Yesterday, the European Parliament brought five years of efforts to reform the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy to near conclusion by adopting the final pieces of legislation in the “reform package” – the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
In May last year, the European Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on the so called basic regulation of the CFP (EU 1380/2013), which was subsequently adopted in December. On 28 January this year, a political agreement was reached on the related European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). This deal was scrutinized and then approved by the EP Fisheries Committee on 7 April, and now adopted by a large majority in the Plenary.
Officially, the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) began on 22 April 2009 with the publication of the Commission’s Green Paper. At this time, FISH and five other civil society organisations had already formed OCEAN2012 – an alliance dedicated to transforming the EU Common Fisheries Policy in order to stop overfishing, end destructive fishing practices and deliver fair and equitable use of healthy fish stocks. Since then, the coalition has grown to 190 members, all working together to convince our decision-makers of the need for a radical reform.
– Yesterday’s Parliament approval of the EMFF marks the formal adoption of historic legislation, which, if effectively implemented, will end EU overfishing, restore fish stocks and provide greater financial support for responsible fisheries management, says Uta Bellion, director of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ EU Marine Programme and co-ordinator of OCEAN2012. OCEAN2012 congratulates the European Parliament, EU fisheries ministers and the European Commission for achieving an historic reform that lays the way for ending EU overfishing.
Great credit now goes to the many civil society groups and EU citizens who sustained support over five years for a fundamental reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, as well as to the forward-looking decision-makers that have fought for it in the European Parliament as well as in the Member States.
However, while the basic regulation includes ambitious targets for ending overfishing and restoring fish stocks, the new fund is less ambitious and will not end all harmful fisheries subsidies. The final text provides more funds for data collection, control and enforcement but it also allows subsidies for measures such as vessel modernisation, which can contribute to overfishing.
Today’s vote, and the end of the reform process itself, now shifts the focus to implementation of the new policy in the Member States, including determining how to use the available funds.
– Considerable leadership and political courage were displayed in securing reform, but this does not guarantee an end to EU overfishing. That requires Member States to set sustainable fishing limits, ending the wasteful practices of bycatch and discarding, as well as choosing to spend the new fund wisely in support of more sustainable fisheries. EU citizens want to see more fish in our waters and healthy oceans, says Niki Sporrong, Director of FISH.
The new maritime and fisheries fund will come into force after its formal confirmation by fisheries ministers and its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.