Fishing – Commission proposes huge cuts to save industry, December 2002

Monday 16 December 2002 saw the start of a Fisheries Council meeting at which it is expected that significant decisions will be taken on the future of the Union's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Speaking before the meeting - which might last all week - Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler said:

'This week is a watershed. If we fail to agree a comprehensive package of reforms for the common fisheries policy in the Council over the next few days, we will lay ourselves open to the accusation of having placed short-term political expediency above the overall interests of the European fishing industry.

For one thing is clear - simply continuing with current practice would be a grave mistake, one that would only harm our fishermen, because scientists are unanimous that this would spell the demise of some of our most important stocks, and with them the future of our fishing industry.'

Ministers will not only be discussing reform of the CFP - which Commissioner Fischler admits has failed - but will be trying to decide what to do about the crisis in North Sea cod stocks. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has called for a complete ban on cod fishing in the area. Their argument appears to be strengthened by the experience of Canada's Grand Banks fishing communities, Newfoundland, where the cod have all but disappeared, despite assurances by fishermen that stocks were not in danger. BBC News Online reported a fisheries scientist from ICES saying that 'North Sea cod are set to follow those off eastern Canada into virtual extinction'.

Fishermen have expressed dismay at the Commission's proposals, claiming that many of them will lose their livelihoods and see their communities devastated. Although the cuts would focus on the North Sea, the Irish Sea and the west coast of Scotland, with a potentially devastating impact on the UK fishing industry (20,000 jobs could be lost in Scotland alone according to Scottish fishermen), they would also affect fishermen in France and Spain.

Commissioner Fischler said he understood the concerns, but defended the Commission's actions, which have been taken on the basis of scientific reports (which some Member States dispute). 'Telling fishermen that things can remain as they are' he said 'is simply to pull the wool over their eyes. For it is they who this reform package is intended to help - with no fish left to catch, there can be no fishing industry.'

There are two main elements to the proposed reforms: a sustainable stock-management policy (based on TACs and quotas and on reductions in fishing), and fleet-management policy (including subsidies).

Although money will not be available for modernising fishing vessels after 2004, some will be available during 2003-2004, but within strict limits:

• for each gross registered tonne for which aid is granted, 1.7 tonnes must be decommissioned

• aid may be received only for boats of up to 100 gross registered tonnes

• aid will be restricted to Member States that have met their overall MAGP IV (Fourth Multi-Annual Guidance Programme) capacity-reduction targets

The Commission's proposals would see catches of cod and haddock cut by up to 80%, with 8,600 boats decommissioned by 2006, resulting in an estimated 28,000 jobs lost. The Commission is proposing to establish a 'scrapping fund' to help pay for decommissioning, but suggests that the limited budget of €32 million should 'give priority to boats that fish the stocks covered by recovery plans.' (Further resources might become available following the mid-term review of the Structural Funds).

The Commission wanted a definitive plan to be adopted before the end of March 2003, for implementation by 1 July. Mr Fischler had warned that he would impose an emergency ban if agreement couldn't be reached on quotas for 2003. According to the FT, most Member States had rejected the proposal for 80% cuts on the first day of discussions, with Ministers talking instead of a compromise agreement, with large cuts being delayed until March and temporary measures introduced at the end of 2002.

Links:

European Commission:
	16.12.02:	Dr. Franz Fischler: Declaration on the Fisheries Reform [SPEECH/02/633]
	Reforming the Common Fisheries Policy
BBC News Online:
	16.12.02:	EU battles over fishing cuts
	16.12.02:	North Sea cod 'face commercial end'
European Sources Online: Financial Times:
	17.12.02:	Decision on curbing cod fishing faces delay
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea:
	Cod stocks at risk of collapse
Save Britain's Fish:
	Homepage
European Sources Online: Topic Guides
	The Common Fisheries Policy

Eric Davies
KnowEurope Researcher
Compiled: Tuesday, 17 December 2002

Monday 16 December 2002 saw the start of a Fisheries Council meeting at which it is expected that significant decisions will be taken on the future of the Union's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).