Fisheries and Aquaculture in Europe

No 61 May 2013 FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN EUROPE

Common market organisation: knowing the market better Fisheries support: analysing its effectiveness Stock: North Sea herring Port: Valletta hosts European Maritime Day

Maritime Affairs And Fisheries

PECHE-EN_MAG-61-130515.indd 1 23/05/13 12:24 CALENDAR

Conferences and meetings 2 CALENDAR NASCO, annual meeting, Drogheda (Ireland), 4-7 June 2013 Website: http://www.nasco.int 3 EDITORIAL E-mail: [email protected] Tel.: +44 131 228 2551 Smarter selling: a way to fish less

IATTC, meeting of the parties, La Jolla (California, United States), 2-14 June 2013 47 FACT FILE Website: http://www.iattc.org E-mail: [email protected] Common market organisation: Tel.: +1 858 546 71 00 Knowing the market better to boost earnings NAFO, annual meeting, Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada), 23-27 September 2013 8 IN THE NEWS Website: http://www.nafo.int E-mail: [email protected] Commission reviews effectiveness Tel.: +1 902 468 55 90 of fisheries support

Institutional agenda 9 FOCUS European Parliament Committee on Fisheries Website: http://www.europarl.europa.eu An historic stock in more ways than one E-mail: [email protected] Tel.: +32 2 284 49 09 (Brussels, Belgium) or +33 3 88 17 67 69 (Strasbourg, France) a(RIV ORPPBIP BIDFRJ 1011 OUT AND ABOUT a0BMQBJ?BO ORPPBIP BIDFRJ a0BMQBJ?BO ORPPBIP BIDFRJ Valletta invests in tourism and maritime leisure

Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the European Union Website: http://www.consilium.europa.eu 12 IN BRIEF a(RIV ORPPBIP BIDFRJ a0BMQBJ?BO ORPPBIP BIDFRJ a -@QL?BO *RUBJ?LROD%O>KA"R@EVLC*RUBJ?LROD

Note to readers We welcome your comments or suggestions at the following address: European Commission – Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries – Information, communication, inter-institutional relations, evaluation and programming Unit – Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200 – B-1049 Brussels or by fax to: (+32) 2 297 95 64 with reference to Fisheries and aquaculture in Europe. E-mail: [email protected]

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Fisheries and aquaculture in Europe is a magazine published by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission. It is distributed free on request (see subscription coupon on page 12). Fisheries and aquaculture in Europe is published five times a year and it is also available on the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries DG website: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/documentation/magazine/index_en.htm Editor: European Commission, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Director-General. Disclaimer: Whilst the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries DG is responsible for the overall production of this magazine, it is not responsible for the accuracy, content or views expressed within particular articles. The Commission has not, save where otherwise stated, adopted or in any way approved any view appearing in this publication and statements should not be relied upon as statements of the Commission’s or the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries DG’s views. The Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication, nor does the Commission or any person acting on its behalf accept responsibility for any use made thereof. © European Union, 2013 0CNPMBSARGMLȩGQȩ?SRFMPGQCBȩNPMTGBCBȩRFCȩQMSPACȩGQȩ?AILMUJCBECB Cover picture: © Lionel Flageul

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PECHE-EN_MAG-61-130515.indd 2 23/05/13 12:24 No 6 1 I MAY 2013 I FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN EUROPE

EDITORIAL Smarter selling: a way to fish less

There are major changes ahead for the common organisation of the markets in fisheries and aquaculture products. The Parliament and the Council have amended the European Commission’s proposals and are currently negotiating an agreement. But it is already clear that the sector will soon benefit from two innovative tools: production and marketing plans, on the one hand, and the European Market Observatory for fisheries and aquaculture products, on the other. Both are discussed in detail in this issue’s Fact File.

During the 2008 fuel crisis, it became apparent that one way to rein in rising energy costs was for fishermen to increase the profits they made on their catches. There was one obstacle, though: fishermen are primarily producers and take less of an interest in the commercial side of the activity. They fish more in terms of what the sea has to offer – and their quotas – than of what interests buyers. As a result, fishermen are obliged to accept the going rate for what they bring back in their nets, without having the power to act on setting prices.

To gain this power, they need to develop what is referred to as ‘economic intelligence’. In other words, they have to become familiar with market mechanisms and, based on this knowledge, add value to what they sell by playing on demand. But to secure this knowledge, fishermen and fish farmers – or at least the organisations that represent them – need access to market data. These data exist but are scattered and not always accessible. It is precisely to address this situation that re the European Observatory has been set up as a tool for market transparency.

This is a huge step forward for the sector, which now has the means to analyse its commercial functioning in detail. But tools are only worthwhile if they are used. So the Commission wants to encourage producer organisations to develop commercial tactics and strategies, using, among others, the Observatory.

The aim is to sell smarter. By being more attentive to buyers’ demand, fishermen can supply what buyers want and get a better price. Since more than 60 % of fisheries and aquaculture products consumed in the European Union are imported, it is logical to suppose that there is considerable leeway to increase opportunities to please buyers with local products.

But the aim is also to fish less, or in any case to fish more efficiently. By matching their production more closely to buyers’ expectations, fishermen will tend more to produce in the aim of ‘filling an order’, without bringing in goods that will not find a buyer. Obviously, sustainable fishing stands to gain.

The Editor

PECHE-EN_MAG-61-130515.indd 3 23/05/13 12:24 PECHE-EN_MAG-61-130515.indd 4 4 ing chain.Itregulatesconsumerinformation (labelling),pricesupport fromthefirstsale,assoonproductsentermarket- sector provided thegeneralframeworkfor thefisheriesandaquaculture The CMOisanimportantpillaroftheCFP. Sincethe1970s,ithas available toEuropeanUnion(EU)producers. approach, thecommonmarket organisation (CMO)makes newtools est andfairestearningsfromtheirproduction.To encouragethis or stimulatingsuchdemand.Thisisthebestwaytoensurehigh- producing inresponsetobuyers’demandor, evenbetter, anticipating a moremarketing-oriented approach. Inpracticalterms,thatmeans The Commissionwishestoseeproducerorganisations(POs)adopt from fishingopportunitiesandaquaculture. approach. Theaimisto‘sellsmarter’inorderearnmore organisations totake amoremarket-based, commercial, the EuropeanCommissionwantstoempower producer As partofthereform ofthecommonfisheriespolicy (CFP), to boostearnings Knowing themarket better Common market organisation FACT FILE large retailers. of strengthastheresultmergersinsector, inparticularamong bargaining power oppositebuyerswhoareincreasinglyinaposition earnings for their workby helpingthemcompensatefor theirlimited labelling. Therightregulationscanensurethatfishermenreceivefair identify sustainableproductsmoreeasilythroughclear consumers access toproductsthatcomplywiththerules.Theycanalsohelp Appropriate regulationscanfor exampleoffer preferential market are crucialfor thedownstream supplychain. sion ofthefisheriesandaquaculturesector. Pricesandsaleconditions a falseimpression.Marketing istherealeconomicandsocialdimen- ment ofresources,theover-riding objectiveoftheCFP. Butthatis It mightseemthatthishasverylittletodowithsustainablemanage- organisations, etc. conditions for recognitionofproducerorganisationsandinterbranch mechanisms, marketing standards,organisation oftheprofession, market opportunitiesandfocus moreonaddedvaluethanvolume. producer organisationstodevelop realmarketing strategies,identify The objective ofthenewcommonmarket organisationistoincentivise 23/05/13 12:24

© Lionel Flageul © Lionel Flageul PECHE-EN_MAG-61-130515.indd 5 2 COM(2011) 416–Proposalfor aRegulationonthecommonorganisationofmarkets infisheryandaquacultureproducts,p. (2) SeetheCommission’s proposals in (1) consumer information ( requires different measurestodeveloptheroleofPOs,improve In concreteterms,achievingtheaimsofCMOreform (seebox) Producer organisations:buildingcapacity munities (andruralareasfor freshwateraquaculture). ing andaquaculturebusinessesthewell-beingofcoastalcom- sustainable exploitationofresources,butalsotheprosperityfish- and putapremiumontheirproduction.Sustainablefishingimplies tainable managementoffishresources,whethercaughtorfarmed, ine instrumenttohelpproducersassumeresponsibilityfor thesus- the Commissionaimstogofurther:make market policyagenu- The CMOdoesallthatalready. ButinthecontextofCFPreform, 1 No 6 to ahighvolatility offirstsaleprices.’ not anticipatemarket demandintheirproductionplanning.Thisleads by thedemandside.Conversely, EUproducerstoalargeextentdo supply lackspredictabilityintermsofvolume andqualityrequested production conditionsandaccesstotheresources.Nevertheless EU production sectors,ischaracterisedby uncertaintywithregardto pate ormanagemarket fluctuations.Fishing, morethanotherfood Commission onpastshortcomings: Underpinning thiswilltobuildcapacityisastarkfindingby the latter point. the market andinfluencepricing.ThisFact File will focus onthe labelling tocomplementthecompulsoryinformation. cesses thatencourageunambiguous,robustandappropriate assisting Europeanproducerswithallinitiativesandpro- Fisheries Fund(EMFF)andmaintainedthepossibilityof up meansintheframeworkofEuropeanMaritimeand products. Italsoproposedtobolstermonitoringandfollow- new provisions ontraceabilityoffisheriesandaquaculture accurate andverifiable,theCommissiontookaccountof consumers areconfidentthattheinformation provided is administrative burdenfor producers,andontheotherthat providing thisinformation isnotanobstacleorexcessive and preservedproducts.To make sure,ontheonehand,that more comprehensibleandabove alltoalsocover prepared date ofcatchorharvestwillbeadaptedtomoreprecise, method (caughtorfarmed),catchproductionareaand mation possible.Thecommercialdesignation,production choices basedonthemostunambiguousandcompleteinfor- the market soastogiveconsumerstheopportunitymake poses tostrengthenthedifferentiation ofproductsplacedon based onthecharacteristicsofEuropeanmarket, pro- kets cannotoverlook consumerinformation. TheCommission, A reform ofthepolicy for fish,crustaceanandshellfishmar- Labelling: choosingfish I MAY MAY 2013I I 1 ) andbuildproducers’capacitytoacton FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN EUROPE Fisheries andaquacultureinEurope, ‘We have beenunabletoantici- ( 2 ) No56June2012,pp.10-11. tas andfromthecapacityoftheirfishfarms. so thatfishermenandfishfarmersearnmorefromtheirfishingquo- In otherwords,theyneedtomake everyeffort tosellmoreeffectively, ket opportunitiesandfocus moreonaddedvaluethanvolume. The goalisfor POstodeveloprealmarketing strategies,identifymar- to bemoreactivelyinvolvedinmarketing theirproduction. already inchargeoforganisingtheirmembers’activities,butwillhave of thesenewtasksby givingPOsthisrole.Theseorganisationsare the Commissionproposestostimulatecollectivemanagement already spendalotoftimeontheirworkasproducers.So,naturally, There isalsonoescapingthefactthatfishermenandfishfarmers better andobtainthebestpossibleprice. a wayastomatchdemandmoreclosely, meetmarket expectations commercial players.Itinvitesthemtodeveloptheirsupplyinsuch a newera.Itwouldlike toseefishermen andfishfarmersbecome By proposingtoreform theCMO,Commissionintendstoopen Objective: smarterselling of overfishing, thisbehaviourisobviously notthemostappropriate. ers tofishmoremake upfor risingenergy costs.Intoday’s context This situationisallthemoreharmfulsinceitcanincentiviseproduc- participant isknown asa‘pricetaker’. have noinfluenceonpricing.Ineconomicterms,thistypeofmarket be soldrightaway)orthebuyers(withafew exceptions)andthey marketed. Theydonotchoosethetime ofsale(sincecatcheshaveto dock andlandtheircatches,theyhavenoinfluenceonhow theyare men arepassivewhenitcomestomarketing. From themomentthey The problemtobesolvedisthefollowing. Generallyspeaking,fisher- fluctuate significantly. (buyers’) demand.Whensupplynolongermatchesdemand,prices (fish also are evenlesscertainthatwhattheylandwillsuitbuyers;and To sumup:fishermenarenevercertainofwhattheywillcatch; bȩRMȩQGKNJGDWȩ?BKGLGQRP?RGTCȩDMPK?JGRGCQ bȩȩ bȩȩ bȩȩ bȩȩ islative process.Ithasfiveobjectives: of theCFPreform iscurrentlyworkingitswaythroughtheleg- The newCMOregulationproposedby theCommissionaspart Aims oftheCMO ermen’s) supplytendstogomerrilyalongwithout trying tomeet tend not to take an interest in what interests buyers. As a result, tend nottotakeaninterestinwhatinterestsbuyers.Asaresult, RMȩGKNPMTCȩNPMBSACPQȩSLBCPQR?LBGLEȩMDȩRFCȩAMKNJCVGRWȩMDȩRFCȩ RMȩCLF?LACȩRFCȩTGQG@GJGRWȩ?LBȩ?RRP?ARGTCLCQQȩMDȩ#SPMNC?Lȩ RMȩGLACLRGTGQCȩRFCȩK?PICRȩRMȩQSNNMPRȩQSQR?GL?@JCȩNPMBSARGMLȩ market sothattheycantapintomoreofitspotential; products; practices; RMȩFCJNȩNPMBSACPQȩQRPCLERFCLȩRFCGPȩ@?PE?GLGLEȩNMUCPȩGLȩRFCȩ marke ting chain; 1. 5 23/05/13 12:24 Planning production, giving impetus to marketing

Production and marketing plans should become the key tools of Initially, POs will improve their knowledge of markets and the the CMO. The principle underlying these plans is set out in the draft way markets evolve, again with the valuable assistance of the regulation working its way through the legislative process. Once this Observatory. In a second phase, the idea will be to plan marketing principle is adopted, the content of production and marketing plans actions to increase the value of products by anticipating the expec- will be detailed in a delegated act that is currently being drafted. tations of wholesalers, major distributors and processors, and by identifying new sales outlets and new customers: fishmongers, Production plans restaurants and consumers. These actions can range from a qual- ity process to labelling of a product, communication on a fishery or A production plan is neither more nor less than a business plan, like the promotion of a fishing practice. those drawn up by thousands of companies. Using this tool, the PO will plan, ideally on a multiannual basis, its members’ fishing sea- The aim is to act on demand. The potential exists. We must bear in sons or production cycles in terms of a number of economic and mind that the EU imports two thirds of its consumption of fisheries regulatory factors. and aquaculture products. So there is substantial room to increase the market share of European fishermen and fish farmers. But it is The main idea is to programme fishing or harvesting tactically, essential for each one to find the right solution(s) and POs will play taking into account the fluctuating demand for different species. a key role. The goal is to come to market with a product when demand for this product is high, thus obtaining the best price. Conversely, fish- Public aid ing for a species should be avoided when there are no buyers. The European Observatory will help identify the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ To help producer organisations assume these new responsibilities, periods and will be a valuable tool for this work. the Commission proposes to provide financial support. The POs that take on these planning tasks will receive aid from the European This planning will also have to take on board regulatory require- Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). This financial support can ments. That entails dividing up quotas among fishery undertakings, be up to 3 % of the turnover of all their members. The idea is staggering production in terms of quota use, taking account of no- to enable them to obtain expert help in drawing up and applying fishing areas and periods defined by multiannual plans, specifying production and marketing plans. The Member State will be respon- fishing gears, etc. sible for reviewing the feasibility of these plans and monitoring their application. Marketing plans

Marketing plans concern the downstream organisation of the sector. They are not about tactics (matching supply to fluctuating demand), but about encouraging POs to set up and develop a pro- active marketing strategy.

It was therefore only fitting for the Commission to propose to shift On the other hand, the Commission is convinced that the new tasks from an intervention policy to a capacity-building policy. This means assigned to POs deserve financial and logistics support. It therefore abolishing aid for the destruction of fish and phasing out the storage proposes to give them two new, very important tools: on the one hand, aid scheme over a five-year period. production and marketing plans (see box) and on the other, the European Market Observatory for fisheries and aquaculture products, Storage aid works as follows: when prices drop below a minimum level which gives them access to important information on prices and pric- (set yearly by the Member State and no longer by the Council), prod- ing mechanisms (see box). ucts are temporarily taken off the market and stored until prices rise again. EU financial intervention covers part of the storage costs such as freezing, filleting or any other means of stabilising products for their sale for human consumption.

PECHE-EN_MAG-61-130515.indd 6 23/05/13 12:24 No 6 1 I MAY 2013 I FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN EUROPE

Observing, understanding and acting

The European Market Observatory for fisheries and aquaculture products was inaugurated in April 2013 by Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, at the Seafood exhibition in Brussels.

In practical terms, this Observatory is primarily a website coordi- nated by the European Commission and managed by a team of specialists. The site provides access to information on the putting up for sale and marketing of fisheries and aquaculture products. With this tool, users can analyse and understand how prices are set at different stages of the supply chain, from auction to the retailer’s shop, in a large part of Europe. For now, this information covers 86 species representing 90 % of EU catches, as well as aquaculture products and imports.

Underpinning this website is a huge database. It contains first sale prices (within 48 hours in some cases) from the principal auctions, wholesale prices, retail prices, import volumes and prices, etc. Up until now, these data were scattered, contained in incompatible formats, in different languages and not always accessible. Now bȩȩPredefined queries – The website proposes a number of stand- they are harmonised and can be accessed by all types of users ard searches of the database. Users can select a country and through a single point of access, at no cost and in four languages a species, for instance, and obtain an overview of prices in a range (English, French, German and Spanish). of ports for the past week and a comparison with those for the preceding week and the same week of the previous year, with The Commission’s objective is to improve market transparency. percentage changes shown. Similarly, they can access data on This means giving fishermen and fish farmers – and more spe- wholesale markets, intra-EU trade, volumes of imports, etc. cifically POs – the information they need to develop marketing strategies. This tool will help them identify market opportunities bȩȩAd-hoc queries – Users can select and use the data that interest in order to sell their products at the best price. them via a more complex interface that provides access to all possible search combinations. For example, based on a sales history, POs will know the periods of the year when hake gets the best price and which auctions bring Although professional organisations are the Observatory’s main in the highest prices. By researching on buyers, volumes and so users, the information it provides can also interest researchers, on even further, they can also gain a better understanding of why fisheries economists, journalists and all public administrations. these prices vary and develop strategies to cash in on them. Public administrations will be able to investigate rapidly a collapse in prices, for example, by checking whether it is a recurrent phenom- Three types of services enon or a structural problem, or analyse and accurately measure the impact of a variation in fishing opportunities. Based on these data, the Observatory offers three types of services. The Observatory does more than just make data available. It also bȩȩStatic information – The Observatory will provide information aims to initiate market studies and case studies. Improving market on European markets in monthly and annual publications, both of transparency also involves disseminating information and drawing which can be downloaded from the site. The monthly publication attention to certain phenomena. will present a general macroeconomic background covering eve- rything that might be of interest to the fisheries and aquaculture products market (price of fuel oil, exchange rates, market supply, The European Market Observatory for fisheries imports, etc.) and will then present structured data extracted from and aquaculture products: the Observatory’s database (distribution chain studies, country http://www.ec.europa.eu/fisheries/market-observatory studies, consumption statistics, etc.).

PECHE-EN_MAG-61-130515.indd 7 23/05/13 12:24 PECHE-EN_MAG-61-130515.indd 8 8 of fisheriessupport Commission reviewseffectiveness IN THE NEWS tainable developmentoffisheriesareas(Axis4). inland fishing(Axis2);measuresofcommoninterest3);andsus- ment ofthefleet(Axis1);aquaculture,processingandmarketing, implemented underthefour mainaxesoftheEFF, includingadjust- The reportfindingsfocus onsomeofthemostimportantmeasures priority axes. reviews themostimportanttypesofexpenditureunderEFF’s four This isthetaskcarriedoutby theCommissioninitsreport,which framework since2007hasindeedcontributedtotheseobjectives. It istherefore essentialtoensurethatthesupportprovided withinthis bȩȩ bȩȩ bȩȩ – namelytowards sustainablefishingthat: help steerthefisheriessectorindirectionoutlinedCFP The EFF’s objective (like thatoftheEMFF)istosupportprojects European Parliament andMemberStates. the governing rulesfor whicharecurrentlybeingnegotiatedby the will bereplacedby theEuropeanMaritimeandFisheries Fund(EMFF), programming perioddrawstoacloseattheendofthisyear. TheEFF common fisheriespolicy(CFP).Itenteredintoforce in2007andits The EuropeanFisheries Fund(EFF)isthefinancialinstrumentof European Fisheries Fund(EFF). tion in The EuropeanCommissionanswersthisfundamentalques- Has EUaidtothefisheriessectorachieveditsobjectives? ?QQSPCQȩRFCȩUCJJ @CGLEȩMDȩDGQFGLEȩAMKKSLGRGCQ AMLRPG@SRCQȩRMȩRFCȩCAMLMKGAȩTG?@GJGRWȩMDȩSLBCPR?IGLEQȩ?LBȩ K?L?ECQȩFC?JRFWȩ?LBȩNPMBSARGTCȩQRMA tal impact; its fifth annual report on the implementation of the its fifthannualreportontheimplementationof IQȩUGRFȩKGLGK?JȩCLTGPMLKCL

- © Biosphoto subsidies towheretheywillbemostefficientandeffective. aim oftheEMFFistolearnlessonsfrompastanddirectpublic the economiccrisisandsustainabilityobjectivesofCFP, the Commission initslegislativeproposalfor theEMFF. Inthecontextof These findingsunderpinmanyoftheproposalsputforward by the ing localbeneficiariesindevelopingandimplementingtheseprojects. increase inthenumberoffisherieslocalactiongroups(FLAGs) support- in fisheriesareas.Thisnumbergrewfurther2012thankstothe local economiesandaddingvaluetofisheriesproducts,wereselected start. In2011,anadditional1 000 projects,focusing ondiversifying of fisheriesareas(Axis4)arestartingtobearfruitafterquiteaslow Early resultsshow thatprojectspromotingthesustainabledevelopment fishing fleetroseonlyby 11 % inthesameperiod. 37.5 % in2010comparedto 2009,whilsttheenergybillofEU The successofsuchmethodsisevident:marinefuelpricesroseby through speedreductionandrationalisationoftheirmovements. fishermen havealsofound otherwaystoconsumelessfuel,notably sumption. Whilstsubsidieshavehelpedintacklinghighfuelprices; ing gearanddesigningvesselsequipmentwhichreducefuelcon- fuel subsidies,EFFprojectshaveincludedsupportingchangestofish- used topromoteenergyefficiencyinthefishingsector. Inadditionto The analysisalsoexaminedtheeffectiveness ofdifferent methods growth intheaquaculturesector. has recordedpositivegrowth of3 %, whilst therehasbeenlimited cerned, theprocessingindustry, whichemploys over 140 000 people, ing countrieshasnotnecessarilyincreased.Asfarasjobsarecon- improving productioncapacity, overall productionby thetopproduc- tively). Theanalysisconcludesthatdespiteinvestmentstargetedat of EFFfundsearmarked underAxis2(around EUR300millionrespec- Aquaculture andtheprocessingindustryaccountfor themajority Guidance (FIFG) andEFF. Resultsare expectedby autumn2013. proportionality ofscrappingintheFinancial Instrumentfor Fisheries launched astudyintendedtoanalysetheeffectiveness, efficiencyand fleet registerdidnotreceiveanypublicfunding.TheCommissionhas denced by thefactthatover halfofallvesselstaken outoftheEU than thosewhichhavethemostimpactonfishstocks.Thisisalsoevi- ping oftenbenefitsvesselsthatareineconomicdifficultiesrather in badshape.However, theevidenceavailableindicatesthatscrap- it shouldfocus onfleets exertinghighpressureonstockswhichare so astoadaptfishingcapacitytheavailableresources.Therefore The objectiveofscrappingistoreducethenumberfishingvessels Axis1 (EUR202millionaccordingtothelatestinformation available). Subsidies for scrappingrepresented56 % ofEFFpayments under Scrapping, aquaculture,processingandenergy 23/05/13 12:24 PECHE-EN_MAG-61-130515.indd 9 tainable fishinglabel. Certain fisheriesexploitingthisstock haveevenbeenawardedasus- precautionary levelandrestoringtheprinciplesofsustainablefishing. a few years,the plansucceededinbringingthestockbackabove the the next,toguaranteeadegreeofstabilityexploitation.Injust able catch(TAC) maynotvaryby morethan15 % fromoneyearto per fisherythatassuresmaximumsustainableyield.Thetotalallow- 2004. Itisbasedoncatchlimitscalculatedintermsofamortalityrate The plancameintoforce in1997.Itwasre-assessedandrenewed annual managementplaninthehistoryofEuropeanfisheries. Norway, whichsharethestock,thendecidedtodrawupfirstmulti- mass. Quotaswerereducedduringtheyear. TheEuropeanUnionand pressure hadbeenmaintainedatthesameleveldespiteshrinkingbio- In 1996thestockwasonvergeofcollapseonceagain.Fishing First Europeanmulti-annualplan in themid-1980s. resumed subsequently, andcatchesincreasedto700 000 tonnes lion 10yearsearlier).Thefisherywasclosedin1977.Activitygradually fishermen broughtinonly175 000 tonnes(comparedwithonemil- continued atthesamelevel.In1976,stockcameclosetocollapse: ring, asitdoesfor speciesthatdonotshoal.Fishing therefore essarily havetheeffect ofmakingithardertolocateschoolsher- herring liveinverylargeshoals,adecreasebiomassdoesnotnec- since the1960s,fishingremainedintenseuntilmid-1970s.Since European watersinthe1970s.Despitearapidlydecliningbiomass These intensivefisheriesledtothecollapseofherringstockin industrial fisheriesthattargetsprat. or assousedherring.Young herringarealsocaughtasby-catchesin it canbeservedindifferent ways,suchassmoked, inmarinated fillets, and Norway. Herring israrelyeatenfresh,anddependingonthecountry, ing industrybasedprimarilyinScotland,theNetherlands,Denmark seiner vessels.Itprovides therawmaterialfor aprosperousprocess- This stockistargetedby largefleetsofpelagictrawlersandpurse- Sea ture in fisheries inEuropeanwaters.Inthiscontext, Fisheries Policy, hasproposedbringingthemintogeneral useinall why theEuropeanCommission,aspartofreform oftheCommon mented inEuropeanwaterssince1997haveproducedresults.Thatis Multi-annual planshavestoodthetestoftime;mostthoseimple- to optimalproductivity. together withNorwayin1997,hasbroughtthisstockback the firstmulti-annualplaninEuropeanwaters,launched threatened since theMiddleAges.Itssustainabilitywasseriously The NorthSeaherringstockhasbeencommerciallyfished o61 No 6 FOCUS ways thanone An historicstockinmore herring plan. I MAY MAY 2013I I Europe twice duringthelasthalfcentury. However, takes alookattheoldestoftheseplans:North FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN EUROPE Fisheries andaquacul- such astheNorthSeaherring. implemented inEuropeanwaterssince1997have producedresults, Multi-annual planshave stoodthetestoftime;mostthose fisheries remainsustainable. ria u obviously betaken intoaccountindrawingupthe plan,andinthecrite- in themarineenvironment.Thepossibilityofeventssuchasthismust recruitment havenotbeenidentified,butmayberelatedtochanges to enterthestocksince2001.Thecausesofthiscontinuallypoor recruitment, withabnormallylow numbersofyoungherringsurviving natural processes.Thestockhassuffered alongperiodofpoor developments areacombinedresultoffishingactivitiesandother, Managers stillneedtokeep aclosewatchonthesituationasstock expected toenterintoforce in2014. Based onthatopinion,thetwopartnerswilldevelopnewplan, through theInternationalCouncilfor theExplorationofSea(ICES). awaiting theopinionofscientificcommunity, requestedrecently sidering revisingthe15 % rule.Before takingadecision,theyare yield leveltoday. TheEuropeanUnionandNorwayaretherefore con- As aresult,thestockisfishedwellbelow themaximumsustainable an increaseintheTAC atthesamerateasanyincreaseinstock. There isanothersidetothecoin,however. The15 % ruleprevents sed tosetannualquotas,soasensurethatNorthSeaherring 9 23/05/13 12:25

The historic quays of Valletta, the capital of Malta, will play to just a few quays dedicated to bulk cargo (construction materials, host to this year’s European Maritime Day. This year’s event grain) and three repair and maintenance shipyards. Other infrastruc- will be dedicated to maritime and coastal tourism, a very apt ture fell into disuse. theme for the Maltese capital, whose port is being developed around tourism and maritime leisure. ‘Until around ten years ago, you would never have come to stroll around this part of the port’, explains John Portelli, CEO of Valletta When the Knights Hospitaller took possession of Malta in the early Cruise Port, referring to the port’s northern shore. ‘The warehouses 16th century, its ports were the only advantage they saw in this clus- had partially collapsed. The quays had become a motorway and was ter of arid islands lost in the middle of the Mediterranean. In fact, look- walled seaside. Nothing about it was pleasant.’ ing at a map of this archipelago, it’s almost as it was designed by nature itself, with its natural harbours, many beautiful coves that cut The port authorities quickly came to the conclusion that the future deep inland, sheltered from the waves, wind and enemies coming of Valletta’s two ports lay in tourism and maritime leisure. Visitors from the open sea. arriving there today see this immediately. They can still see cranes and cargo ships south of Grand Harbour, but their eyes are immedi- Valletta is a product of this maritime and military heritage. Intent on ately drawn to the marinas filled with yachts and sailboats of all sizes, placing themselves and their fleet out of their Ottoman enemy’s reach, and by the comings and goings of tour boats making the rounds of the Knights founded a new fortified city on the peninsula that separates the site and its surrounding areas. Visitors will also be amazed by the Malta’s two main ports, Grand Harbour in the south and Marsamxett in huge cruise ships anchored at the foot of the city walls, from which the north. streams of tourists descend.

The result of building a new city from the ground up is a labyrinth of This development began in the 1980s when the first marina was built buildings, quays, warehouses, forts and walls, most of which date back in Marsamxett and later in the early 1990s, when a quay was built to the 16th and 17th centuries. An austere and grandiose beauty to accommodate cruise ships. Within just a few years the marina emanates from this ochre-coloured, homogenous ensemble. Add to was overloaded and more and more cruise ships were making Valletta that a warm Mediterranean climate and a fascinating artistic heritage a port of call. The possibility of building new infrastructure there- and it is easy to understand why Valletta is such an important tourist fore had to be considered. It was at this point that a strategic decision attraction. It is this asset the Maltese have decided to invest in when was taken. developing their capital’s port. ‘At the end of the 1990s, the government decided that the port Until half a century ago, Grand Harbour was Malta’s principal port. authority should evolve from its role of operator to become a regu- It was used more as a military than a commercial port, thanks to its lator’, explains Christopher Farrugia, Senior Infrastructure Manager at central location in the Mediterranean on the maritime route linking Transport-Malta, the government agency that manages Malta’s trans- Western Europe to the Middle East. When the United Kingdom took port. ‘It was decided that port operations should be privatised, start- control of the island in 1800, the port became a key strategic staging ing with the cruise port, for which a 65-year concession was granted post en route to India, a route that became entirely sea-based with in 2001.’ the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869. At the end of the colonial period, in 1964, Malta won its independence. The Valletta Cruise Port concession is not limited to port operations. It covers an area of nearly five hectares filled with 17th century ware- Tourism and maritime leisure houses that are being renovated and developed by the operator. The result is what is now known as Valletta Waterfront, an urban devel- After the Second World War, the face of Malta’s port changed. Its mil- opment site that has won numerous international awards. Wharfs, itary importance diminished and Grand Harbour’s configuration was shops, bars, restaurants and an impressive range of visitor-focused not suited to hosting modern maritime freight. In the 1980s, a new businesses and services such as banks, a tourism office, pharmacies commercial port came into operation in Marsaxlokk, in the southern and telecommunications services are available along a 300-metre part of the island. This more accessible and deeper port became promenade. The historic baroque architecture has been preserved Malta’s energy hub and a major hub for container traffic in the in the renovations. Mediterranean. In Grand Harbour, commercial activities dwindled

PECHE-EN_MAG-61-130515.indd 10 23/05/13 12:25 PECHE-EN_MAG-61-130515.indd 11 pedestrians tocrossGrandHarbourandMarsamxett. est developmentistheentryintoserviceoftwoferry linestoenable providing directaccessbetweentheportandcityabove. Thelat- duction ofahop-on/hop-offbusserviceandtheinstallationlift the portandcityarebeingimproved, withroadrepairs,theintro- restored, includingthelighthouseandbreakwater;linksbetween European CapitalofCulturein2018.Historicalinfrastructureisbeing wants tohelprevampthecity, whichwillbenefitfromitsstatusas support fromvariousEuropeanUnionfunds.Thegovernment agency Meanwhile, Transport-Malta isinvestingininfrastructure,withpartial passenger transport. is alsoparticipatinginthisdevelopment,specialisingleisureand of itsusefullife, will alsoberestoredandgivennewuses.Marsamxett area currentlyoccupiedby thepower station,whichisnearingtheend also tohelpincreaseshipaccommodationcapacity. Inthefuture, during peakperiods.QuaysarebeingredesignedinLascarisandIsla, oped for arange ofuses,inordertosupplementthecruiselinerport National MaritimeMuseum.In2006,thecargoterminalwasredevel- possesses first-rateattractions,suchasSanAngeloFortandthe which willregenerateaneglectedneighbourhoodthatnevertheless concession holders.AnewmarinaisbeingbuiltonthecreekinBirgu, new usesfor existingsites, encouragedby initiativesby otherport The restofGrandHarbourhasindeedfollowed thismove todevelop what wasdonehere.’ area’, ‘This renovation kick-startedtheregenerationofcityanditsport Valletta rediscovers itsport saysJohnPortelliproudly. ‘All thisrestorationwork startedfrom theme for theMaltesecapital,whoseportisbeingdeveloped aroundtourismandmaritimeleisure. The EuropeanMaritimeDay2013willbededicatedtomaritimeandcoastaltourism,avery apt areas andothertouristattractionsontheisland. Transport-Malta ismakingiteasiertoreachthe capital’s outlying a stopover inGozo,thearchipelago’s secondlargestisland,while just oneday, whichiswhyValletta CruisePortwillbepromoting The challengenow istoconvincethesetouristsstaylongerthan jobs, primarilyinthecapital. recent statistics,touristactivityhasledtothecreationof2 000 direct discover touristattractionsandtake excursions. Accordingtothemost 175 000 to608 786. Thesetouristseatinrestaurants,visitmuseums, and 2012,thenumberofcruisetouristsvisitingMaltarosefrom development, buttheyalsohaveaneconomicimpact.Between2001 These investmentshavenotonlygivenfreshimpetustoMalta’s port Valletta hostsEuropeanMaritimeDay2013 index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/maritimeday/ For moreinformation, goto: Conference CentreinValletta. will take placeon21and22May2013attheMediterranean time relationswithneighbouringcountries.TheConference be aspecialfocus ontheMediterraneanRegionanditsmari- able tourism,connectivityandcoastalmanagement.Therewill reflect onhow tomake BlueGrowth happenthroughsustain- in thewidercontextofBlueGrowth. Itwillbeanoccasionto on coastaldevelopmentandsustainablemaritimetourism a numberofevents,workshopsandsessionsfocused thisyear The 2013EuropeanMaritimeDayConference willencompass 11 23/05/13 12:25

IN BRIEF 2-

CITES: shark protection scaled-up

Millions of shark specimens are traded annually, mostly for their At the Bangkok meeting, six shark and ray species were listed in fins. The sharks covered by the Convention on International Trade Appendix II due to their declining populations: the oceanic whitetip in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora’s (CITES) decisions shark, scalloped hammerhead shark, smooth hammerhead shark, great are highly vulnerable and have experienced alarming declines over hammerhead shark, manta rays and porbeagle shark. The European recent years in all oceans. Union tabled the proposal to list porbeagle shark. Sawfish was also transferred from Appendix II to Appendix I. Rules on the trade of seven species of sharks and rays were tightened up at international level on 14 March 2013, with a decision adopted by This restriction comes in the broader context of measures to protect the conference of parties to the Convention on International Trade in the most vulnerable shark species, in particular to control the trade Endangered Species (CITES), in Bangkok (Thailand). The measures con- in shark fins, which is booming in Asia in particular as the standard cern the 178 States parties to the Convention, including the European of living rises. RFMOs, especially tuna organisations, are taking meas- Union Member States. This result was a major success for the EU and ures to protect certain shark species. For example, in recent years, the other proponents of these measures, including the US and various Latin International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas has American countries. Similar attempts at a meeting three years ago had banned fishing for bigeye thresher shark (2009), oceanic whitetip failed. The result also underlines the importance of CITES for marine shark and hammerhead shark (2010), as well as silky shark (2011). species as a complement to measures adopted by regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs). Following a Commission proposal on the issue, the European Union should soon ban shark finning, the practice of cutting off the shark’s fins The aim of CITES is to ensure that international trade in animals and on board fishing vessels and throwing the animal back into the sea. plants does not threaten the survival of species. Thousands of endan- All vessels fishing in European waters and all European vessels fishing gered animal and plant species are now listed in the annexes of the in foreign waters will then be obliged to land sharks with their fins CITES convention. These are divided into three groups: endangered attached to the body. species which cannot be imported or exported except, for example, for scientific purposes (Appendix I); species at risk for which international trade is limited but may be authorised by the issuing of an export per- mit (Appendix II); and species endangered locally, whose export is sub- ject to national regulations with which States of import must comply (Appendix III). ISSN 1830-6586

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