Fisheries policy adjustments must be phased, says Ireland’s marine minister

Ireland’s marine minister Simon Coveney is seeking agreement from the EU Commission that policies introduced under the new Common Fisheries Policy will not be applied as a “big bang” in 2016. A “step by step approach” is required to give industry time to adjust to the new approach, he said, following a meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council (16/06) to set 2016 fisheries quotas.

Minister Coveney is seeking a phased introduction of the  discards ban for fishermen in Kilmore Quay and other whitefish harbours. Photo Gillian Mills

Fish stocks generally are improving ahead of a target maximum sustainable yield by 2020. “Building fish stocks to MSY will benefit both the fishing industry and the environment and help secure the future,” he added.

Setting fish quotas in line with new scientific rules is being rolled out with the discard ban for whitefish stocks commencing on January 1, 2016. “I am working to deliver these new policies on a rational and progressive basis over the next four years so we deliver fully on the commitment for a new fully sustainable fishing industry by 2020,”Minister Coveney explained.

He added that from 2020 he was confident the industry will have moved to a “much stronger situation” with fish stocks rebuilt and the “unacceptable practices” of discarding fish at sea, ended. Implementing phase one of the discards ban “will require adjustment and changed practices by the fishing industry,” he added.

Funding will be made available to support operators, to find “practical approaches” to adjust to the new policy.

The Council of Ministers also agreed its position on proposed regulations for production and labelling of organic products. The next step is to secure the agreement of the European Parliament. These regulations provide rules for the organic sector and a “good basis for negotiations with the European Parliament.”