Commission outlines reform to give the EU fisheries sector a

Sea Fish Industry Authority
serving the UK Seafood Industry

EU Fisheries Policy: Commission outlines reform to give the EU fisheries sector a future
Following intense consultations with stakeholders, the European Commission unveiled an ambitious reform package. The Commission proposes to do away with the annual ritual of setting fishing quotas at too high levels. In future, TACs would be fixed within a multi-annual management plan, on the basis of the most recent scientific advice to ensure that enough fish stay in the sea to replenish the stocks. The Commission intends to tackle excess fleet capacity by ending public aid for introducing new fishing vessels. More EU money would be available to help fishermen to find alternative work and for the restructuring of the sector. The Commission also advocates uniform and tougher sanctions across the EU. Controls would be reinforced by setting up a Joint EU Inspection Structure. To bring the CFP closer to fishermen, the industry, NGOs, regions and other stakeholders, the Commission is proposing the creation of Regional Advisory Councils. To achieve sustainable fisheries beyond EU waters on the basis of stronger international co-operation, the reform package includes an action plan against illegal fishing and a strategy for EU fisheries development partnerships with third countries. (Detailed descriptions of the proposals can be found at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/news_corner/press/inf02_07_en_memo.pdf)

The main proposals include the following:

Achieving a smaller, but viable EU fishing fleet
The EU Commission considers that the use of public aid for new vessels or to make existing vessels more efficient is counter-productive when there is a requirement to reduce fishing effort. In future aid will not be allocated to the above measures, but only to improvement of safety. Money will instead be allocated to the reduction of fishing capacity, and to assist the re-employment of fishermen who leave the industry.

Depending on the species examined a reduction in effort of up to 30 and 60 percent is recommended and under multi-annual plans this would withdraw some 8,600 vessels from the EU fleet (8.5% of the number of vessels and 18% of the tonnage).

To encourage decommissioning, emergency scrapping aid of €272 million (in addition to existing Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) funds) will be available for the years 2003 to 2006.

Social Action Plan
The above plan will have an effect on jobs and as such the Commission proposes reprogramming FIFG funding which should free up €460.6 million of existing FIFG funds to assist fishermen in retraining for other jobs. In addition, funds will be available for schemes such as:

· co-financing of national early retirement schemes,

· individual compensatory payments to fishermen in case of permanent withdrawal of their vessel,

· payments to fishermen to help them retrain or diversify their activities outside marine fisheries or

· the introduction by Member States of nationally financed accompanying social measures for fishermen in order to facilitate temporary cessation of fishing activities in the framework of plans for the protection of aquatic resources.

Simpler system for limiting the EU fishing fleet
The MAGP system will be scrapped, but the countries will be required to keep the fleet within the reference limits set out in MAGP IV, as at 31st December 2002. Any vessels withdrawn will reduce the limits. No replacement in capacity will be allowed, unless equivalent capacity has been withdrawn.

Long Term Stock Management
To reduce the over-fishing of the EU fishing stock, the Commission proposes the introduction of long-term management plans for fishing stocks, based on scientific advice. Multi-annual catch targets will replace the annual setting of Total Allowable Catches (TACs). In practice, catches will be calculated in relation to the maximum amount of fish that can be removed by fishing to ensure that a set quantity of adult fish well above the minimum biological acceptable limits remains in the stock concerned.

Protection for Juvenile Fish, Dolphins and Sharks
By-catches and discards negatively impact the marine ecosystem. To address this, the Commission will bring forward measures to promote the protection of vulnerable species. They also recommend the use of more selective fishing gear, such as nets with larger mesh sizes, square meshed panels, restrictions on fishing to protect juvenile fish, minimum landing sizes in line with the selectivity of the gear selected and "discard ban trials".

More Effective Enforcement through a Joint EU Inspection Structure and tighter sanctions
CFP rules should be applied uniformly across the EU, but the risk of being caught breaking the rules, and the associated sanctions applied, varies according to the Member State enforcing the rules. This breeds discontent amongst fishermen, who wish a level playing field.

The Commission therefore proposes a Joint Inspection Structure, to pool the EU and national enforcement resources. This could include the use of multinational inspection teams. If Member States fail to enforce the new regulations, then sanctions, such as deducting quotas from their quota allocations, could be applied.

They also suggest the extension of the use of new technologies, such as vessel monitoring systems and electronic logbooks to smaller vessels, to record catches and reduce the opportunity for committing infringements.

Ensuring Sustainable Fisheries Beyond EU Waters
With EU agreements with third countries, the EU wishes to demonstrate its commitment to responsible fishing. It suggests enhanced dialogue with third countries to enhance sustainable fishing and has proposed an action plan of:

· strengthen and complete the international legal order with a view to eliminating both the use of flag-of-convenience vessels and the practice of landings in ports without proper controls

· improve the evaluation of stocks that are accessible to EU fishermen outside EU waters

· obtain better scientific advice on the state of the stocks before concluding new partnership agreements with the third countries concerned and to

· reform the EU framework for control of fishing activities outside EU waters.