On 17 December, after a difficult negotiation session ending at around 3:00am, the Fisheries Ministers of the European Council decided on the fishing possibilities for 2012 for EU stocks in the North Sea and the Atlantic. Despite assurances expressed by Commissioner Maria Damanaki, that ‘we have a happy end’ after the quota haggling, not enough progress has been made to ensure MSY is reached by 2015 for all stocks.
The results of the negotiations were neither consistent with following scientific advice nor with ensuring long-term sustainability of EU fisheries. According to CFP Reform Watch, the Council increased the total allowable catches (TACs) in 79% of the EU water stocks when compared to the Commission Proposals, which have been set in line with scientific advice for most stocks. Seas at Risk reports, the Council followed the Commission proposal for only 14 EU fish stocks out of 75. It has already been determined that MSY can be reached by 2015 (more specifically, the fishing mortality target, Fmsy), yet true commitment has yet to emerge for making reductions in catch levels in line with scientific advice.
It should be highlighted that prior to the Fisheries Council meeting, the Commission and Norway has agreed that the TAC for North Sea herring should be increased by more than 100% thereby abandoning the rule stipulated by the long-term management plan for the stock, where only a maximum of 15% increase in TAC should be allowed.
In the end however, the Fisheries Ministers went along with this proposal, in effect breaking the rules of the long-term management plan. This has set a very dangerous precedent for other stocks covered by long-term management plans (i.e.: cod). At a press conference Commissioner Damanaki said that Fisheries Ministers were ‘successful in keeping the long term management plans’ and agreed to ‘implement (them) in good cooperation’. Clearly this has not been the case for the North Sea herring.
Striking a balance between the need of the fisheries sector and the conservation of stocks, were deemed the most important issues at this Fisheries Council session according to the Polish Undersecretary of State of Agriculture, Tadeusz Nalewajk. Ironically, decisions relating to our limited fisheries resources are being made frivolously by setting fishing limits at unsustainable levels to guarantee jobs for fishermen. With such short-sighted perspective for most stocks today, the prognoses for ensuring fishermen have something to fish out, and consumers have fish to eat, does not look promising.
“Ministers remain under the illusion that overfishing will somehow save jobs. This disregard for scientific advice and for international commitments will undermine the future of the fishing industry and does not bode well for the ongoing reform of the Common Fisheries Policy”, said Dr. Monica Verbeek, Executive Director of Seas At Risk (SAR), in a press release.
While Maria Damanaki claims a ‘very good compromise’ has been reached, and that ‘there is a better climate referring to good cooperation, control and compliance’ (press conference), more ambitious decisions need to be taken by the Council next year, which are in line with scientific advice and ensure long-term sustainability of our fish stocks.