Equal penalties call to deter fishy catches

Date: 28/03/02

By David Cronin

MEPS are calling for uniform penalties to be imposed on fishermen who break the law in EU waters.

Their call follows publication of data from nine member states, which reveal that average fines levied on those who breached rules laid down by the EU's common fisheries policy during 2000 ranged from €316 in Sweden to €14,592 in Ireland.

Scottish Liberal Elspeth Attwooll, who has drawn up a report on the issue for the Parliament's fisheries committee, said: 'In light of the fundamental principle of equal treatment, attempts should be made to effect greater uniformity in the extent of the penalties to which fishermen throughout the European Union are subjected.'

Her report urges the Commission to examine the possibility of introducing a common system of minimum penalties across the Union. But past attempts to harmonise standards have come to nothing.

A recent paper drafted by fisheries officials explained: 'The Commission has made several attempts to make headway in this direction. It has received the support of the European Parliament but failed to win the backing of the Council [of Ministers].

'Virtually all the member states raised objections to the introduction of such a system, quoting the principles of national competence and legal independence.' Examples of illegal conduct detected by national inspectors included:

• Using equipment or methods which had been banned.
• Hindering inspectors' work by destroying or fabricating evidence.
• Falsifying data entered into logbooks.
• Placing fish that were smaller than the minimum legal size on the market.

MEPs are calling for uniform penalties to be imposed on fishermen who break the law in EU waters.