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REPORT (2021/2169(INI))

On the state of play in the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and future perspectives

A-9-2023-0357

Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: Gabriel Mato

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's resolution on the state of play of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reviews how the policy has worked since 2014 and sets out future perspectives. It finds that socio-economic and food security goals have been under-addressed, and asks for the CFP to be better implemented and, where needed, reformed. It calls for full ex ante and ex post impact assessments, a stronger social dimension, a pragmatic landing obligation, longer total allowable catches (TACs), and a dedicated Commissioner for fisheries, aquaculture and maritime affairs. It asks for a harmonised definition of small-scale fisheries, more transparent quota allocation, support for producers' organisations and guilds, and measures to attract young people and recognise women's role. It calls for action on climate change, decarbonisation of the fleet, aquaculture growth, recreational fisheries data, and stronger action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and imports. It asks for the specific needs of the outermost regions to be addressed under Article 349 TFEU, including fleet renewal and adapted capacity guidelines.

Committee position. The Committee on Fisheries proposes a resolution assessing the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and setting out future perspectives. It finds that socio-economic and food security aspects have been under-addressed, and asks for the policy to be better implemented and, where needed, reformed and adapted, with a shift from rigid targets to pragmatic and achievable objectives.

Key points

  1. Recalls that the CFP must ensure environmentally sustainable fishing and aquaculture, economic, social and employment benefits, and availability of food supplies, and regrets that since 2014 socio-economic aspects, food supply and the ecosystem-based approach have not been given sufficient consideration.
  2. Calls on the Commission to systematically conduct full ex ante and ex post impact assessments, including socio-economic analyses, before any strategy or legislation is proposed, with consultation of all stakeholders.
  3. Considers that the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) objective should be implemented in light of practical reality and socio-economic, proportionality and food security dimensions, and calls on the Commission to examine fisheries management objectives ensuring both optimum stock levels and optimum socio-economic performance.
  4. Considers that the landing obligation should be applied pragmatically, with existing exemptions maintained, quota swaps and selectivity encouraged, and its scope reviewed to limit choke species and complex derogations.
  5. Calls on the Commission and the Council to consider setting TACs for longer than annual or biannual periods, based on best scientific advice, and to seek advice on removing TACs for certain stocks while keeping them within safe biological limits.
  6. Calls on the Commission to propose measures to facilitate decarbonisation, address ageing vessels and improve safety and working conditions, including redefining fishing capacity and increasing capacity limits without increasing the ability to catch more fish.
  7. Requests that future Colleges of Commissioners include a Commissioner dedicated exclusively to fisheries, aquaculture and maritime affairs, and that the Commission services responsible be adequately staffed with experts.
  8. Calls for a harmonised definition of small-scale, artisanal and coastal fisheries to be included in a review of the CFP Basic Regulation, based on criteria beyond vessel length.
  9. Deplores the lack of transparency in the distribution of fishing opportunities in certain Member States and calls for allocation criteria to be made public, with safeguards such as notice periods.
  10. Calls on the Commission and Member States to facilitate the creation of producers' organisations for and by small-scale fishers, and stresses that fishers' associations such as guilds should be eligible for financial aid on an equal footing with recognised producers' organisations.
  11. Calls on the Commission and Member States to promote generational renewal by supporting new entrants, removing obstacles such as high start-up costs and income instability, and to launch initiatives to acknowledge women's work and secure equal pay.
  12. Calls for imported aquatic food products to meet standards as strict as those for EU products, for a traceability system including tuna loins under autonomous tariff quotas, and for stronger action against IUU fishing, including in all free trade agreements.

Who is affected

  • EU fishers and fishing fleets: affected by rules on landing obligation, quota allocation, safety, decarbonisation and generational renewal.
  • Small-scale and artisanal fishers and shellfish gatherers: a harmonised definition and dedicated support are proposed.
  • Outermost regions: the Commission is asked to address their specific needs, including fleet renewal and adapted capacity guidelines.
  • Aquaculture producers: the Commission and Member States are asked to support low environmental-impact aquaculture and its long-term sustainability.
  • Women in the fisheries sector: the Commission is asked to acknowledge their work, enhance visibility and secure equal pay.

Figures and deadlines

  • 2020: deadline for achieving the MSY exploitation rate for all stocks, which the EU did not meet.
  • 2025: deadline for applying MSY-based fishing mortality levels in the Western Mediterranean multiannual plan.
  • 99 %: share of landings managed solely by the EU and with scientific advice that were sustainably managed stocks in the north-east Atlantic and Baltic Sea in 2020.
  • 40 %: increase in incidents involving fishing vessels in 2018 compared with the previous year.
  • 62.4 %: share of incidents on fishing vessels resulting from human factors.
  • 23.2 %: share of incidents on fishing vessels caused by system/equipment failures.
  • 32 000: lives lost every year in the fisheries sector globally.
  • 85 %: share of EU vessels that are small-scale coastal vessels of less than 12 metres in total length.

Legal basis: Articles 3, 4, 5, 11, 13, 38, 39, 43 and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.