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The Common Fisheries Policy European Commission The Common Fisheries Policy A USER’S GUIDE Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. Manuscript completed in December 2008. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2009 ISBN 978-92-79-09874-1 DOI 10.2771/71141 © European Communities, 2009 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in Belgium PRINTED ON WHITE CHLORINE-FREE PAPER The Common Fisheries Policy A USER’S GUIDE Fishing areas in the EU IIb There are seven Regional Advisory Councils under the CFP. Five are based on geographically and biologically coherent zones. The two IIa others are based on the exploitation of certain stocks: pelagic stocks in Community waters (except in the a XIV Mediterranean and Baltic Seas), a IIIb IIId and high-sea fisheries outside V IIIa IVa Community waters. Vb1 IIIc XIVb Vb2 IVb VIa VIb VIIa IVc VIIb VIIf VIIc VIId VIIg VIIj VIIe XII VIIk VIIh VIIIa VIIIb VIIId VIIIc Baltic Sea RAC (IIIb, c, d) VIIIe IXa Mediterranean RAC X IXb North Sea RAC (IV, IIIa) North-western Waters RAC (Vb (Community waters), VI, VII) South-western Waters RAC (VIII, IX, X, 34.1.1, 34.1.2, 34.2) Pelagic Stocks RAC High-sea RAC I Barents Sea VIa West Scotland (Clyde stock) VIIIa South Brittany IIa Norwegian Sea VIb Rockall VIIIb South Biscay IIb Spitzbergen and Bear Island VIIa Irish Sea VIIIc North and North-west Spain IIIa Skagerrak and Kattegat VIIb West Ireland VIIId Central Biscay IIIb Sound VIIc Porcupine Bank VIIIe West Biscay IIIc Belt VIId Eastern English Channel IXa Portuguese coast IIId Baltic Sea VIIe Western English Channel IXb West Portugal IVa Northern North Sea VIIf Bristol Channel X Azores IVb Central North Sea VIIg South-east Ireland XII North Azores IVc Southern North Sea VIIh Little Sole XIVa East Greenland Va Iceland VIIj Great Sole XIVb South-east Greenland Vb Faroes VIIk West Great Sole Contents G Preface by Commissioner Borg: Redefining the Common Fisheries Policy for the 21st century . 4 G 1. How we manage our fisheries . 6 G 2. Healthy seas for a thriving industry . 8 G 3. Partners in sustainability: stakeholders . 9 G 4. Partners in sustainability: Europe and its Member States . 11 G 5. Partners in sustainability: scientists . 13 G 6. Planning for the long term . 15 G 7. Technical measures, targeted regulations . 17 G 8. A fleet for the future . 19 G 9. Controlling fisheries for the common good . 21 G 10. Fishing in wider waters: the benefits of partnership . 24 G 11. Fishing in wider waters: leaders on the international stage . 26 G 12. Aquaculture in the EU . 28 G 13. Support for an industry in transition . 30 G 14. The final product: producers, processors, consumers . 32 G 15. Beyond the precautionary principle . 34 G The way forward . 36 3 Preface by Commissioner Borg: Redefining the Common Fisheries Policy for the This is not a uniquely European phenomenon. The fishing industry is now a truly globalised business, and a similar pat- tern of events can be observed throughout the world. But it is also a European problem, and a European solution can help to meet the challenge of restoring the industry to sustainable profitability, while preserving the diversity and vitality of our fishing cultures and communities. In doing so, we ought to remember one important character- istic of the Common Fisheries Policy. Its aim has never been to impose a one-size-fits-all model of how Europe’s fishing industries should be run. Instead, it seeks to establish the The story of the European Union is one of unity in diversity. basic framework within which diversity can be cultivated and The EU provides its Member States with the means to pool conflict forestalled, on the basis of a number of common prin- their influence, and present a united position in the world on ciples. Launched in the 1970s to prevent and resolve disputes matters of great importance to our peace, prosperity and eco- between the EU Member States over how to share resources, nomic well-being. But it does so without flattening out the it now functions as the forum to define a common baseline for differences between its Member States and its regions: sustainable fishing and for allocating funds to support the instead, it seeks to preserve the diversity of their cultures and goals the EU and its Member States have chosen. their traditions. The Common Fisheries Policy therefore does not represent The same is true of the Common Fisheries Policy. The EU a fixed body of rules. It is rather a work in progress that has fishing industry is one of the most varied in the world. The to adapt to changing biological and political circumstances. European fleet ranges from the factory trawler fishing for Arc- All major decisions in this context are taken by Member tic cod in a force nine gale to the 30-foot longliner catching States’ governments in Council after consultation with the sardines in calm waters a few miles from the Adriatic coast, Members of the European Parliament. Every measure pro- and the purse seiner chasing tuna through the tropical heat of posed is based on substantial input from independent experts the Indian Ocean. The Common Fisheries Policy has to get and stakeholders’ representatives. the measure of a sector which extends from the private recre- ational fisherman at one extreme, to multi-million-euro listed When I was appointed European Commissioner for Fisheries companies at the other, and which covers the entire market in 2004, the Common Fisheries Policy was in a state of chain, from the point of capture, through landing, transport, optimistic turmoil. A major reform had been undertaken in processing and distribution, to final sale. 2002, and many of its consequences were still being worked through. Since then, I have had the satisfaction of guiding to I believe that we have every reason to preserve this diversity as realisation a number of initiatives which I believe will make we move into the 21st century. Fishing is not only an economic European fisheries more sustainable in the future than they activity, it is also a way of life. Closely tied to the unique char- have been in the recent past. Today, we have more stocks that acteristics of different marine ecosystems, it is central to the are managed under long-term plans. We also have clearer identity and prosperity of many coastal communities. biological targets for sustainability. And, above all, we have involved stakeholders more closely than ever before in the Yet that prosperity now faces many challenges. While fish and policy-making process. fish products are today more widely consumed across Europe than ever before, the new techniques and commercial struc- Nevertheless, despite these advances, the majority of com- tures which have made it possible to meet that growth in mercial fish stocks in EU waters continue to give cause for demand have also led to a massive increase in fishing pressure concern. In 2007, independent fisheries scientists assessed the in European waters. As a result, many fish stocks are over- condition of 33 of Europe’s most important commercial fish exploited, and the ecosystems of which they are an integral stocks, and concluded that 29 (some 88% of them) were over- part are under threat. fished. This compares with the situation outside the EU as 4 21st century reported by the FAO, where the global average is 25% of stocks loops and virtuous circles to be explored here. But we need to being overfished. Yet, despite these warning signs, decisions on keep an open mind when we engage with this more joined-up catch levels remain dominated by short-term thinking, and the approach to policy making. We also need to be aware of the catching capacity of the European fleet remains more than new obligations which come with it, and which will impact on twice what is needed to harvest our own fish stocks sustainably. our fisheries sector. I believe that fisheries have a positive role to play in realising the goals of the Marine Strategy Frame- This is bad news for the fish and for marine biodiversity. It is work Directive, which obliges Member States to ensure the also bad news for fishers, and for all the associated industries good environmental status of the seas under their jurisdiction which depend upon the wild capture sector. Shrinking catches, by 2021. And the benefits will not be all one way, either: the rising costs and the need to travel further and fish longer to catch healthier our seas, the more resilient our fish stocks should be, fewer and often less valuable fish mean that, in some sectors of and so the more profitable our fishing industry. the industry, many boats now operate at, or close to, a loss. Above all, the forthcoming reform of the Common Fisheries Promoting aquaculture is certainly an important alternative, Policy, which we are now preparing, will require the active which deserves our full support through appropriate regula- participation of all those who may be affected by its outcome. tory measures, awareness-building and market measures, as Fisheries management in Europe, at regional, national and well as with the help of targeted financial support.
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