It has been an unfortunate and common practice for almost a quarter of all fish caught in the European waters to be dumped back, a move seen as disastrous by environmentalists. In order to prevent over fishing in Europe, EU legislators drafted the guidelines for regulations on this subject, in the first quarter of the year.
The objective of the reformed fisheries policy is to end over fishing and make fishing sustainable – environmentally, economically and socially. The new policy aims to bring fish stocks back to sustainable levels, by setting fishing opportunities based on scientific advice, and also to provide EU citizens with a stable, secure and healthy food supply for the long term and bring new prosperity to the fishing sector, end dependence on subsidies and create new opportunities for jobs and growth in coastal areas. Commissioner Maria Damanaki, presenting the Commission position at the beginning of the discussions, said: “We have a very difficult job, a very ambitious task. I appreciate a lot the efforts to have as many countries as possible on board, but I think also that we have to keep the ambition of the proposal on the table. Reaching sustainability and abandoning discarding practices is indeed a radical change and we have to keep this momentum. We are not starting from scratch; we have an excellent starting point: the General Approach that the Council agreed in June is the basis on which we will have to build today. We have to move forward to remove the uncertainties that are still there work in order to have a compromise that can be workable: we have to find the best way to implement the reform. About the discard ban: I understand the concerns of Ministers and the Presidency, about the timeline: we need to be realistic and I am here to hear your proposals. I just want to remind that 2020 is the deadline: that is the limit we all agreed upon. Also we need some flexibility referring to mechanisms for implementation and I am ready to discuss about the introduction of a de minimis threshold and quota flexibility measures. I understand that we will need incentives to persuade our industry that we are going to support the adjustments needed to have better implementation: I can promise that we are to exhaust our margin in order to fund projects that can help the discard ban. For example, we have funded the 50-50 pilot projects to eliminate discarding in the English Channel; we are going to follow this example and the Commission will do its best to keep funding projects to have new more selective gears and enhance cooperation between fishermen and scientists: our fishermen will not be left alone, this is a promise. Though, two elements are of particular concern. Firstly the introduction of generalized exemptions for certain species, and, secondly, the introduction of transitional over quota fishing. These measures undermine the principles of our proposal. We want an effective discard ban; we want to stop high levels of discarding of all important species. I am here to facilitate this dialogue: our proposals are not set in stone, and we can accept improvements to make the discard ban work in practice. But we have to stay within the boundaries of the aim of this reform. I am ready to work with you in that direction today.”
EU environment committee vote on deep water trawls criticized
Scots MEP Struan Stevenson and Senior Vice President of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee has responded to yesterday’s vote in the European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI) to ban deep water trawling at depths below 200 meters, saying that such a move would seriously harm the Scottish fishing industry. Speaking in Brussels, following a tense and lengthy debate on deep-sea stocks in the Fisheries Committee, Struan said: “I am astonished that the Environment Committee yesterday voted in favor of a proposal to ban deep water trawling at depths below 200 meters, something that goes way beyond the proposal from the European Commission. Although the Committee’s opinion is only consultative and carries no legislative weight, it clearly demonstrates that the decision was taken from a position of ignorance of the true facts and the socio-economic impacts that such a ban would have. Scottish vessels in particular fish on the slope of the Continental Shelf down to depths of 900 meters, catching whitefish like megrim, pollock and monkfish. This significant fishery would be seriously impacted by any proposed deep water ban. It is a ludicrous idea to suggest to Scottish fisherman in Fraserburgh, Peterhead or Kinlochbervie that they should attempt to catch monkfish at 900 meters with longlines.” Struan continued: “While I recognize the need to look at a new management regime that provides full protection to the endangered deep water, slow-maturing species, a one-size-fits-all ban not only flies in the face of the spirit of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy, but would only represent the thin end of the wedge.” Struan concluded: “The Fisheries Committee will hold an additional hearing on this issue on Monday 17th June in Brussels, where scientists and stakeholders can give us a clear view on the massive displacement that would be caused to many vessels in Scotland and other EU member states if the Commission proposals or the ENVI decisions are implemented.”
Eating sustainable means fishing sustainable
Stopping the wasteful practice of discarding edible fish is one of the key elements of the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy. However, this will not solve the whole problem: supporting measures, including market led measures are needed, according to Damanaki. In concrete terms, the recent measures require that by 2015, all European quotas be set at the optimal catch level, known as maximum sustainable yield. The fishing industry had called for introducing that standard on a case-by-case basis starting in 2020. The legislation also requires the elimination of excess fishing capacity, a perennial problem for European fisheries, by removing boats from the fishing fleets. The measure also would deny subsidy payments to fisheries that did not respect the law, including by failing to provide accurate catch data. Parliament also voted for a strict ban on discarding, the environmentally and economically costly practice in which fish are thrown back into the sea, often dead or dying, because they could not be legally caught. Fleets will have to modify their methods and equipment so they do not accidentally catch prohibited fish. Moreover, consumers themselves can make an impact of the fishing industry, by selecting those species proven to be sustainably caught, according to Greenpeace. Many stocks of the popular whitefish such as cod or plaice are in bad shape – there may be plenty on the shelves, but there are not many left in the sea. The organization recommends consumers to try something new – ask staff at the fish counter for a good alternative to your usual choice. Some supermarkets are promoting these alternatives each month – look out for these options. If consumers reduce consumption and broaden their tastes, then the pressure on popular species can be reduced. One final recommendation regards the manner in which species are caught. The Greenpeace organization advises consumers to choose line-caught fish wherever possible. Line-caught fish from small-scale fisheries don’t have the by-catch or stock-depletion problems that are associated with trawling with massive nets. “Line-caught fish also tend to be of better quality than trawled or netted fish. The line-caught sea bass and mackerel fisheries in SW England are a good option. Not all lines are good however. If you must eat tuna, then go for skipjack or yellowfin caught by rod-and-line. Avoid tuna caught by long-lines unless you are sure that the lines have been specially adapted to avoid catching threatened species such as seabirds, sharks and turtles. For shellfish, choose hand-gathered scallops, winkles, clams, oysters or mussels rather than dredged ones, and pot-caught crabs, langoustines (scampi), and lobsters”, concluded Greenpeace representatives.