The European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee has adopted a report on CFP reform that admits that “ecological sustainability is the basic premise also for the economic and social future”, the report however immediately quashed by a key NGO as a “missed opportunity”.
The report, based on compromise amendments agreed by rapporteur and political groups shortly before the vote, was approved in committee with 15 votes in favour and 9 against.
The report will next be up for a vote in the Parliament as a whole, and will then be part of the consultation process following the Commission’s Green Paper on the upcoming 2012 reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
The report adopted by the Fisheries Committee (PECH) calls for regionalisation of the decision-making process, but also stresses the need for participation of “professionals” and other stakeholders. Whilst rejecting “any attempt to adopt a single Community fisheries management model”, they nonetheless warn against jeopardizing equality of opportunity for fishermen.
It asks the Commission to consider “carefully” possible new management models to complement the system of total allowable catches (TACs). “Where appropriate”, these models could include limiting fishing periods or transferable fishing rights, which could be introduced on “voluntary basis”.
Environmental organisations were less than impressed, and rather stressed what was not in the report, PECH not sufficiently prioritising sustainability.
“Today the Fisheries Committee missed an opportunity to demonstrate clear support for an effective reform of the Common Fisheries Policy ensuring healthy fish stocks and vibrant coastal communities”, Uta Bellion, OCEAN2012 co-ordinator for the Pew Environment Group’s European Marine Programme, said in a statement.
OCEAN2012 is an alliance of organisations dedicated to transforming European Fisheries Policy with FISH as one of five founding members.