The EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is currently undergoing a reform process with changes due in 2012. The consultation process for the reform began with the publication of a Green Paper in 2009 and invited a range of stakeholders to provide contributions. The Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) commissioned this study to consider the main issues for reform of the ‘external dimension’ of the CFP.
OCEAN2012 Petition Hand Over
Hearing: CFP reform, the external dimension
CFFA was in the European Parliament on June 22, for the public hearing held by the Fisheries Committee on the external dimension of the CFP reform.
Here is CFFA’s presentation, "The future of Fisheries Partnership Agreements in the context of the Common Fisheries Policy reform" and our Mauritanian partner PECHECOPS’ presentation.
Link to the agenda of the hearing
Let’s adopt a differentiated approach to small scale artisanal aquaculture
Intervention by Brian O’Riordan, on behalf of ICSF/CFFA at Working Group 2 Aquaculture 3 June 2010 - Aquaculture and the CFP Workshop
The issue of why aquaculture in Europe is stagnant, whilst globally it is considered to be the fasted growing (animal) food-producing sector, needs some analysis. Our discussions have provided some insights and highlighted some issues; I would like to add a couple of observations.
1. Perhaps the model of aquaculture we are promoting in Europe is wrong. Most of aquaculture production is accounted for by Asian countries (many of them in tropical regions), dominated by China, and aquaculture has experienced the fastest growth rates in recent years in tropical African and Caribbean countries. Most production comes from inland waters, of fin fish that are mainly herbivorous, omnivorous, plankton feeders, often cultured in “polyculture” systems, that are low tech, non-intensive, and with relatively low inputs.
Yet in Europe, the focus has been on carnivorous fin fish, and on intensive, high input, fishmeal dependent systems. So too our temperate ecosystems are quite different to the tropical ecosystems where aquaculture is “booming”.
2. If aquaculture is to become an integral part of the CFP, or a basic pillar, then perhaps we should also consider adopting a “differentiated approach” to small-scale, artisanal, family run, community activities based that play an important social role on the one hand, and large scale, capital intensive systems on the other. The former, as highlighted by Sra. Portabales, are often family run SMEs, that have particular problems in accessing credit and grants. Whilst on he other, as highlighted by Mr Flynn, the capital intensive models provide the economic engines for boosting economic activities… but often with significant social and environmental costs.
In this regard, I would like to draw attention to the Ocean2012 contribution to the Green Paper consultation on CFP Reform, which highlights that
“A key reason for this contrasting state of affairs (stagnation vs growth) may be that a significant proportion of EU aquaculture production is aimed at wealth creation first, and food production second. Prominence has also been given to the production of carnivorous species, highly dependent on large scale, intensive, high-tech production systems, which are highly vulnerable to parasite and disease infestations. We feel therefore that the new European aquaculture strategy again places too much emphasis on the intensive farming for carnivorous species, at the expense of other forms of more traditional aquaculture.”
And proposes that:
“the EU should consider the potential for developing other types of aquaculture. For example, traditional systems of freshwater and marine fish and shellfish farming have been developed throughout Europe over the last centuries. Pond farming operations assist the maintenance of wetland areas and live bivalve molluscs help combat eutrophication and maintain a good sanitary quality of coastal and estuarine areas.”
And:
“To require closed containment for industrial aquaculture for carnivorous species in order to minimise impacts on the marine ecosystem. Closed containment, which prevents the transmission of diseases and parasites, could offer some solutions to the many environmental problems caused by such aquaculture.”
3. Explore synergies between Artisanal Coastal Fishing and Small-Scale Artisanal Aquaculture.
Shellfish farming and other small-scale family based marine fish farming shares much in common with artisanal coastal fishing, particularly from a social and economic perspective.
In the same way, industrial aquaculture production shares much in common with other high input, high turn over food production enterprises.
A different approach is therefore required for small-scale, artisanal family based operations on the one hand, and large scale, capital-intensive operations on the other.
Incorporating aquaculture into the CFP requires some consideration of these issues.
CFFA joins the Pure Salmon campaign
On May 25th, CFFA joined the Pure Salmon campaign which lobbies to raise the standards of farmed raised fish.
The Pure Salmon campaign calls on the global salmon farming industry to: 1. Adopt farming methods that eliminate disease transfer and salmon escapes; 2. Eliminate the use of antibiotics, biocides, and harmful chemicals in salmon farming; 3. Guarantee salmon farm waste is not discharged directly into the environment; 4. Stop the current depletion of wild fish stocks caused by the 3:1 ratio of slaughtered fish to salmon growth. 5. Prohibit the use of genetically engineered fish, feed, and other genetic modification; 6. Guarantee that salmon farming does not harm other wildlife; 7. Respect the views of coastal communities and other stakeholders in locating farms; and 8. Adopt and implement ethical business practices, including safe, healthy work environments and fair compensation.
For more information, see Pure Salmon campaign websitehttp://www.puresalmon.org/
Trade: CFFA’s contribution to the Green Paper
In a global context of decreasing fish resources, the way fish trade is conducted can play an important role for supporting the transition towards sustainable fisheries in European waters and beyond.
We feel there are three important aspects to be looked into in the process of reform:
Promoting sustainable fisheries through EU trade (imports) policy,
Ensuring a fair price for the producers,
Promoting a change of the consumer’s attitude and adapt labelling accordingly.
Nouakchott Declaration of West Africa artisanal fisheries sector organisations
Assembled in Nouakchott (Mauritania) from 9 to 11 November 2009 for a workshop, organised by the Mauritanian National Fisheries Federation – artisanal section (FNP), the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) and the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA), on ‘Improving governance in the European Union - West African countries fisheries relations’, the West African artisanal fisheries’ organisations representatives wish to make the following contribution to the European Union consultation on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, in particular the reform of its external policy:
About the objectives of the future European external fisheries policy, particularly the future fisheries partnerships between the European Union and West African countries:
• The objective of future EU external fisheries policy should be the promotion of responsible fisheries, in line with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries recommendations; partnerships should be integrated in the West African countries poverty reductions strategies.
• The future partnerships between West African countries and the European Union must establish a framework for good governance that allows for the transparent and participative design and implementation of national and regional actions and projects, that benefit the coastal communities fishing activities (research, control and surveillance, on-shore infrastructures, etc.) as well as their living and working conditions (health, education programmes, training – in particular for women).
• Through such good governance framework, the West African countries and the European Union should collaborate in order to promote the implementation of international and regional commitments in the countries national legislations, in particular the action plans based on the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (Action Plan for the management of fishing capacity, Action Plan against IUU fishing, etc).
• In the future partnerships, it is indispensible to delink aspects to do with the promotion of sustainable fisheries, including the mobilisation of the necessary funds, from aspects to do with the access conditions applying to the European fleets.
The following aspects must be addressed in the good governance framework:
Access to resources and ecosystem management
The conditions applying to the fleets of European origin must respect the following conditions, based on the development of responsible West African fisheries:
• The limits for the exploitation of the resources and for the fishing capacity must be based on scientific advice and recommendations. • All fish resources that can be caught in a sustainable way by the artisanal fisheries sector must be reserved for this sector, given its importance for direct and indirect job creation, for food security on a national and regional level, and for export revenue. • Access to other stocks must be limited, so that overcapacity does not develop, and must be conditioned in particular to the obligation to land all catches locally, and to the use of non-destructive and selective gears. The allocation of fishing possibilities must take into consideration the risks in connection with by-catches, especially of stocks that are caught by artisanal fishers.
Investments
• Investments to improve infrastructures for landing and processing catches must be of the utmost priority – the local landing of all catches made within the EEZ will not only create employment and economic activity, but it will also allow better control of what is being caught. • Investments are also needed in technologies that will enable to increase the value of the catches (especially the improvement of sanitary conditions and traceability in order to access international as well as regional and local markets). Support projects, including at a regional level, should be implemented in a localised manner. On this point, we want to point out that the SFP project of the European Union, which was managed in a centralised manner, did not give any tangible results for West African artisanal fisheries; hence, it would be advisable to evaluate it and draw the consequences for all future support programmes aimed at adapting artisanal fisheries to the standards. • Partnerships for sustainable artisanal fisheries, between artisanal fisheries operators from West Africa and Europe, should be promoted, in particular with the objective of adding value to our products. • Finally, investments are needed for the training of our fishers and literacy programmes for fishing communities, with a special attention to the women active in the sector.
The participation of the men and women active in the artisanal fisheries sector
• A permanent participatory mechanism must be put in place in order to ensure that people active in the artisanal fisheries sector and civil society are properly informed and participate in the entire process of the partnership design and implementation. In this respect, provision should be made to support the establishment (or the revitalisation) of fisheries consultative committees, consisting of artisanal fisheries sector representatives, as well as civil society organisations that have an interest in sustainable fisheries. • It is of paramount importance to raise awareness with governments in the sub- region, as well as with regional institutions (in particular the SRFC), about the importance of the sector’s participation in the partnership. • The artisanal fisheries sector stakeholders need urgently to be involved in the implementation of the European Union regulation to combat IUU fishing, in order to assess whether the flexibility measures introduced for the artisanal fisheries sector is sufficient to accommodate the characteristics of West African artisanal fisheries. • The organisational process of the artisanal fisheries sectors must be supported, as it is an indispensable element for an active participation. In this context, particular attention must be given to giving specific support for the participation of women from the sector in the decision-making process.
Transparency, information and communication
• All the information needed to evaluate partnerships must be made available to the countries of the sub-region, so that the economic, social and ecological costs and benefits can be taken into account. • These evaluations, as well as the existing evaluations of the partnership agreements made by the European Union, must be made available to the representatives of the sector and the civil society, so that a broad debate can be opened on the contents of the partnerships. • The fisheries sector must be covered by the initiative for transparency in the exploitation of natural resources (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative - EITI) – support must be given to develop transparency indicators that are suitable for fisheries, and that will allow the sector and civil society to specify their demands in this respect. • Certain areas have already been identified where it is necessary to have greater transparency: the issuing of fishing licences, the price offered to producers, the market price, and public aid. • Transparency is also achieved thanks to the media – they raise public awareness about the sector’s concerns. Also, journalists from networks like REJOPRAO, which works together with the artisanal fisheries sector, help members of sector organisations to become better informed and thus facilitate their participation in decision-making. Partnerships must support this dynamic cooperation between the sector and the media.
Promoting a regional and international approach
• A regional approach should be adopted, at least for the management of shared stocks (tuna, small pelagics). • In this respect, a first step is to harmonise minimum access conditions, especially applicable to foreign vessels, for the access to shared stocks. • The partners involved should press for the establishment of a sub-committee for artisanal fisheries to the FAO Committee for Fisheries. This proposal was already made at the COFI meeting in 2009, but it needs to obtain stronger support. • We demand that artisanal fisheries sector representatives be included in the Sub-regional Fisheries Commission.
Coherence with the European Union development policy
• The partnerships must promote the development of intra-regional and national fish trade, and must not provoke market distortions which would be harmful to artisanal fishers. • We reiterate that the artisanal fisheries sector have urged, since 2006, for the ratification of the TIR Convention (international road transport) so that our products can circulate more freely; we suggest that efforts to ratify should be reinforced through the partnerships. • The suspension of cooperation and fisheries agreements for political reasons that are not linked to fisheries has a negative effect on the most vulnerable groups in society, especially the artisanal fishing communities. In those cases, commitments taken should be fulfilled, particularly concerning control and surveillance.
We ask this declaration to be transmitted to the European institutions – the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission – and to the authorities of the countries in the sub-region, the regional fisheries organisations, especially the SRFC, as well as to the non-governmental organisations that are involved in the sector at the sub-regional level.
Done in Nouakchott on the 11th of November 2009
Artisanal fisheries sector organisations signatories (by alphabetical order)
Conseil National Inter-professionnel de la Pêche artisanale du Sénégal (CONIPAS) – Sénégal
Fédération Nationale de Pêche de Mauritanie (FNP) – section artisanale - Mauritania
Fédération Nationale des Coopératives de Pêche artisanale de Côte d’Ivoire (FENACOPECI) – Ivory Coast
Gambia Artisanal Fisheries Development Agency , GAMFIDA - Gambia
Réseau des Organisations professionnelles de pêche artisanale de Guinée Bissau (ROPA) – Guinea Bissau
Organisation de la Pêche artisanale du Cap Vert – Cape Verde
Union Nationale des Femmes fumeuses de Poisson de Guinée (UNFFPG) –Guinea
Union nationale des Pêcheurs artisans de Guinée (UNPAG) – Guinea
[Read the declaration here]
CFFA signed the A Coruña Declaration
CFFA has signed the A Coruña Declaration. By signing it, CFFA shows its support to the various artisanal fishing associations and NGOs from seven European countries gathered in Galicia (Spain) during the official Stakeholders Conference on the reform of the CFP held by the European Commission and the Spanish Presidency in A Coruña, May 2nd and 3rd.
This Declaration calls for sustainable artisanal coastal fisheries to be put at the heart of the CFP reform. Full version of the document and list of sigantories is avaible on the Coalition OCEAN2012 website.
The future of Fisheries Partnership Agreements in the context of the Common Fisheries Policy reform
Presentation to the European Parliament Development Committee, September 2d 2009 - Béatrice Gorez, Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA), Coordinator
Almost since their inception, at the end of the 70‟s, fisheries “cash for access”1 agreements, and later on, fisheries partnership agreements (FPAs), have attracted criticism. If some attempts have been made to address such criticisms through the Fisheries Partnership Agreements (FPAs), the basis for the agreements have remained the same for the EU: the need to secure long term access to third countries fish resources and to maintain its fleet presence in third countries and international waters, paving the way to the failure of this policy to contribute to sustainable fisheries.
However, it needs to be recognised that FPAs have been a unique experience at the global level, to try and reconcile often conflicting interests. In our view, there is however a need for a fundamental change of the guiding principles and framework for EU fisheries relations with developing countries, which would give priority to good governance, environmental sustainability whilst providing an enabling environment for developing countries‟ fishing sectors, particularly the small scale fishing communities. In doing so, there needs to be a careful assessment of the past experience to see how to organise concretely, and for the benefit of developing countries fisheries, the transition towards this new, more sustainable model.
Preliminary comments on the Commission proposal for a Council regulation establishing a community control system
“If the political authorities want the CFP to achieve its objective of sustainable exploitation of the fisheries resources, the present control, inspection and sanction systems must be strengthened considerably.”
“If this situation continues, it will bring grave consequences not only for the natural resource, but also for the future of the fishing industry and the areas associated with it.”
Common Fisheries Policy Reform 2012: Priorities for CFFA
Some elements of the Common fisheries policy, the conservation and fleet policy pillars, are subject to mandatory review by 2012 at the latest. But reforms are already underway in relation to control and IUU fishing. In a working document recently published, the European Commission recognises that it is also essential to address the external dimension of a reformed CFP. The option of the Commission is to go for a broad-based review so as to be able to undertake a holistic assessment of the Common Fisheries Policy.
EU proposed regulation to combat IUU fishing: Issues for Developing countries
CFFA generally welcomes the comprehensive package of measures proposed by the European Commission to combat IUU fishing. The proposal foresees actions to be taken by or against flag States, port States and market States as well as actors in the fishing sector all along the chain of custody and will go a long way toward curtailing IUU fishing, both within and outside EU waters, both by EU-flagged and/or owned fleets as well as foreign fleets.
However, although the proposal acknowledges the need to help developing countries to fight IUU fishing, it fails to propose concrete measures to that effect. Without such concrete support, the measures proposed, such as the trade related measures, will constitute new trade barriers for legally-caught fish from developing countries, especially those fish products from the artisanal fishing sector.
Court of Auditors report: EU Common Fisheries Policy falls short on IUU
On December 4th 2007, the European Court of Auditors published a Special Report, exposing the failure by Member States to effectively control fishing activities by their fleets and demonstrates the urgent need to seriously strengthen EU control and inspection systems. Despite claims that existing rules are sufficient to prevent or seriously limit Illegal, Unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing by EU fleets, the Court of Auditor‟s report states that “despite recent improvements, the control, inspection and sanction mechanisms in place are not capable of ensuring that the rules on managing the fisheries resources, … are effectively applied.” adding that “If the political authorities want the CFP to achieve its objective of sustainable exploitation of the fisheries resources, the present control, inspection and sanction mechanisms must be strengthened considerably.”
In that context, Development NGOs reiterate their support to the proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. In addition, the Commission tabled a proposal on the management of „Authorisations for fishing activities of Community fishing vessels outside Community waters and the access of third country vessels to Community waters” which, we feel, contains effective control measures and sanctions complementing those in the proposal on IUU fishing. In particular, we welcome the fact that the Commission recognises that the Community has a responsibility, as flag state, in the correct application of the fisheries agreements with third countries. Therefore, we fully support the proposal that fishing authorisations for vessels that have not complied with their obligations during the preceding year, or that have been blacklisted as “IUU vessel”, should be refused.
Proposal by the European Commission for measures to combat IUU fishing: CFFA preliminary comments
CFFA welcomes the comprehensive package of measures proposed by the European Commission to combat IUU fishing. The proposal foresees actions to be taken by or against flag States, port States and market States as well as actors in the fishing sector all along the chain of custody and will go a long way toward curtailing IUU fishing, both within and outside EU waters, both by EU-flagged and/or owned fleets as well as foreign fleets. However, although the proposal acknowledges the need to help developing countries to fight IUU fishing, it fails to propose concrete measures to that effect. Without such concrete support, the measures proposed, such as the trade related measures, will constitute new trade barriers for legally-caught fish from developing countries, especially those fish products from the artisanal fishing sector.
Commission Consultation on Rights-Based Management tools in fisheries
For NGOs (see list), the objective of this debate is to determine, by using rights based tools for fisheries management, how to promote environmentally sustainable fisheries that are economically viable, generating quality jobs, which redistribute the benefits generated equitably, and which protect the social fabric of coastal communities.
Given the large variety of management systems currently applied, we think that a first necessary step is to document the best practices that, in the various Member States and elsewhere, promote fisheries that respect both ecosystems and coastal communities, and are economically viable.
On this issue, we would like to highlight that, in order for appropriate management systems to be applied to the particular situations existing in the various regions, “the large variety of management systems currently applied in the European Community and its member states” is a strength. In our view, concerns over transparency and efficiency (which the Commission attributes to the diversity of systems) result more from the way these systems are implemented (opacity of procedures, lack of control, etc) than from their diversity.
EU Subsidies aimed at maintaining the small-scale fishing sector?
Letter from CFFA and ICSF to the Commission.
A joint environmental and developmental NGO position on a policy to reduce unwanted by-catches and eliminate discard in European Fisheries
This contribution is on behalf of the following organisations: WWF – BirdLife International – Greenpeace International – Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA) – International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) –– Oceana –North Sea Foundation ––the Fisheries Secretariat – European Bureau for Conservation & Development (EBCD).
After the release of its proposal to reduce bycatches and eliminate discards in EU fisheries1, the European Commission is consulting stakeholders on their views. This is a joint NGO contribution to that consultation.
The Commission Communication and the extensive consultation process are welcome. The widespread problem of unwanted catches and subsequent discards is a continuous obstacle to sustainable fisheries in the European Union, as well as globally. Tackling it should be a priority issue in the EU, as overall discarding levels in European fisheries overall are higher than elsewhere. The situation is particularly serious in the Northeast Atlantic area, with discards estimated at 1,332,000 tonnes – 19.6 % of global discards in order to take up 11 % of global landings2, and with some fisheries discarding up to 90% of their catch.
Previous initiatives to tackle this issue, although in some cases reducing bycatches and/or discards, have not gone to the heart of the problem. Therefore, the development and environment NGOs support the Commission for taking the initiative to try and eliminate these wasteful practices. We also strongly advocate that the Commission addresses the issue of discarding by EU fleets active in distant waters as a matter of urgency.
What the Commission is proposing, in a move towards a discard ban with supporting measures such as bycatch quotas and more selective gear, is a significant change in the way European fisheries operate. With effective enforcement (including observer coverage), this could be a major step towards more sustainable European fisheries.
EU Coherence debate: Common Fisheries Policy and Fisheries Development in ACP countries
In the context of the debate on coherence between the various EU policies, it needs to be examined how the Cotonou Convention objectives are taken into account in the various aspects of the Common Fisheries Policy that have an impact on ACP countries fisheries.
Perspectives for simplifying and improving the regulatory environment of the Common Fisheries Policy
Consultation on the EU Commission communication ‘Perspectives for simplifying and improving the regulatory environment of the Common Fisheries Policy’ – CFFA Comments:
New financial perspectives for the period 2007-2013
In April 2005, the European Commission issued a proposal for a Council regulation ’establishing Community financial measures for the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and in the area of the Law of the Sea’.
The proposal will provide the necessary legal base for Community financing in the above mentioned areas of the CFP and the law of the sea, in the context of the new financial perspectives for the period 2007-2013. It will constitute the second pillar of the legal framework for the financing of the CFP alongside the proposal establishing the European Fisheries Fund (EFF).