EUROPEAN CETACEAN BYCATCH CAMPAIGN
"Man is but a strand in the complex web of life"
"Man is but a strand in the complex web of life"
Commission calls for urgent improvement as report shows substantial increase in breaches to CFP rules in 2003
European Commission Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
30th May 2005
The publication, today, of the European Commission’s fourth annual report on serious breaches to the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) ( ~ 172 Kb), shows that the number of such detected breaches went up from 6,756 in 2002 to 9,502 in 2003 (see press release). These figures, based on reports from Member States, show that despite substantial strides towards greater participation of stakeholders in the fisheries management process and action to strengthen enforcement, more needs to be done to deter potential rule breakers.
However, the figures also underline a persistent weakness in the quality and uniformity of the collection and report of the relevant data by Member States which makes any solid comparison and assessment difficult. This is why the Commission will consult Member States on ways to improve data collection on the detection and follow up of the 19 serious breaches of the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), identified in March 1999, and the sending of data to the Commission. The aim of the measure was to increase transparency in order to strengthen fishermen’s confidence in the fair and uniform application of the rules throughout the Union so as to encourage better compliance. Again, the report shows the substantial differences between the average penalties applied, from € 282 in Finland to € 77,922 in the UK. There is, however, an increase in the average fines from € 1,757 to € 4,664 in 2003, though the amount remains too low to represent an effective deterrent. Indeed, the amount of penalties in 2002 represented no more than 4/1000 of the value of fish landings that year.
“Better compliance with the rules is at the heart of sustainable fisheries. Far from being a harmless practice, infringing the CFP rules has a biological, economic and social cost. This is why all those truly committed to sustainable fisheries have to do their best to apply the CFP rules and to have them applied by others.” Joe Borg, Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, said.
According to the report, 5 Member States detected 88% of reported infringements: Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece and France. The first three, which have the biggest number of vessels, reported most cases. Unauthorised fishing represents 22% of cases while fishing without a licence amounts to 17%. A penalty was applied in 84% of cases. The amount varies substantially from € 375 in Belgium to € 19,255 in the UK for unauthorised fishing, for example. In 4,720 cases, the seizure of the fishing gear was ordered.
The Commission believes that an administrative sanction, such as the suspension of a fishing licence, may be an effective way to encourage compliance as it could be quickly applied. It regrets, therefore, that the majority of Member States do not use this tool more often.
The sometimes substantial disparities in data are due to a number of reasons including the fact that some may include recreational fishing and other fishing activities not covered by the CFP. With regard to fines, some of the data relate to cases where the reported amounts probably include the value of the confiscated gear or catches which should have been reported separately.
More uniform and effective enforcement of the rules was identified by stakeholders as one of the priorities of the December 2002 CFP reform. Greater transparency is crucial to this process which will also be strengthened by the EU Fisheries Control Agency, to be based in Vigo, Spain, and the Regional Advisory Councils.
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European Commission Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
30th May 2005
The publication, today, of the European Commission’s fourth annual report on serious breaches to the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) ( ~ 172 Kb), shows that the number of such detected breaches went up from 6,756 in 2002 to 9,502 in 2003 (see press release). These figures, based on reports from Member States, show that despite substantial strides towards greater participation of stakeholders in the fisheries management process and action to strengthen enforcement, more needs to be done to deter potential rule breakers.
However, the figures also underline a persistent weakness in the quality and uniformity of the collection and report of the relevant data by Member States which makes any solid comparison and assessment difficult. This is why the Commission will consult Member States on ways to improve data collection on the detection and follow up of the 19 serious breaches of the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), identified in March 1999, and the sending of data to the Commission. The aim of the measure was to increase transparency in order to strengthen fishermen’s confidence in the fair and uniform application of the rules throughout the Union so as to encourage better compliance. Again, the report shows the substantial differences between the average penalties applied, from € 282 in Finland to € 77,922 in the UK. There is, however, an increase in the average fines from € 1,757 to € 4,664 in 2003, though the amount remains too low to represent an effective deterrent. Indeed, the amount of penalties in 2002 represented no more than 4/1000 of the value of fish landings that year.
“Better compliance with the rules is at the heart of sustainable fisheries. Far from being a harmless practice, infringing the CFP rules has a biological, economic and social cost. This is why all those truly committed to sustainable fisheries have to do their best to apply the CFP rules and to have them applied by others.” Joe Borg, Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, said.
According to the report, 5 Member States detected 88% of reported infringements: Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece and France. The first three, which have the biggest number of vessels, reported most cases. Unauthorised fishing represents 22% of cases while fishing without a licence amounts to 17%. A penalty was applied in 84% of cases. The amount varies substantially from € 375 in Belgium to € 19,255 in the UK for unauthorised fishing, for example. In 4,720 cases, the seizure of the fishing gear was ordered.
The Commission believes that an administrative sanction, such as the suspension of a fishing licence, may be an effective way to encourage compliance as it could be quickly applied. It regrets, therefore, that the majority of Member States do not use this tool more often.
The sometimes substantial disparities in data are due to a number of reasons including the fact that some may include recreational fishing and other fishing activities not covered by the CFP. With regard to fines, some of the data relate to cases where the reported amounts probably include the value of the confiscated gear or catches which should have been reported separately.
More uniform and effective enforcement of the rules was identified by stakeholders as one of the priorities of the December 2002 CFP reform. Greater transparency is crucial to this process which will also be strengthened by the EU Fisheries Control Agency, to be based in Vigo, Spain, and the Regional Advisory Councils.
Top