The Common Fisheries Policy is Europe's regulatory regime governing fisheries in EU waters.
The Common Fisheries Policy not only sets how much fish each Member State is allowed to catch, but the conditions under which it must be caught including the type of net used, how long vessels have to catch the fish and the sizes of fish that can be landed.
Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy
The Scottish Government believes the Common Fisheries Policy is characterised by top down, over centralised management that has, at best, a mixed performance in managing Europe's fisheries. Therefore the current reform of the Common Fisheries Policy provides a significant opportunity to solve the problems that bedevil fisheries management in Europe.
On 13 July 2011, the Commission published their proposals to reform the Common Fisheries Policy. The key points are:
- All fish stocks will have to be brought to Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) by 2015;
- Establishment of long term multi annual plans for all fisheries based on the best available scientific advice;
- A commitment to greater regionalisation of the management of the CFP - though not with formal powers being devolved to Member States
- A commitment to phase out all discarding by 2016 with fishermen obliged to land all they catch;
- Introduction of Transferable Fishing Concessions (TFCs), an EU wide, rights based management scheme; and
- A greater role for the EU in aquaculture with the development of non-binding EU strategic targets and multiannual national strategic plans.
Also included in the proposals are:
- A retention of relative Stability;
- A retention of Hague Preference;
- A retention of the 6 & 12 mile limits; and
- A commitment to improve fisheries Partnership Agreements (where the EU pays third countries to allow EU vessels to fish in their waters).
Working towards real and meaningful reform
The Scottish Government is committed to working with our European partners and our representatives in the European Parliament to bring about change. Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead MSP has discussed the need for change with his fellow EU ministers at Council meetings and with Commissioner Damanaki on a number of occasions.
For the Scottish Government the key priority will be to ensure that power is devolved to Member States thus ending micro-management from Brussels of Scotland's fisheries.
We will also seek to work with the Commission and others to bring about an enforceable ban on discarding fish by the EU fleet and to develop an approach on Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) that doesn't 'punish' fishermen for lack of data.
The Scottish Government remains concerned about the proposed compulsory introduction of Transferable Fishing Concessions and will continue to argue these should only be introduced on a voluntary basis.
For further information on any of these matters please contact: paul.mccarthy@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or jim.watson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.