With regards to the plenary vote on the future CFP Basic regulation, which will take place on February the 5th, the consolidated version of the ‘Rodust report’, as adopted by the European Parliament Fisheries committee, made some amendments to the Commission’s proposition. NGOs concerned made a briefing ‘Overfishing: you can end it!’ regarding this report and the future vote, highlighting elements to support, strengthen and reject (see briefing in joint document). CFFA wishes to insist on elements regarding external dimension: MEPs should support:
The promotion of sustainable fisheries in external fisheries, as it is promoted in internal fisheries.
The discard ban, to be implemented in external fisheries by January 2017. The discard ban in these fisheries shouldn’t lead to massive dumping of fish by EU vessels in developing countries. Like it is the case for internal waters, the priority should be given to measures that help avoid unwanted catches in the first place.
The reference made to Aarhus Convention for accessing information as a very important element in terms of transparency + SFAs evaluations should be made public.
Also, measures to be taken, in the Common Market Organization regulation, so that internationally recognized social and environmental standards are applied to imports.
Improved measures related to SFAs such as an exclusivity clause to be introduced in SFAs, a human rights conditionality, the financial compensation to be used for development purpose, etc.
There are also several amendments supporting small scale fisheries which could be also promoted at the external level.
However, there are some issues needing further input in the basic regulation, which should be improved and then supported:
The need to take into account developing countries nutritional needs. Reference to article 62 (2) and 62 (3) – referring to art. 70 – of UNCLOS, which highlight this issue should be made (see:https://www.un.org/depts/los/conven...).
Regarding stakeholders participation, nothing is proposed concretely for the external dimension. A new amendment 167 bis, should be added, which would call for : Delegations from the European Parliament and the Advisory Councils shall be present when SFA are negotiated.
Several articles deal with the covering of activities outside the scope of SFAs and RFMOs. However, what is proposed is not sufficient enough. It should be insisted on the fact that those good intentions (that EU vessels fishing outside SFAs/RFMOs must follow the same sustainability principles) will have to be adequately reflected in the conditions made for fishing authorizations (regulation 1006/2008)
At last, one element should be rejected:
Providing fishing opportunities for a recreational sector that opposes to be regulated under CFP should not be an objective
See joint NGO position in joint document