MEPS ASK FOR FISHERS TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

MEPs ask for fishers to be more involved in fisheries management. The European Parliament has asked the Commission to put forward a voluntary regulatory framework at EU level to include fishers and producers’ organisations more closely in managing fisheries.

In a resolution approved by 583 votes to 10 and 33 abstentions, MEPs note that the lack of specific EU legislation on co-management, i.e. involving all those in the fisheries sector in its management, was identified by EU countries as an obstacle to using this method.

Co-management has been successful in many countries, MEPs note, but it is covered by different legal frameworks, both at local level – like in Galicia, Catalonia and Andalusia in Spain -, and at state level – in Portugal, Italy, France, Sweden, Croatia and the Netherlands.

Therefore, they ask the Commission to put forward a voluntary regulatory framework at EU level to encourage the sector and member states to use this system of management in other regions and countries. The Commission should include voluntary rules on co-management also in the next revision of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). MEPs ask for administrative, economic and advisory tools to be given to the sector and member states on how to implement it.

Producers organisations, such as cofradías and comités des pêches or prud’homies de pêcheurs, are essential to co-management and, as such, should be eligible for support from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), MEPs agreed. Moreover, within EMFAF, there should be specific support for co-management with adequate funding.
Before the vote, the rapporteur Clara Aguilera (S&D, ES) said:

“This initiative intends to promote the participation of all those involved in fisheries. There are very interesting experiences of co-management in different countries, that involve the sector in decision-making. Co-fisheries management is not new but it is not regulated at EU level. We believe this regulation is necessary within CFP and, with this proposal, we aim to boost it”.

Ms Aguilera also stated that:

“Co-management would bring an element of trust, transparency and participation to the decision-making process in Brussels”.

Background

In the last 10 years, the CFP has been aiming to preserve fish stocks and ensure the economic viability of the sector, taking into account transparency and the participation of all those involved.

According to data by both Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, the traditional fisheries management systems currently being used failed to achieve the necessary balance between sustainable and profitable fisheries, both at ecosystem and socio-economic levels.

Source