The CFP reform

Fisheries is an area where BalticSea2020 has invested substantial resources. All in all the foundation has initiated more than 15 projects to restore stocks of large predatory fish in the Baltic Sea and in addition engaged in the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). During 2013 the Council of Ministers and the EU parliament will finalise the CFP reform and the foundation therefore focus efforts on the reform.

The European commission presented their proposal for a new CFP regulation in July 2011. The proposal was a good starting point, presenting solutions to many of the identified weaknesses of the present CFP regulation. The focus of the foundation is to make sure that this proposal is refined but not watered down. The five central issues for BalticSea2020 are:

  • Fisheries management should be regarded as a part of the management of the whole marine environment (ecosystem approach).
  • Fisheries should be managed on a long term basis according the principle of maximum sustainable yield (MSY).
  • A discard ban should be implemented, that is that all fish that is caught are landed and counted against the yearly fish-quota.
  • That the detailed management of sea areas are managed by the member states around those areas (Regionalisation).
  • That direct subsidies for the fishing fleets are phased out.
BalticSea2020 will meet a large number of politicians in the European Parliament EPs and a number of national politicians during 2012 to seek support for the Commission’s proposal and discuss possible improvements. This work is primarily aimed at spreading knowledge on ongoing management models that have been found to improve the marine environment and improve profitability in fisheries. In addition to the work in the European Parliament, there is a special focus on Poland, Germany and France.

In association with the ongoing negotiations of a new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), BalticSea2020 have interviewed fishermen, researchers and managers around the Baltic Sea to hear their views on the European fisheries management. Click here to see our interviews with people from several Baltic Sea countries and hear their opinions about the CFP Reform.

What can I do?
As a citizen there are a few ways to influence. One way is to eat MSC certified fish which means you can be sure it is legally caught and fished on sustainable stocks. Fish fight is another initiative from the British chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall that aim to give support to politicians who want to improve the CFP. Over 800 000 have signed their petition which you can find here, www.fishfight.net.

Beginners’ Guide to the Common Fisheries Policy
Do you want to have more information about the Common Fishery Policy (CFP)? Fish For the Future (FFF) have develop an infographic (broschure) which explains the Common Fisheries Policy in five minutes. The infographic describes the situation of the fishing industry in Europe today, and explains what needs to be done to improve it and secure a healthy fishing industry. For more information about the infographic and Fish For the Future - click here. 

 

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Project status

Start: 2010-12-01
End: 2013-06-31

jacob

Project manager

Jacob Hagberg, Baltic Sea 2020

PROJECT MATERIAL

2012-11-07 - Beginners’ Guide to the Common Fisheries Policy (Fish For the Future)
Fish For the Future - Beginners' guide on the reform of the common fishery policy
2012-10-03 - Briefing on discards
Reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy - Briefing on discards
2012-10-03 - Briefing on ecosystem-based management and MSY
Reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy - Briefing on ecosystem-based management and MSY
2012-10-03 - Briefing on regionalisation
Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy - Briefing on regionalisation
2012-10-03 - Briefing on TFCs
Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy - Briefing on TFCs
2012-09-07 - Article: Jacob Hagberg on the significance of fisheries policy for fishing and the marine environment in the Baltic Sea
The significance of a new and improved common fisheries policy
2012-02-07 - Report
BalticSea2020 Position on the reform of the common fisheries policy
2012-02-07- Report 
Report- Briefing of the CFP Reform
2012-02-02 - Report
Elimination of subsidies to fisheries 
2012-02-01 - Report
The effect of following scientific advice
2011-12-05 - Report
Proposal for a regulation of the European parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
2011-07-08 - Note
Note prepared for Baltic Sea 2020 on some legal issues relating to regionalisation
2009-12-02 - Press release
Protect young year classes of cod in the Baltic Sea
2009-05-28 - Press release
Let environmental considerations govern cod fishing
2009-05-11 - Debate article, published 2009.05.11 in Dagens Nyheter
"Irresponsible to approve cod fishing in the Baltic Sea"
2008-07-28 - Press release
More cod - the best way to combat algal blooms
2008-06-16 - Press release
Illegal fishing plays a decisive role for the cod quota

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Five elements are of key significance:

Current projects, fishery