Minister targets political agreement on fisheries policy reform within Irish EU presidency
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, in his capacity as President of the European Council of Fisheries Ministers, has welcomed the European Parliament’s endorsement on the reform agenda for the Common Fisheries Policy, prioritised for delivery by the end of June.
The vote is seen as a major step forward in the process to deliver on maximum sustainable yield (MSY); elimination of the controversial practice of discards (dumping at sea) and a switch to long-term (scientifically based) planning for fisheries.
The Killybegs pelagic fleet. Photo Gillian Mills/Inshore Ireland
“I’m particularly pleased this vote occurred during the Irish EU Presidency; this shows the pivotal role Ireland can play in influencing broader European Policy and in bringing together divergent views towards an agreed reform package.
“Ireland has set out an ambitious work programme aimed at delivering an agreed package by the end of June. This objective can only be realised if Parliament, Council and the Commission work together,” he said.
Minister Coveney added that while a momentum was now gathering he acknowledged he had set an ambitious work programme and that differences existed between the European Council and Parliament, particularly regarding multi-annual fisheries plans.
“It is only in a framework of mutual cooperation and flexibility that the objective of a reformed CFP can be delivered in the lifetime of the current Irish Presidency.”
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The road to reform Presenting the work programme he outlined his intention of reaching a Council agreement on the Basic Regulation of the Common Fisheries Policy, at the February Council. February also begins trialogues between the Council; Parliament and the Commission on the Regulation of Common Markets Organisation. A Council agreement on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Regulation is planned for the April Council to start trialogue negotiations on all three regulations with a view to obtaining full political agreement during the Irish Presidency. “Ireland’s Presidency objective is to reach a political agreement on all three CFP Regulations by the end of June 2013. Clearly this objective can only be realised if there is strong commitment from the Council, the Parliament and the Commission.” He added there was “significant common ground on many of the critical issues” such as achieving MSY and discard elimination. “There are divergent views on detail…but the core values are, I believe, accepted by all of the institutions. As President of the EU Fisheries Council my overall vision is to build a modern and competitive fisheries sector which is important not only for jobs and growth, but also for sustainable, long-term global food security,” he added. Other areas discussed included technical and control measures in the Skagerrak and the successful outcome of recent negotiations between the EU and Norway and multi-annual management plans. |
Industry support
The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) welcomed the minister’s objective to reaching agreement on form of the CFP under the Irish EU Presidency.
“The key issues to be agreed on from a European fishing industry perspective include discards, sustainable harvesting and management of fish stocks; regionalisation; improvement in scientific data and assessments; funding and the pivotal role of Producer Organisations in the reformed policy, remarked their chief executive, Francis O’ Donnell.
He added of critical importance from an Irish perspective is the inclusion of the Irish Box ― the biologically sensitive nursery area ― and the enshrinement and enhancement of the Hague Preferences.
“The Hague preferences, which have been in place since 1976, give Ireland an additional quota share in many key stocks. This arrangement has to be fought for annually at the December Council,” he said.
“The FIF is confident that Minister Coveney, in conjunction with the European Parliament, can deliver a reformed policy that is effective and workable, to deliver sustainable stocks and a sustainable fishing industry”.
Regarding the proposed ban on discards, O’Donnell said that a “pragmatic approach” was needed, focussing first on avoidance and then on minimising discards “to their lowest possible level” supported by incentives for fishermen.
“A discard ban could then be implemented if warranted. This is in line with the alternative approach put forward by the European fishing industry, which sees such a ban at the end of the process rather than at the beginning of the process.”
Commission support
Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki said she was especially pleased with the Parliament’s support for a policy that was based on exploiting fisheries resources sustainably (according to the principle of MSY from 2015) and a policy that introduces a discard ban with clear dates to put an end to wasteful practices.
“I would like to congratulate the Parliament on this success and I look forward to the work that the Council and the Parliament will soon start, to ensure the adoption of the reform of the CFP,” she said.
She added that CFP reform aims to create the conditions for EU fishing fleets to be economically viable and to promote EU aquaculture.
“Fisheries management should allow all stocks to be rebuilt to healthy levels that will maximise catches for fishermen. The wasteful practice of discarding perfectly edible fish must be gradually stopped with clear obligations and deadlines, allowing fishermen the time to adapt.
“Decisions on fisheries management must be taken with the involvement of fishermen and stakeholders, and must take into account the specificities of the sea basins,” she said.
