The Commission recently published a leaflet as well as several non-papers which provide some detail behind their thinking for the CFP reform proposals. They argue that because “our vessels are catching more fish than can be safely reproduced…(and) the fishing industry is experiencing smaller catches”, a radical reform is necessary.
In order to bring fish stocks back to sustainable levels, the Commission proposals seek to manage fish stocks at or beyond MSY by 2015, in line with the EU’s international commitments. Moreover, support for small-scale fisheries, a discard ban for commercial stocks and multiannual plans are cornerstones of their plans.
Plans for transferable fishing concessions (TFCs), which have been described as the privatisation of the oceans, as well as large new subsidies to increase the capacity of the European aquaculture industry are amongst the more controversial policies being pursued by the Commission.