COMMON FISHERIES POLICY HAS BEEN A DISMAL FAILURE STEVENSON TELLS COMMISSIONER DURING REFORM DEBATE
Posted, February 25, 2010 @ 00:00
Brussels 25 February 2010. The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has been a dismal failure European Parliament Fisheries Committee Vice-Chairman and Scottish Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson said today.
In a debate on reform of the CFP in the European Parliament, Mr Stevenson told the new Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki:
"We have an opportunity today to make a difference; to change direction to a policy that everyone agrees has been a dismal failure. But to effect the radical change necessary we must not repeat past mistakes. We must ensure that there will be no more micro-management from the centre, no more top-down over-regulation and no more one-size-fits-all approach to policy.
"A reformed CFP must end the debacle of discards, involve the stakeholders in day to day management of stocks, ensure fleet capacity is brought into line with stock levels, put sustainability and conservation at the heart of the agenda, end illegal unauthorised and unregulated fishing and ensure a decent livelihood for those working in the sector.
"If we can give real substance to the core values of the CFP - to maintain jobs in the sector and to maintain fish stocks, we will have made real progress."
Speaking after the debate and vote on the Green paper, Mr Stevenson added,
"I am delighted that we have won key concessions on the two crucial areas that were giving concern to UK fishermen, namely access and transferable quotas. I was heartened by the reply to the debate today by the Commissioner where she stressed that small-scale and local fisheries would be top of her agenda for protection under the reformed CFP.
"She also said that she wants to have further discussion and consultation with the European Parliament's Fisheries Committee on the whole question of quotas and transferable rights. While the definitive vote on the White Paper will not take place until later next year, it is clear there are many more months of dialogue and discussion ahead."