At a breakfast meeting this morning, the environment secretary Hilary Benn and the fisheries minister Huw Irranca-Davies outlined UK priorities for the upcoming reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.
A wide range of stakeholders had gathered at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) this morning to hear the UK Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, and the UK Minister for the Natural and Marine Environment, Wildlife and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MP, outline the priorities of the UK on CFP reform and have a first exchange of views.
In his opening statement, a number of issues were brought forward. The UK would like to see better stock management and deal effectively with the current waste and discarding practices, essentially wanting the sector to “catch less, but land more”. For this a clearer framework and incentives for more sustainable practices is necessary. Secondly, the country would like to see better support for and promotion of small-scale communities dependent on fishing. Thirdly, an integrated approach, handling all marine issues together and going beyond just conserving fish stocks is crucial and is in line with the current national Marine Bill. Fourthly, the Government want to give fishermen and the sector more responsibilities but without any blanket solutions, foreseeing that the ways that this will happen will vary from fishery to fishery. Strategic decisions would still have to be taken at the European level, but other management decisions can hopefully be devolved to regional and/or local levels. This way, the industry would be working out the details of management and implementation together with scientist and other organisations. Finally, Hilary Benn expressed a wish to find a common approach to global governance of fisheries, making them more prosperous, more effective and saving the state money, as outlined in the World Bank/FAO report “The Sunken Billions”.
After a round of questions touching on implementation of ecosystem-based approach, shark conservation, overcapacity and sustainable fish consumption – ie whether the UK Government will be taking the lead in purchasing only fish from sustainable sources for its government agencies – a panel consisting of an environmental NGO, a retailer and sector representatives outlined their priorities for reform.
Overall, there seemed to be much agreement on the general issues, as well as the priorities. The decision-making system and possibilities of devolving management again received particular attention (see notes from the UK conference on reform in June). But the devil is likely to be in the details, which there was not really time to explore.
The breakfast meeting was the starting point of a six-week consultation processs, including a road show visiting Newlyn, Brixham, Fleetwood, Portsmouth, Grimsby and Scarborough, as well as an opportunity for written submissions. The UK Government has produced a short discussion paper with some key questions, but also welcomes responses to the European Commission Green Paper (COM(2009)163) until 26 October 2009. Responses should be sent to cfp@defra.org.uk.
Both the UK Government and the European Commission representative, Mr Reinhard Priebe from DG MARE, emphasized that they are looking to the stakeholders for suggestions and solutions, and that this – NOW – is the time to provide them.
The Commission clearly sees the UK as a supportive force in the reform process, together with some of the other Member States. Both parties emphasized, however, that fundamental reform will not be easy to achieve in negotiations with 27 very different Member States.
For more information:
A UK vision for its fisheries is set out in Fisheries 2027 – a long-term vision for sustainable fisheries published in 2007.