EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 18.9.2020 SWD(2020) 206 final COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT REGIONAL SEA BASIN ANALYSES REGIONAL CHALLENGES IN ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMON FISHERIES POLICY – A SEA BASIN PERSPECTIVE TO GUIDE EMFF PROGRAMMING EN EN Contents INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 5 1 Reducing the impacts of fishing on ecosystems ............................................................................. 7 1.1 Reducing fishing pressure ........................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Managing the landing obligation on board and on land............................................................. 8 1.3 Preserving ecosystems through environmental legislation ........................................................ 8 2 Providing conditions for an economically viable and competitive fishing sector and contributing to a fair standard of living for those who depend on fishing activities ................................................ 10 2.1 Addressing overcapacity ........................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Consolidating economic and social performance ..................................................................... 10 2.3 Estimation of the impact of COVID-19 crisis on the fisheries sector ........................................ 11 3 Improving enforcement and control of fisheries and the provision of data ................................ 13 3.1 Investing in technological innovation and training for control and enforcement .................... 13 3.2 Stronger data collection for better scientific advice ................................................................. 14 4 Promoting a sustainable and profitable aquaculture ................................................................... 15 4.1 Diversifying production and increasing value ........................................................................... 15 4.2 Ensuring environmental protection and climate adaptation ................................................... 16 5 Enabling climate change adaptation and mitigation .................................................................... 16 6 Improving the value chain and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products ......................... 17 7 Fostering the local development of a sustainable blue economy in coastal areas ...................... 18 BALTIC SEA ............................................................................................................................................ 21 1. Scope ............................................................................................................................................. 21 2. Ensuring sustainable management of natural resources ............................................................. 22 2.1 Applying the precautionary approach and achieving maximum sustainable yields ................. 22 2.2 Implementing the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management ............................... 23 2.3 Eliminating discards and making the best use of unwanted catches ....................................... 24 2.4 Ensuring coherence with environmental legislation ................................................................ 24 3. Improving enforcement and control of fisheries and the provision of data ................................ 26 3.1 Collection of scientific data ....................................................................................................... 26 3.2 Enforcement and control .......................................................................................................... 28 4. Ensuring a balanced socio-economic outlook for the fisheries sector ......................................... 28 4.1 Providing conditions for an economically viable and competitive fishing sector .................... 29 4.2 Addressing overcapacity ........................................................................................................... 32 4.3 Contributing to a fair standard of living for those who depend on fishing activities ............... 34 1 5. Promoting a sustainable and profitable aquaculture ................................................................... 35 6. Enabling climate change adaptation and mitigation .................................................................... 37 7. Fostering the local development of a sustainable blue economy ................................................ 37 NORTH SEA ........................................................................................................................................... 40 1. Scope ............................................................................................................................................. 40 2. Ensuring sustainable management of natural resources ............................................................. 41 2.1 Applying the precautionary approach and achieving maximum sustainable yields ................. 41 2.2 Implementing the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management ............................... 42 2.3 Eliminating discards and making the best use of unwanted catches ....................................... 42 2.4 Ensuring coherence with environmental legislation ................................................................ 43 3. Improving enforcement and control of fisheries and the provision of data ................................ 45 3.1 Collection of scientific data ....................................................................................................... 45 3.2 Enforcement and control .......................................................................................................... 47 4. Ensuring a balanced socio-economic outlook for the fisheries sector ......................................... 47 4.1 Providing conditions for an economically viable and competitive fishing sector .................... 48 4.2 Addressing overcapacity ........................................................................................................... 51 4.3 Contributing to a fair standard of living for those who depend on fishing activities ............... 51 5. Promoting sustainable and profitable aquaculture ...................................................................... 52 6. Enabling climate change adaptation and mitigation .................................................................... 53 7. Fostering the local development of a sustainable blue economy ................................................ 54 WESTERN WATERS ............................................................................................................................... 56 1. Scope ............................................................................................................................................. 56 2. Ensuring a sustainable management of natural resources ........................................................... 57 2.1 Applying the precautionary approach and achieving maximum sustainable yields ................. 57 2.2 Implementing the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management ............................... 58 2.3 Eliminating discards and making the best use of unwanted catches ....................................... 58 2.4 Ensuring coherence with environmental legislation ................................................................ 58 3. Improving enforcement and control of fisheries and the provision of data ................................ 60 3.1 Collection of scientific data ....................................................................................................... 60 3.2 Enforcement and control .......................................................................................................... 62 4. Ensuring a balanced socio-economic outlook for the fisheries sector ......................................... 63 4.1 Providing conditions for an economically viable and competitive fishing sector .................... 63 4.2 Addressing overcapacity ........................................................................................................... 67 4.3 Contributing to a fair standard of living for those who depend on fishing activities .............. 68 2 5. Promoting a sustainable and profitable aquaculture ................................................................... 69 6. Enabling climate change adaptation and mitigation .................................................................... 70 7. Fostering the local development of a sustainable blue economy ................................................ 71 MEDITERRANEAN SEA .......................................................................................................................... 73 1. Scope ............................................................................................................................................. 73 2. Ensuring sustainable management of natural resources ............................................................. 73 2.1 Applying the precautionary approach and achieving maximum sustainable yield .................. 73 2.2 Implementing the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management ............................... 75 2.3 Eliminating discards and making the best use of unwanted catches ......................................