The Common Fisheries Policy
of the European Union
Niki Sporrong
A history of conflict
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Between individual fishermen
Between groups of fishermen
Between different countries
With other user interests and other stakeholders
But cooperation can lead to good solutions
The EU Common Fisheries Policy
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Article 38, The Treaty of Rome 1957
Basic principles established in 1967
Market & structural policies 1970
Independent Directorate General 1976
External relations policy1977
Resource management policy in 1983
10-year reformcycle: 1992, 2002 & 2012
Today: four main pillars
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Resource management: TACs, technical measures,
conservation
Structural policy: fleet and infrastructure
Market policy: trade, price support, labeling and
consumer information
External policy: fisheries partnership agreements
(access) and international agreements
Policy objectives partially contradictive
The 2002 reform
• 80 % of stocks in North East Atlantic outside
safe biological limits in 2001
• Demersal stocks at < 10 % of 1970s levels
• Increase in pelagic species
• 25 % of catch consists of unwanted bycatch
• Fleet estimated to be twice the sustainable size
• Generous subsidies
• Illegal fishing possibly at 40 %
• Around 60.000 jobs lost in 1990-1997
Changes in 2002 reform
• Conservation and resource management more
central to the policy: recovery plans, long-term
management plans, precautionary principle and
ecosystembased management
• National management of fleet size
• Initially fewer changes in control and monitoring
• Significant changes in the subsidies regime
• Increased stakeholder participation in the policy
process – RACs
Implementation phase
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Long-term managment plans
Increased protection of the wider marine environment
Days at sea restrictions
Gear changes, landing sizes
New IUU Regulation and Control Regulation
Support for diversification
RACs
Slow process, lowest common denominator, Business as usual
Leading up to 2012 reform
the EU Common Fisheries Policy
is still considered to be a failure:
• Fleet still too large – possibly increased
• Most European fish stocks still
overfished (30 % o sbl; 80 % below MSY)
• 93 % of North Sea cod taken immature
• Landings fell by 30 % in 10 years
Even the European Commission
describes it as such:
• Poor economic performance
• High environmental impact
• High fuel consumption
• Low contribution to EU food supply
• Consumers thinks CFP not sustainable
• MS costs for management & subsidies >
than value of catches
Why is it not working?
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Short term profitability dominates
Allocation of access rules
Lack of sector buy in – cheating the rules
Lack of complete mortality data
National interests influence EU policy
Still conflicting objectives
Possible solutions
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Prioritisation of environmental objectives, following
scientific advice
Long-term management objectives
Minimise bycatch and effects on the wider marine
environment (LIF)
Access regime that promotes LIF
Decision-making framework differentiating between
strategic and management decisions
Transparent and participatory decision-making
Removal of harmful subsidies (structural)
Wider changes affecting the CFP
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Internationally agreed targets, such as MSY by 2015,
leading to gradual change of EU targets for resources
International and EU environmental legislation (BDC,
Habitats Directive, MSFD, MSP)
The Lisbon Treaty and the EP role (2010)
Fuel prices and financial crisis
Increased involvement from civil society
Greater scrutiny by media
Public campaigns and social networking sites
Where are we today?
Future policy now
in the hands of
Council and EP
with Commission
“guidance”
- trialogue