Commission explores tough alternatives to moratorium on cod fishing

Commission Press Release

Brussels, 11 November 2002

Cod crisis: "Commission explores tough alternatives to moratorium on cod fishing", says Franz Fischler.

Franz Fischler, Commissioner responsible for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries warned today in Dublin that there were difficult days ahead for cod fishing.

"We find ourselves between a rock and a hard place.
The advice from our own scientific and economic committee (STECF) is clear: the surest way forward is a closure of the cod and associated fisheries.
However I am exploring other options where fishing for cod, haddock, whiting and other stocks could continue on a very limited level, provided that Ministers agree on an improved recovery plan for cod in December.

This plan would include drastic cuts in TACs and quotas, fishing effort limitations, improved technical measures and controls - but not a moratorium. STECF says that it might be possible to allow reduced fishing under such a plan, once all the necessary information is available.

But let me be clear: this alternative option will also mean some hardships, as the industry will be faced with substantial cuts in catches and effort reduction. We need harsh measures now, because I don't want the fishermen to be traumatised later, like the fishing communities of north east Canada ten years ago, when cod disappeared for good. We will invite representatives from the industry to come to Brussels on 18 November to consult you on our ideas for an improved recovery plan".

On the question of restrictions on access to western waters, Mr Fischler underlined that the Commission was anxious to eliminate any possibility of legal uncertainty.

"The Commission's objective will be to ensure that in line with the EU Treaty, discriminatory restrictions are removed while preventing an increase in fishing effort and preserving fish stocks in those waters."

The Commission's own Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) presented its assessment of ICES advice earlier today. The Commission will now study this assessment before meeting with industry representatives on 18 November to explore the options before it presents its proposals about the measures to be taken for next year. The Commission proposal has then to be adopted by the Council of Ministers.

Mr Fischler said that the alarming state of several cod stocks and other commercially important stocks proved beyond doubt that the CFP had to be profoundly reformed as proposed by the Commission.

"It is obvious that the measures currently used are insufficient for the conservation of species caught in mixed fisheries. With TACs and quotas only, fishing continues even when the quotas for some species have been exhausted. Whether these over-quota fish are discarded or illegally landed, they are dead, defeating the purpose of the conservation measures. This is why effort control is crucial to any effective conservation policy and this is also why we could not contemplate any alternatives to a moratorium without substantial effort limitations".

Mr Fischler declared that the Commission was fully conscious of the potential socio-economic impact of the current situation on some Member States such as Ireland.
The Commission had recently presented an action plan to encourage Member States to use a range of social measures for those affected by stock depletion. They include the reprogramming of € 611 million under the FIFG for early retirement schemes and training programmes for those leaving fisheries, reducing fleet capacity, specific measures in favour of small-scale fishing and young fishermen and upgrading security and hygiene on board vessels.

Commissioner Fischler said that he was not blaming fishermen alone for the current situation. The management system had flaws and managers had to take some share of the blame.
Mr Fischer acknowledged that pollution and rising water temperatures may play a role, too.
"But in the short- to medium-term we can only act on fishing and this is what we need to do", he said.

A new stock conservation policy was urgently needed, Mr Fischler said. The Commission proposed to draw up multi-annual management plans, based on scientific advice. These plans would lay down the level of fishing effort that would form the central element of the fisheries policy. Fishing effort would be monitored using Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS).

Control and enforcement of CFP rules needed to be strengthened as every EU fisherman needed to know that infringements would be equally detected and sanctioned wherever they occurred, Mr Fischler said.

Taking the state of cod as an example, Mr Fischler asked:

"In the current situation, how do you explain to taxpayers that you want to continue using public money to modernise your vessel and thereby put even more pressure on stocks that are already endangered?"

Aid should instead be used to decrease fishing pressure, fund social measures, switch to more selective fishing gear and improve security, working conditions and hygiene conditions on board.

"Contrary to what is often said in Ireland, security will therefore not be compromised and will remain a top priority", Mr Fischler said.

"Stakeholders need to be more involved. This is why the Commission has proposed the setting up of Regional Advisory Councils where fishermen can meet with scientists and other stakeholders to put forward ideas for fisheries management in their area", Mr Fischler stressed.

Background

The Commission presented its first proposals on the reform of the CFP last May. Almost a year ago, it presented a recovery plan for cod and hake in response to a request by the Council.

This proposal has still not been adopted by the Council.

The situation of cod stocks is now so alarming that the measures proposed in this recovery plan are no longer sufficient to ensure their recovery. Any alternative to a moratorium would require agreement on an improved recovery plan for cod.