Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 9 • Number 10 • 29th May 2009

EU Ministers Acknowledge Need for CFP Overhaul

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European fisheries ministers have reached a consensus on the need for radical reform of the EU’s controversial Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Those attending the European Commission’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on Monday acknowledged that the rules governing the EU fisheries sector are flawed and should be decentralised to give member states and the fishing industry more power over how the sector operates.

The purpose of the 25 May meeting was to discuss several points raised by a 22 April 2009 Green Paper on CFP reform (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 22 April 2009, http://ictsd.net/i/news/biores/45961/).

The Green Paper says that 88 percent of EU commercial fish stocks are overfished and points to five structural failings that have led to the current situation: overcapacity, imprecise objectives, short-term decision-making, lack of responsibility of the industry, and overall lack of compliance.

Discards will be tackled ‘step-by-step’

The meeting, chaired by Czech Minister for Agriculture Jakub Šebesta, invited ministers to express their views on prioritising the elements of the CFP that they feel are in need of reform and to suggest additional issues of concern that may have been overlooked by the Green Paper.

Environmentalists and the fisheries industry have long argued that the current rules are ineffective and wasteful. Because rules governing quotas are based on quantities at the point of landing, less profitable fish and fish caught over-quota are often dumped back into the sea - even if they are dead.

“This practice is unacceptable and there is an undisputed need to eradicate it,” an EU spokesman said following Monday’s meeting. “Since 2007 the Commission has taken measures to reduce discards, however much more needs to be done.”

Danish Fisheries Minister Eva Kjer Hansen suggested the EU could enforce so-called catch quotas by taking steps such as installing cameras on fishing boats. Ministers ultimately agreed to support the Commission’s plans for a ‘step by step’ approach to discard elimination.

Industry welcomes support

The EU fisheries sector has been plagued by problems in recent years. The BBC reports that the number of people employed in the industry has contracted by a third in the UK alone. Fishermen welcomed the news that they may have a greater input on how fisheries rules are drafted and implemented.

“We’ve proved beyond all reasonable doubt that the present framework - which is tightly controlled by the Commission - isn’t working at all and needs to be decentralised,” said Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation.

“The outcome of this council seems to be that that’s been accepted by all. We weren’t absolutely sure that the Commission would be ready to let go and decentralise, but certainly that seems to be the theme. And that’s highly welcome.”

Only part of a whole package: environmentalists

But while the industry praised the ministers’ support for decentralisation as a leap forward, some environmental groups were more cautious. “It’s not going to be an answer on its own,” said Julie Cator of the marine environmental group Oceana. “It is only part of a whole package.”

Cator points to unresolved issues such as the WTO’s slowly moving discussions on fisheries subsides rules as essential elements of a long term solution for Europe’s fisheries sector (see related article, this issue). She also cautions that steps need to be taken to ensure that the current structural problems identified in the Green Paper are not replicated on a micro level after the CFP is decentralised.

All interested EU citizens are invited to comment on the questions set out in the Green Paper by 31 December 2009. Results of the consultation process will be published next year and will be followed by a legislative proposal to the Council and the European Parliament.

Since its creation in 1983, the CFP has been reviewed every 10 years (for information on the 2002 CFP reform see Bridges Trade BioRes, 23 January 2003, http://ictsd.net/i/news/biores/8750/). The next review is scheduled for 2012.

Additional information

The Green Paper can be accessed here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2009:0163:FIN:EN:PDF.

Reaction to the Green Paper can be submitted here: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/reform/consultation_en.htm.

ICTSD Reporting; “Denmark suggests cameras to stop EU’s overfishing,” REUTERS, 25 May 2009; “‘Delight’ at EU fish quota moves,” BBC, 25 May 2009.