European Commission

Press Release on the Green Paper on the Future of the Common Fisheries Policy in the European Union

Re-thinking the Common Fisheries Policy

The European Commission has adopted a Green Paper on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The Commission has seized the opportunity of a review of some elements of the CFP, by the end of 2002, to launch a wide-ranging debate about its future shape, on the basis of the first-ever Green Paper on the management of Community fisheries. " The CFP needs urgent change: many of the most important fish stocks are on the verge of collapse. We are catching too many fish too young, which is seriously hindering the renewal of fish stocks. Decisive action is required to ensure the sustainability of the fisheries sector. The Green Paper puts forward new objectives and presents options on how to achieve them. I invite fishermen as well as all those who feel concerned by the future of European fisheries to take an active part in the debate launched today", Commissioner Fischler, in charge of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries declared. Following this debate and a public hearing on 5 to 7 June, the Commission will bring forward its proposals for a revised CFP which should enter into force on 1 January 2003.

Getting out of a spiral of decline

The Green Paper presents a bleak picture of the situation of European fisheries today. Many of the most valuable fish stocks in Community waters are over-fished and, as a result, are currently outside safe biological limits (see graphs for North Sea cod and Northern hake). The amount of adult demersal (bottom-dwelling) fish in EU waters was about 90% greater in the early 1970s than in the late 1990s.

This is due to too much fishing by a fleet that is too large for the amount of fish that should be caught and by conservation measures which have not been effective or selective enough to protect fish stocks and marine ecosystems. Shrinking economic returns tend to encourage people to fish harder, often by investing more in better fishing technology, compounding the vulnerability of the stocks and of marine ecosystems as well as undermining the economic situation of the industry itself. Thus, between 1990 and 1997, employment went down by 19% in the catching sector and 10% in processing.

Setting clearer objectives

According to the Green Paper, the problems of the fisheries sector have been caused by conflicting objectives and short-term measures.

Clearer objectives must now be identified and priorities set in order to build up the natural assets that have been run down and to take more account of Community policies regarding the environment, food safety and development co-operation.

A series of options to meet the objectives of the future CFP

The Commission identifies four main objectives for the CFP:

Healthy fish stocks in balanced marine ecosystems

The message is clear: unless fishing is reduced in Community waters, the sustainability of many fish stocks will be threatened. How can this be done? The adoption of multi-annual and multi-species fishing quotas, based on the precautionary principle, would tackle the problems resulting from annual decisions on single species. This approach would end the uncertainty of annual variations and allow fishermen to plan their activities better.

The CFP could be adapted to facilitate the implementation of the Action Plans and Strategies on the protection of the marine environment which have recently been adopted. There might also be scope through the eco-labelling of fisheries products for making people more aware of the environmental effects of fisheries management. Fishing gear must be made more selective and its impact on the environment must be minimised.

Reducing fishing effort and capacity is an absolute must if any real progress is to be achieved. A better balance must be reached between the amount of fishing and the quantities of fish that can be removed from the sea without endangering the future of the fish stocks or of ecosystems. Fleet reduction programmes must be made more effective and simpler to administrate and to monitor.

New ways must be found to strengthen and harmonise fisheries control in the Community to ensure that fishermen know that the same infringement will be treated with the same severity throughout the Community. The setting up of a Joint Inspection Office could be a way of meeting these objectives.

The Commission would also like to strengthen the integration of the Mediterranean into the CFP through the improvement of fisheries advice, the reviewing of technical measures and the strengthening of control and enforcement.

Greater involvement of stakeholders to improve governance

Fishermen have complained of their lack of involvement in the formulation of rules that affect their daily working lives. This often leads to hostility towards these rules. Participation brings responsibility, encourages acceptance of the rules and compliance and, in turn, makes monitoring and control more effective. Regional advisory committees could play a role in the development of fisheries management in future. Certain management responsibilities could also be decentralised to enable Member States to respond swiftly and effectively to local emergencies.

The quality of conservation measures depends on sound scientific advice. Closer links must be developed between fishermen and scientists to improve the transparency of scientific advice - on which measures are based - and to increase fishermen's confidence in this advice.

An economically sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sector

To be sustainable the fisheries sector must become self-sufficient, profitable and self-financing. However, at present some €1.1billion of public aid are injected into the fisheries sector every year. For the Commission, public aid to the sector must encourage conservation, not work against it by encouraging over investment in the fleet.

Reducing fishing effort and the fishing fleet inevitably leads to job losses. This is why measures must be found to help coastal communities reduce their dependence on fisheries by encouraging initiatives that create or sustain alternative sources of employment.

Aquaculture and processing offer such alternatives for people leaving the catching sector. They, too, are confronted with a number of challenges and ways must be found to help them confront these challenges.

Achieving sustainable fisheries beyond EU waters

Many changes have taken place in the world of international fisheries and the CFP, for which fish resources beyond Community waters are very important, has to adapt to these changes. The EU must remain active on the international stage to promote sustainable fisheries through its support for Regional Fisheries Organisations and its fight against illegal fishing and by fostering co-operation with developing countries.

Coherence should also be increased between the Union's policy of promoting development co-operation and the CFP. Fisheries Agreements with developing countries should become stronger partnerships to help in the development of the local fishing sector.

Responding to the Green Paper

This is the first time that a Green paper has been produced on Community fisheries. The Commission has invited the fishing sector as well as all other interested parties to contribute to the debate on improving the Common Fisheries Policy. A public hearing will be held from 5 to 7 June 2001 in Brussels to enable the Commission to listen to the views of all interested parties. The Green Paper can be accessed on the website of the Directorate General for Fisheries at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/policy_en.htm