By Louize Hill - 6th February 2012
The WWF vision is achievable – but only if the right decisions are made during the next few months of this critical reform
Louize Hill
Europe needs clear plans and objectives to guarantee real sustainability in the common fisheries policy, warns Louize Hill.
WWF’s vision for European fisheries is one of “healthy marine ecosystems supporting abundant fish stocks which in turn provide sustainable livelihoods for fishing industries and fisheries dependent communities around Europe and the world”. This vision is not far from the one set out by the European commission in 2009 when it introduced the green paper on the reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP). Unlike some policy areas, fisheries management is one where real solutions are available. This means that the WWF vision is achievable – but only if the right decisions are made during the next few months of this critical reform. As the commission’s impact assessment of the reform clearly showed, maintaining the status quo is not an option.
The marine environment and fish stocks are in trouble. Around 75 per cent of assessed fish stocks in EU waters are fully or over-exploited, we don’t even have data to assess the status of 55 per cent of all stocks. The North Sea yields only 20 per cent of the cod, plaice and sole it did 25 years ago, the numbers confirm what we know: fish stocks are generally in decline, and the fishing industry is not doing much better. While Europe’s fishing fleet is estimated to be two to three times the size needed to catch the available resources, we know much of Europe’s fleet is running at a loss, or is propped up by subsidies.
The proposals for the new CFP released last July 2011 demonstrate that the commission has taken this situation seriously. While they address many of the issues that are vital to achieving sustainable EU fisheries and offer some welcome improvements on present fisheries management, it lacks ambition. There is still much missing, in particular a clear linkage between conservation and management objectives. Critically the proposal lacks the guidance and coherence that will allow member states and stakeholders to fulfil their obligations to deliver sustainable fisheries.
In more detail in their green paper, the commission identified the major failings of the present CFP – and the things that need addressing to make a difference – as overcapacity; imprecise policy objectives; short-termism; not enough responsibility for industry and poor compliance.
Therefore, to turn the situation round there is an absolute need for clear high-level objectives for European fisheries to guarantee sustainability is at the core of the CFP We need a framework within which these objectives can be met - long term multiannual plans (MAPs); MAPs drafted by member states and stakeholders on a fishery by fishery basis and the obligation for CFP objectives to apply to all EU vessels wherever they fish in the world.
In conclusion, there is still much work to be done between now and the end of the reform process. WWF will be continuing to make the case to improve the current proposal to deliver real sustainability and a long-term future for fisheries. We will be looking to MEPs as well as the council of ministers to ensure those improvements are made.
Louize Hill is head of European marine and fisheries policy at WWF's European policy office
