Common Fisheries Policy
Fisheries policy is one of the common policy areas in the EU, which means that all Community countries are subject to the same regulations. It regulates all aspects of fishing, from the sea to the consumer.
The overall objective of the Common Fisheries Policy is to ensure economically, environmentally and socially sustainable use of fisheries resources. Member countries have limited freedom to introduce national regulations.
In December 2002, acting on a proposal from the European Commission, EU fisheries ministers adopted a revised Common Fisheries Policy. The previous fisheries policy needed to be reformed. Far too many fish had been taken from the sea by commercial fishing, leaving far too few mature fish to reproduce and rebuild stocks. Today, several important fish stocks, such as cod, are threatened. Overfishing has also had a negative impact on professional fishermen´s incomes, the balance of the marine ecosystem and the supply of fish to the EU market.
Fisheries management in the EU
Various methods and measures are used in the Common Fisheries Policy to manage fish stocks and prevent overfishing. The most important of these are described below.
TAC and quotas
Each year, the EU sets TACs (Total Allowable Catches), i.e. the maximum allowable catch for the most important fish stocks. The TACs are then shared out among the Member States according to an established system with national quotas. The system means that each Member State receives a set percentage of the fishing opportunities. The shares have primarily been set based on each Member State´s past catch record.
The decision on the total allowable catches is taken by the Council of Ministers (which in this case consists of EU fisheries ministers) but is preceded by a long process involving many countries and organisations. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which is responsible for providing biological advice on managing fish stocks, submits initial recommendations to the EU Commission on how much fish is to be caught. The Commission then consults its own Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) and subsequently presents a proposal for TACs and quotas for the coming year. After negotiations with EU Member States in working groups and Coreper, the Council of Ministers takes the final decision by qualified majority. Several of the TACs and quotas are also negotiated with third countries and in international organisations.
Capacity restrictions
One of the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy is to achieve a balance between fleet capacity and fishing opportunities to ensure long-term, sustainable use of resources. The national fishing fleets are limited by regulations on the total capacity of the EU fleet, measured in gross tonnage (GT) and engine power (kW). The fleet is not allowed to expand; if new vessels are introduced, a corresponding capacity must leave fishing activities.
Fishing effort
Fishing effort is also referred to simply as `effort´. Fishing is regulated by determining the number of days of fishing allowed (days at sea). This may apply to a specific vessel or to a nation´s entire fishing fleet.
Fishing is also regulated in other ways, such as gear restrictions, closed areas and marine reserves. Decisions on these kinds of regulations are taken by the Council of Ministers.
Fisheries controls
To ensure compliance with the rules and to stop illegal fishing, fisheries controls are conducted by both Member States themselves and the EU control organisation. In Sweden, the Swedish Board of Fisheries and the Swedish Coast Guard monitor that Swedish fishermen do not fish illegally, do not use prohibited gear, do not exceed their quotas, etc. Controls take place both in port and at sea. The EU Commission conducts controls by dispatching Community inspectors, primarily to check on Member States´ control activities.
The EU has also set up a Community Fisheries Control Agency, which has now begun to work on coordinating the Member States´ fisheries controls in the various EU fishing grounds. The Agency is located in Spain.
Relations with third countries
The EU also enters into fishing agreements at bilateral and multilateral level. Fishing rights are negotiated with many countries outside the EU in exchange for different kinds of compensation, depending on the interests of the third country concerned.
The new cod plan
The new cod plan that is to apply in the Baltic Sea in 2008 was established by the EU Council of Ministers on 12 June 2007. One important goal of the Government´s work has been to promote vigorous and sustainable small-scale fishing. The negotiation process has led to an easing of conditions for small-scale fishing. The plan will introduce a combination of common fishery closures and a set number of fishing days that fishermen themselves can choose when to use. Fishing days were previously determined in advance, and weather conditions could prevent vessels - particularly smaller ones - from leaving port. The sea area from Kalmar and north to Stockholm (area 27), where mainly small-scale fishing is conducted, is exempted from the plan. The exemption is being implemented so that other species in the area can be caught even during the closure for spawning. Furthermore, fishermen who voluntarily accept satellite surveillance and electronic logbooks will be relieved of some reporting requirements. Another important issue for the Government has been to improve fisheries control. The multi-annual plan contains several improvements in this area.
Measures to save eel stocks
A recovery plan for eels was adopted by the EU Council of Ministers in June 2007. During recent decades, eel stocks have fallen dramatically and the main goal of the plan is that 40 per cent of silver eel must be able to migrate to the Sargasso Sea to spawn. Each country is to establish a national plan for eels with various measures to save the stock. The measures can cover such aspects as fishing restrictions, restoration of migration routes and biotopes for eels, and restocking of elvers, or young eels.
