Brussels, 06/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - In response to the European Commission document on fishing possibilities for 2010, Europêche (Association of National Organisations of Fishing Enterprises in the EU) and the fisheries section of COGECA (General Committee for Agricultural Cooperation in the European Union) highlight the fact that the economic crisis is having a “considerable” impact on the market and say that the reference to the maximum sustainable yield is “excessive”, as the objective has to be reached in 2015, not 2010.
The Commission, they say, depicts the state of resources in a pessimistic and negative way, which “has a negative impact on the image of the sector and creates confusion among the public”. The two want to be allowed to attend STECF (Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries) meetings as observers, since fishermen and scientists should work more closely together and engage in better dialogue.
The Commission is also pessimistic on the economic profitability of the sector, the situation of which continues to worsen for various reasons. On this, Europêche and COGECA underline that, “paradoxically”, as the amount of fish falls, demand generally stagnates and prices at the first sale still stagnate or fall. The organisations call on the Commission to seek solutions to this problem, especially within the framework of the CMO (Common Market Organisation). The industry is unhappy that the long-expected CMO reform has been postponed, while the reform of controls has been “precipitated”.
Europêche and COGECA say they support “a progressive reduction of discards, fishery by fishery, by means of pilot projects involving the sector”. They are concerned by the Commission's intention to adopt a general ban on upgrading. Such a ban, they believe, would be premature at this stage, given its various implications (logistics at the harbour if all landings are to be accepted, for example).
With regard to the effort management system based on ceilings expressed in KW-days, which would lead to freezing development of the fleet, Europêche and COGECA regret that the system does not give consideration to the possibility of changing to more selective and less energy-consuming fishing gear. As it is drafted, Annex II of the regulation on Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas runs counter to such a development. Lastly, Europêche and COGECA share the Commission's concern over applying different rules on TACs and quotas according to how endangered the stock is. By creating a certain way of systemising the adoption of decisions, however, the Commission reduces the opportunity for the industry to be closely involved in management decisions. (L.C./transl.rt)