A new report shows a clear link between overfishing and EU subsidies.
The study, released by Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management, a consulting firm, and the Pew Environment Group, shows how between 2000-2006 ten member states were handed 93 percent of €4.9billion in fisheries subsidies.
“Of the funding analysed, 29 percent went to measures that would result in increased fishing pressure, whereas 17 percent was spent on measures known to support healthy fisheries”, said Tim Huntington of Poseidon Aquatic Resource.
The European Commission has identified fleet overcapacity as the principal failure of the current Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) was the EU program that set out the policy priorities and the terms of assistance for the fisheries and aquaculture sector for the period 2000-06. The Poseidon/Pew report is a shadow evaluation of the fallouts of it.
Key findings from the study include:
- Construction and modernisation – Almost 3,000 new vessels were constructed and nearly 8,000 were modernised with FIFG funds.
- Scrapping – Twice as much funding went for the scrapping of small (less than 12 meters) vessels than for their modernisation and construction. Vessels over 24 meters received significantly more monies for modernisation and construction than for scrapping.
- Environmental impact – The construction and modernisation of vessels enables overfishing of several key European fish stocks, such as Southern hake, monkfish, sharks and prawns.
For the current funding cycle (2007-2013), subsidies are allocated by the European Fisheries Fund. Its tighter disclosure criteria make a similar allocation study impossible.
“Transparency has been removed with the new funding instrument. The public have a right to know what they have funded,” said Markus Knigge, policy and research director at the Pew Environment Group.
“Fish stocks are a public resource that the European Commission and member states are responsible for managing sustainably on our behalf. Instead public monies have funded overfishing, with devastating effects on the marine environment and fisheries dependent communities.”
The study shows that almost half, or 46 percent, of the EU subsidies over 2000-2006 went to Spain, with Italy second at eleven percent.