The European Commissions report on Member States’ efforts during 2012 to achieve a sustainable balance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities shows some progress towards achieving a balance with the available fishing opportunities.
Each year the Commission submits a report to the European Parliament and the Council on Member States’ (MS) efforts to achieve a sustainable balance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities during the previous year. It is each MS’s responsibility to achieve stable and long-term balance between the fishing capacity of their fleet and their fishing opportunities, and as such take the necessary measures to ensure such balance. A requirement under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) since 2002 and now under the new CFP as of 2013.
The report is based on Member States’ reports on their efforts to achieve a sustainable balance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities. The latest analysis for the year 2012, shows some progress towards achieving a balance with the available fishing opportunities, although it is clear that more effort is needed to ensure that stocks are managed in accordance with the objective of MSY.
The report shows that the overall fishing capacity of the EU fleet was 16.4% below the capacity ceilings (GT) for tonnage and 10.4 % below the power ceilings (KW). The analysis shows that there are a number of stocks that are being fished above levels corresponding to MSY and that a number of fleets segments are economically dependent on these stocks. As a consequence, there is a need for MS to make necessary fleet capacity adjustment in order to reach the MSY objective of the new CFP.
In addition to the obligation for MS to adjust the fishing capacity of their fleets to their fishing opportunities over time, the new CFP also require MS to, within their reporting, include an action plan for how to achieve balance for the fleet segments which shows structural imbalances as well as provide a clear time frame for implementation. Any proven lack of commitment by MS to work towards a balance between fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities may lead to suspension or pause of relevant EU financial assistance to the MS for certain expenses under the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
Baltic Sea fleet capacity summary
Denmark
- Drop in number of vessels, tonnage as well as in power
- Vessel underutilisation appears to be present in most fleet segments, except in 12-24m beam trawlers and in >40 m demersal trawl and seine vessels.
- Constant economic overcapitalisation was seen in the majority of <12m vessels, economic balance appears to be the case for most of the remaining vessels.
- Between 2005 and 2011 several fleets showed revenue persistently lower than break-even revenue, it is unclear how these vessels continued to operate.
- Vessels <10m using demersal trawls and seines, vessels 10-12m using polyvalent passive gear along with 12-18m beam trawlers were not economically sustainable and were relying on overfished stocks.
Estonia
- Imbalance was reported mainly in trawlers >12 m despite considerable removal of capacity in previous years.
- The fleet was reduced by four Vessels and segment’s power as well as gross tonnage both decreased by 6%.
- The balance for the 1300 or so small vessels fishing inshore for herring, perch and flounder is unclear.
- Improvements in balance are expected followed the introduction of an ITQ system.
- The STECF review indicates that the 10-12m fleet using polyvalent passive gears relied on stocks fished above MSY levels.
Finland
- Steadily decrease in fleet between 1995 and 2012.
- In 2012 there was an increase in tonnage but a decrease in engine power.
- Finland considers its fleet to be in an acceptable balance with its fishing opportunities, but as their reporting was not adequate submitted a clear assessment was not made.
Germany
- The fleet was reduced by 31 vessels in 2012 (with 16 gillnet fishing vessels ˂ 12 m representing the principal reduction in absolute numbers)
- Reduction of more than 4% where seen within the beam trawl and trawl fleets (<=40 m).
- Germany concludes to have a balance between its capacity and its fishing opportunities
- The STECF review indicates that most fleet segments rely on overfished stocks.
- Economic sustainability is unclear for the; i) 10-12m passive gear ii) 12-18m demersal trawl and seine, iii) 24-40m fixed net as well as iv) >40m trawl and seine nets.
Lithuania
- Fleet reductions by 3 vessels in 2012, with reductions in capacity of 18025 GT (55%) and 19982 KW (53,9 %).
- Fleets mostly exploit stocks that are not overfished and are in balance with the stocks of eastern Baltic cod, herring and sprat.
- The STECF review indicates a low utilisation for all fleets expect for the 24-40m pelagic trawlers.
Latvia
- Shows, since 2004, fleet reductions by 20% and with reductions in capacity of 24% in GT and 31% in KW.
- Latvia considers that the fleet capacity is in balance and that the fisheries are profitable.
- The STECF review indicates that the <10m polyvalent passive gear fleet and the 12-18m pelagic trawlers relies on overfished stocks as well as having low utilisation.
Poland
- Reduction of 8 vessels (250GT and 980KW).
- Unable to determine whether a balance has been achieved or not, but considers all fleets to be economically sustainable except for the 12-18m longline fleet.
- The STECF review indicates that the 12-18 m vessels using hooks are economically unprofitable, and shows low levels of utilisation within all fleets except for the >40m demersal trawl and seine and >40m pelagic trawler segments.
Sweden
- Fleet reductions of 12% between 2008 and 2012.
- Sweden considers its fleets to depend on stocks that are harvested sustainably, and appear economically sustainable.
- Some imbalance can still be noted in some segments.
- The STECF review assessed; i) <18m fixed net vessels to be economically unsustainable, and ii) nine fleets to relay on overfished stocks.