The Commission’s first package on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) includes some significant improvements, but is not the radical proposal that was expected. Most of the positive changes relate to the conservation aspects of the policy.
The proposal for a new basic Regulation makes the internationally agreed targets for the recovery of fish stocks – reaching levels above and beyond MSY by 2015 – a legal obligation and could see the end of overfishing in EU waters, if it receives the support from the European Parliament and the EU Member States. However, the proposal fails to adequately recognize the need for a healthy marine ecosystem as a prerequisite for viable fisheries and does not commit decisions on fishing opportunities to follow scientific advice.
It is also encouraging to see the emphasis on higher selectivity and that the proposal partially addresses the wasteful practice of discarding. The move towards catch quotas instead of landing quotas is a very positive one, but a full discard ban would have been better than the piece-meal approach taken by the Commission, applying the ban to only a few species. This will not address the bycatch of non-commercial species, nor tackle discarding of some species in mixed fisheries.
The most radical element of the proposal is the mandatory requirement to use transferable fishing concessions (TFCs) to regulate access to resources. While this may help to reduce overcapacity in the EU fleet, it is a blanket application of a single tool. TFCs are not a conservation tool, and will not ensure sustainable fisheries without a number of other measures, including strict fishing limits and a high level of control and enforcement.
The proposal also fails to ensure that capacity reduction is addressed in a qualitative way, i.e. that the most unsustainable and damaging vessels are removed from the fleet, unless it is carefully implemented together with access criteria promoting environmentally and socially responsible fishing.
TFCs should only ever be implemented within a framework of proper criteria and safeguards, rewarding those who fish in the most sustainable manner. As it stands now, it will be up to Member States to consider these aspects, while the application and time frame of the concessions are set out at EU level.
Finally, in terms of aquaculture, the promotion and development suggested by the Commission may lead to the same problems of over-establishment, environmental effects and poor profitability as in the catching sector. The reformed CFP must ensure that aquaculture develops to be a net producer of fish protein, and does not rely on or lead to the overexploitation of feed fisheries, if it is to contribute to future food security.
The proposed legislation has now been forwarded to the European Parliament and to the Council of Ministers for further negotiation and amendments, following the ordinary legislative procedure. The final result is not expected before mid-2013.
As one of the founding members of OCEAN2012 – an alliance of organisations dedicated to transforming European fisheries policy to stop overfishing, end destructive fishing practices and deliver fair and equitable use of healthy fish stocks – FISH will continue to engage in the process leading up to the final decision on CFP reform, together with our partners in the Baltic Sea region.