EC fishing policy needs 'wholesale reform'

A European Commission report says that wholesale reform of the Common Fisheries Policy is needed to prevent a vicious cycle of depleted fish stocks and declining economic viability.

According to a discussion document launched by the European Commission today, a full overhaul is what is needed and not piecemeal reform.

The Commission says too many fishing boats are chasing too few fish.

It says 88% of European stocks are overfished - against a global average of 25% - while 30% cannot recover at normal rates because parent stocks are depleted.

Fleet overcapacity is therefore depleting stocks and driving industry profits down, the paper says.

Political pressure means the system is geared towards short-term profit rather than long term sustainability, the paper says.

The Commission admits the centralised Common Fisheries Policy has shortcomings - especially the annual late-night haggling between member states over the fishing quotas their national fleets are allowed.

However it also says there is still poor compliance among fishermen with the rules.

A reform process in 2002 introduced measures to make fishing more sustainable such as reducing the numbers of days-at-sea boats could operate.

The paper says these have only reduced by around 2% per year and that reduction has been offset by technological improvements.

One proposal is to give the industry more responsibility in managing fish stocks.

This would mean they would have to show that they are fishing stocks responsibly by the end result, how they do that would up effectively up to them.

Another suggestion is to liberalise the quota system.

Fishermen could buy fish stocks in a once-off scheme: the value of those stocks would depend on how well they are preserved.

The better preserved, the higher the price the fisherman could get if he sells on or passes the stock to the next generation.

The Commission wants a consultation process with fishermen, environmental groups and consumers over the next two years so that a new basic regulation can be put to EU member states and the European Parliament by 2011 with a view to launching a few fishing regime in 2013.