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December 2000. The European Commission sounds the alarm bell. This time it's cod in the

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North Sea which are at risk of collapse. The main reason is overfishing, particularly of

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young fish. A crisis situation needs crisis measures. Some fishing areas are closed down

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to allow fish stocks to rebuild themselves. For weeks fishing vessels stay in port. Losses are

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substantial. Understandably fishermen complain. After 20 years the common fisheries policy has

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not been able to reverse the depletion of fish stocks or to reduce the amount of fishing by

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the EU fleet. As a result jobs are being lost and coastal communities are declining.

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The Commission proposes therefore an overhaul of the CFP, covering conservation of fish stocks,

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protection of the marine environment, management of the fleet, control of fishing activities,

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aquaculture, financial support for the sector, good governance and international relations.

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The aim is to ensure the biological, economic and social sustainability of the fishing sector

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while improving the way the CFP is managed. Over the past 20 years the decline of the fish stocks

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has been giving cause for concern. Herring stocks in the Baltic have halved. North Sea cod has

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declined by 60% and three quarters of whiting have gone from the Irish Sea. The situation is

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similarly worrying for place, hake, haddock and many more. No annual or even emergency measures

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have managed to rebuild sustainable stocks. At the moment the total allowable catches,

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TACs and quotas are fixed by the Council on an annual basis after tough negotiations. Every

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year fishermen are left wondering just how much fish they'll be allowed to catch. Worse still,

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total allowable catches are often set at levels higher than those recommended by scientists.

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As well as establishing recovery plans for the species most in danger of collapse,

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the Commission proposes the adoption of long-term management measures for the stocks.

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The advantages of this system are more stable TACs which would allow stocks to rebuild and

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also enable fishermen to plan ahead better. The quantities to be caught would be calculated

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according to a precautionary limit which could never be exceeded. This should avoid a repeat

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of the cod scenario. Specific measures to reinforce conservation are also foreseen

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for the Mediterranean. The programs aimed at reducing the size of the fishing fleet

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have had only limited success. More efficient means are needed. From now on,

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public financial aid would only be allocated for measures to reduce fleet capacity. Starting

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from the levels of capacity set for the 31st of December 2002, the Commission proposes a

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number of measures. One, any withdrawal of capacity carried out with public aid would

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automatically lead to an equivalent and permanent reduction of the authorized capacity levels.

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Two, any introduction of new capacity would have to be compensated by the withdrawal of

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an equivalent capacity without financial aid. Three, each member state would be required

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to ensure a balance between the fishing effort of its fleet and available resources. Four,

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exceptional aid measures for scrapping vessels would be provided for the fleets which catch

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species in danger of collapse. These measures would inevitably involve some short-term economic

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losses. This is why the Commission will invite member states to make greater use of EU funds

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for programs aimed at retraining fishermen and for other social measures. Another important

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part of the reform is the control of fishing activities. The major problem with the current

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system is the lack of uniformity in the enforcement of rules. The first thing the Commission wants to

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do is to strengthen the uniformity of the systems of monitoring and sanctions. At the same time,

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it would extend the use of new control technologies such as vessel surveillance

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by satellite which allow for more effective controls and also improve safety at sea.

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In the longer term, the Commission proposes the creation of a joint fisheries inspection

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structure. Its role would be to improve cooperation between the national bodies

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and to ensure equal enforcement of the rules in all member states.

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The Commission would like, through the setting up of regional advisory councils,

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to involve all the interested parties at the local level in framing the decisions that concern them.

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Scientists, local managers, fishermen of course, but also representatives of civil society. These

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councils would provide a voice for grassroots concerns. Another proposal on governance is that

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in emergencies, member states would be able to take measures at the local level,

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so long as they don't breach EU rules. It's very difficult to arrest a vessel caught fishing

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illegally on the high seas. The European Union is nonetheless determined to reinforce its fight

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against this type of activity, which threatens fish resources and jobs. The problem is that

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ultimately only the state where the vessel is registered can impose significant sanctions.

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But some countries exert almost no control over their vessels. That's why the Commission is

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asking for much greater responsibility from the flag states and for cooperation among the parties

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concerned to eradicate illegal fishing. Decision makers, fishermen, fish merchants,

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processors, consumers, all are concerned by this reform of the common fisheries policy.

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The sustainability of fish stocks, and as a result,

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the survival of an entire economic sector, depend on it.

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So

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yes