denmark holds the view that transferable fishing rights (which may be bought and sold) make it easier for the fishing fleet to adapt, and is supported in this by the Netherlands and Estonia, in particular. Several ministers, including those of France, Ireland, Portugal and Italy, however, highlighted the unwanted effects of privatising fishing rights (concentrating rights in the hands of powerful companies, industrialisation, disappearance of small-scale, coastal fishing, etc). Spain has not adopted a clear-cut position on transferable quotas, but once again argued for a change in current arrangements for sharing fishing possibilities among member states (relative stability).
Denmark has set out its stance on the banning of discards (see EUROPE 9901). To summarise, it wants quotas of fish caught (rather than quotas of fish landed in ports) and to increase catch limits, with the addition of an estimate for discards. Germany, too, wants to see an end to discards, while a number of other countries, including France, Spain and Belgium, would like to delay any decision. European Maritime Affairs Commissioner Joe Borg said that the Commission is hoping to extend the ban on discards to all Community waters from 2010 (there has been a ban on discards in the North Sea only, since 2009). With regard to governance, several ministers argued that the Council should retain decision-making powers over the most important CFP issues. This is only the start of discussions on reform. Formal proposals from the Commission are not expected before next year, and Council decisions will be taken in 2011 or even early in 2012. (L.C./transl.rt)