Representing a majority of fishing jobs around the Mediterranean, artisanal fishermen from four nations have launched a common platform to promote more sustainable fisheries.
Small-scale fishermen from France, Greece, Italy and Spain had gathered in the port of Arenys de Mar in Catalonia, Spain, to stake out common ground in light of the upcoming reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
A recent study concluded that some 89 per cent of the assessed stocks in the region were overfished and in decline. Seen in that context, environmentalists often point out that the artisanal fishing sector often uses low impact gears and practices that yield highly priced harvests by local markets.
“Our new platform will provide artisanal fishers with a strong and permanent voice in fisheries discussion forums, and will also enable small-scale fishermen from across the Mediterranean to get our heads together and share experiences and best practice,” said Ramon Tarridas, an artisanal fisherman from Spain and the elected manager of the new association.
In a press statement, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) welcomed the new organisation “that provides a voice and a platform to this historic and crucial sector of European fisheries”.
“For too long artisanal fishers, especially in the Mediterranean region, have been sidelined by the powerful big industry players whose lobby on EU decision-makers is all too successful,” said Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at WWF Mediterranean.
“WWF throws its full support behind this unique initiative in the region and encourages more artisanal fishers’ groups to join up – the more fishers represented, the louder the voice and the greater the chance of being heard.”
On the EU level, more than 70 NGOs, fishermen’s organisations and other stakeholders gathered in La Coruña, Spain, a year ago to sign a declaration calling for the European Union to put small-scale coastal fisheries “at the heart of the CFP reform”.