Source: WWF Press Release
Following this week’s release of the European Commission’s proposal for a reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), WWF urges the European Parliament and Member States to step up to the challenge of saving Europe’s seas and fishing industries. This will require a serious effort to build on the Commission’s disappointing reform agenda by establishing a clear framework and timeline for achieving sustainable fisheries management.
“There is growing alarm among civil society, businesses and consumers about the disastrous management of Europe’s fisheries. The CFP reform is a once in a ten year opportunity to ensure fish stocks recover and Europe’s fisheries return to prosperity,†Tony Long, Director of WWF’s European Policy Office said. “It may be the last one. While the European Commission’s proposal contains some potentially good elements, too much is being left to chance. Ministers and MEPs must demonstrate the political courage to invest in sustainable fisheries management now or be prepared to carry the responsibility for ravaged stocks in the near future.â€
On the positive side, the proposal establishes the need to exploit fish populations at levels that guarantee their survival and identifies multi-annual plans as a way to achieve this. However, crucial delivery mechanisms, responsibilities and timeframes for these plans (outlining who should do what and by when) are missing.
Furthermore, the Commission’s paper lacks a clear vision for reducing the overcapacity of Europe’s fleet, proposes an ineffective discard ban, and falls flat on expectations about stakeholder involvement at a regional level and the EU’s leadership role in the international fisheries arena.
Overcapacity of the EU fleet
The mechanism proposed to deal with the overcapacity of the fleet, i.e. transferable fishing concessions, a very specific form of Rights Based Management (RBM), is inflexible and excludes safeguards to prevent a concentration of fishing activities to a small number of vessels or to guarantee a timely revocation of the concessions should conservation goals not be met. While WWF is supportive of RBM it advocates a wide toolbox of schemes to suit any specific fishery, unlike what has been proposed by the European Commission.
“There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution for the overcapacity of the EU fleet given the variety of fisheries that exist in Europe. Nor will ‘the market’ automatically solve this problem. WWF believes it is important to give fishermen a more secure stake in the fishery to boost stewardship, but this should be linked to clear conservation goals. As the proposal stands, this isn’t the case,†Tony Long commented.
Regional co-management of fisheries
WWF looks to the European Parliament and Member States to ensure that a genuine decentralization of fisheries management takes place. Stakeholders at a regional level, including fishermen, officials, scientists, industry and NGOs, need to be recognized as co-managers of their fishery, working together to implement multi-annual plans. A clear co-management mechanism – although essential for transforming Europe’s fisheries – is missing from the proposal. It is also disappointing that the artisanal fishing sector and fisheries issues in the Mediterranean, a region accounting for 6 out of 10 European fishing jobs, are not addressed in the proposal.
Discards
WWF welcomes the Commission’s intention to end the wasteful practice of discarding. However, the proposed discard ban alongside the new option to commercialize undersized fish and fish caught in excess of quotas is the wrong solution for a pressing problem. It is likely to encourage fishermen to fish less selectively whereas the widespread adoption of selective gear is precisely one of the most effective measures for ending discards.
Aquaculture
WWF is concerned to note the emphasis on aquaculture development in this week’s CFP reform proposal – urging access to be granted to coastal space for the building of new facilities. Any reference to aquaculture in the proposal should be limited to regulation, rather than the development of the industry.
Bluefin tuna fattening farms in the Mediterranean Sea, known to contribute to the overexploitation of this iconic species, are encompassed in the current definition of aquaculture. Their capacity should if anything be reduced in the Mediterranean, to help enable the recovery of this endangered fish.
EU vessels abroad
With 60% of fish consumed within the EU being caught abroad, it is disappointing to see just a few vague statements in the Commission’s proposal short of clear targets, measures or deadlines to ensure that the EU positions itself as a global leader in promoting sustainable fisheries.