The Common Fisheries Policyof the European Union

Niki Sporrong

• Between individual fishermen• Between groups of fishermen• Between different countries• With other user interests and other stakeholders

But cooperation can lead to good solutions

A history of conflict

• Article 38, The Treaty of Rome 1957• Basic principles established in 1967• Market & structural policies 1970• Independent Directorate General 1976• External relations policy1977• Resource management policy in 1983• 10-year reformcycle: 1992, 2002 & 2012

The EU Common Fisheries Policy

1. Resource management: TACs, technical measures, conservation

2. Structural policy: fleet and infrastructure3. Market policy: trade, price support, labeling and

consumer information4. External policy: fisheries partnership agreements

(access) and international agreements

Policy objectives partially contradictive

Today: four main pillars

• 80 % of stocks in North East Atlantic outside safe biological limits in 2001

• Demersal stocks at < 10 % of 1970s levels• Increase in pelagic species• 25 % of catch consists of unwanted bycatch• Fleet estimated to be twice the sustainable size• Generous subsidies• Illegal fishing possibly at 40 %• Around 60.000 jobs lost in 1990-1997

The 2002 reform

• Conservation and resource management more central to the policy: recovery plans, long-term management plans, precautionary principle and ecosystembased management

• National management of fleet size• Initially fewer changes in control and monitoring• Significant changes in the subsidies regime• Increased stakeholder participation in the policy

process – RACs

Changes in 2002 reform

Implementation phase• Long-term managment plans• Increased protection of the wider marine environment• Days at sea restrictions• Gear changes, landing sizes• New IUU Regulation and Control Regulation• Support for diversification• RACs

Slow process, lowest common denominator, Business as usual

Leading up to 2012 reformthe EU Common Fisheries Policy is still considered to be a failure:

• Fleet still too large – possibly increased • Most European fish stocks still overfished (30 % o sbl; 80 % below MSY)• 93 % of North Sea cod taken immature• Landings fell by 30 % in 10 years

Even the European Commission describes it as such:

• Poor economic performance• High environmental impact• High fuel consumption • Low contribution to EU food supply• Consumers thinks CFP not sustainable• MS costs for management & subsidies > than value of catches

Why is it not working?• Short term profitability dominates• Allocation of access rules• Lack of sector buy in – cheating the rules• Lack of complete mortality data • National interests influence EU policy• Still conflicting objectives

• Prioritisation of environmental objectives, following scientific advice

• Long-term management objectives• Minimise bycatch and effects on the wider marine

environment (LIF)• Access regime that promotes LIF• Decision-making framework differentiating between

strategic and management decisions• Transparent and participatory decision-making• Removal of harmful subsidies (structural)

Possible solutions

• Internationally agreed targets, such as MSY by 2015, leading to gradual change of EU targets for resources

• International and EU environmental legislation (BDC, Habitats Directive, MSFD, MSP)

• The Lisbon Treaty and the EP role (2010)• Fuel prices and financial crisis• Increased involvement from civil society• Greater scrutiny by media• Public campaigns and social networking sites

Wider changes affecting the CFP

Where are we today?

Future policy now in the hands of Council and EP

with Commission “guidance”- trialogue