Review of the Balance of Competences Between the United Kingdom and the European Union
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Review of the Balance of Competences between the United Kingdom and the European Union Fisheries Evidence Submitted This document is a record of the evidence submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs call for evidence on fisheries. A report on this evidence can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fisheries-review-of-the-balance-of-competences The Report is part of the UK Government‘s Review of the Balance of Competences between the United Kingdom and the European Union. 1 Contents Introduction and questions .................................................................................................... 4 Angling Trust .......................................................................................................... 6 Anglo Northern Irish Fish Producer's Organisation ............................................... 13 Atlantic Salmon Trust ........................................................................................... 14 British Ports Association ....................................................................................... 16 British Trout Association ....................................................................................... 18 Campbell Bannerman, David MEP ....................................................................... 20 ClientEarth ........................................................................................................... 36 Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements ............................................................. 40 Davies, Chris MEP on behalf of the Liberal Democrat MEPs ................................ 43 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland ................... 47 Eastern Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority ................................................ 51 European Movement ............................................................................................ 53 Food and Drink Federation ................................................................................... 56 Fresh Start Project................................................................................................ 59 Heylin, Michael - Individual ................................................................................... 60 Institute for Archaeologists ................................................................................... 65 Institute for European Environment Policy ............................................................ 68 Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies ........................................ 75 Leftwich, Chris, Chief Inspector at the Fishmongers’ Company ............................ 78 Marine Conservation Society ................................................................................ 81 Marinet ................................................................................................................. 85 Murphy, Nick – Individual...................................................................................... 98 National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations ............................................. 101 New Under Ten Fishermen’s Association ........................................................... 103 North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority ............................. 111 RSPB ................................................................................................................. 114 Salmon & Trout Association ............................................................................... 124 Scottish Fisherman's Federation ........................................................................ 125 Scottish Government .......................................................................................... 128 Scottish Seafood Association ............................................................................. 141 Seafish ............................................................................................................... 144 2 Senior European Experts Group ......................................................................... 145 Shellfish Association of Great Britain .................................................................. 150 Shetland Fisherman' Association ........................................................................ 157 South Western Fish Producers Organisation ...................................................... 160 Stevenson, Struan MEP ..................................................................................... 164 TaxPayers Alliance ............................................................................................. 169 The Fisherman's Association Limited ................................................................. 170 The Rivers Trust ................................................................................................. 199 The Wildlife Trusts .............................................................................................. 203 Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers ....................................................................... 219 Welsh Government ............................................................................................. 222 Worham, Paul ..................................................................................................... 225 WWF .................................................................................................................. 228 Stakeholder Engagement - Note of meetings .................................................................... 233 Academics Roundtable ....................................................................................... 233 Bilateral Meeting with the Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities ........................................................................................................................... 236 Bilateral with Dr Lee Rotherham, TaxPayers’ Alliance ........................................ 238 Bilateral with the Marine Management Organisation ........................................... 241 Brussels Workshop............................................................................................. 245 Consumers’ Roundtable (London) ...................................................................... 251 London Workshop .............................................................................................. 255 National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations members’ Discussion (Brussels) 260 Welsh Perspective Workshop (Cardiff) ............................................................... 264 3 Introduction and questions The Call for Evidence period ran from 21 October 2013 to 13 January 2014. In total we received 51 responses including evidence submitted through workshops and bilateral meetings. Of these 10 were submitted through the online questionnaire. There were five workshop notes and four bi-lateral meeting notes. The remainder of responses were sent by email. The Call for Evidence questions consisted of eight questions included below. Where should decisions be made? Q1 At what level should decisions on fisheries management be made and what evidence is there for the benefits or disadvantages of acting at the i. EU level? ii. regionally? iii. Member State level? Advantages and disadvantages Q2 How does the EU approach to fisheries management, including recent reforms to the Common Fisheries Policy i. benefit the national interest? ii. act against the national interest? Q3 How does the access to fisheries provided for under the EU treaties and the allocation of fishing opportunities in the EU, affect UK’s national interest? The external dimension Q4 Agreements with non-EU countries play a significant role in UK fisheries. How do these agreements and the EU’s role in negotiating them i. help the UK's national interest? ii. hinder the UK’s national interest? Current legislation Q5 How successful are current arrangements in striking the right balance between the goal of a level playing field for operators competing for the same markets and the flexibility to meet local and regional needs? 4 Funding Q6 What evidence is there that rules around support for the fishing industry through EU funds i. help the UK in meeting its management objectives, or the wider goals of the Common Fisheries Policy? ii. hinder the UK in meeting its management objectives, or the wider goals of the Common Fisheries Policy? Internal market and economic growth Q7 How does access to EU markets and adherence to common standards on fisheries products i. benefit UK businesses, both domestically and when exporting abroad? ii. hinder UK businesses, both domestically and when exporting abroad? Future challenges and opportunities Q8 Bearing in mind current EU arrangements and forthcoming reforms, what future changes would benefit the UK or help the UK to capitalise on future opportunities, while achieving our wider goals for fisheries management? 5 Angling Trust What types of decisions should be made at: i. EU level? Being either migratory or wide ranging, and without respect for member state boundaries, most fish stocks within EU waters are shared between EU member states and non-EU nations. In fact this consultation’s call for evidence confirms that the only stocks fished exclusively by the UK are the Clyde, Thames and Blackwater herring stocks. A system of management which attempts to find common solutions to problems that cannot be solved solely at the national level is