Spanish fishing sector conveys concern over EU's contradictory messaging; wants promised cuts in bureaucracy
The Spanish fishing sector, represented by industry group Cepesca, has conveyed to the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, the need to turn his words into actions, to strengthen and support the European fishing fleet.
Cepesca also stressed the need to guarantee the socio-economic viability of the industry at the same level as the environmental viability of fishing activity and to consider unbiased science when making decisions.
The sector, represented by Julio Morón, President of Cepesca, conveyed to the commissioner, during a meeting held yesterday at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), its concern about the gap between its messaging and the actions of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG Mare) of the European Commission (EC), a gap that, "is sowing confusion and fuelling fears that, despite the change in discourse, policies that threaten the survival of Europe's fleets and coastal communities will be maintained."
At the meeting, the sector reminded Kadis of the issues it considers a priority to correct the current course.
Thus, Cepesca has requested the urgent revision of the Mediterranean Regulation to avoid a new reduction in fishing days for the trawl fleet, instead of, "continuing to severely punish a sector that is fighting for its economic viability."
Cepesca also called for the immediate revision of the regulation that ordered the closure of 87 areas to bottom gear, "a measure adopted without sufficient scientific basis and which has seriously affected bottom fishing modalities such as longlining, putting a large part of the European fleet in check."
Another of the major issues pointed out during the meeting was the need for a review of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), since, although significant progress has been made in the environmental field, such as the recovery of numerous fish stocks under maximum sustainable yield (MSY) parameters, at the socio-economic level the balance is alarming: The European fleet has been reduced by 28 per cent, employment in the sector has fallen by 33 per cent, and profitability remains stagnant.
Cepesca also recalled the need to review landing obligations, the practical application of which is proving to be unfeasible, as well as the redefinition of fishing capacity to allow the modernisation of the fleet and its adaptation to the technological and sustainability challenges posed by the future.
In the administrative sphere, fishermen have called for the effective implementation of the commitment to reduce bureaucracy by 25 per cent and by 35 per cent for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The sector has asked to know how and when this simplification will materialise, which is vital to free up resources, improve the competitiveness of fishing companies and facilitate their adaptation to new regulatory requirements.
At the meeting, the sector also expressed the need to protect European food sovereignty and pointed out to the commissioner that, in a context in which 70 per cent of the fishery products consumed in the EU come from third countries, it is contradictory to continue adopting policies that weaken European production.
In this regard, the organisation has urged Kadis to adopt protectionist measures to strengthen domestic production and require that imported products meet the same standards of sustainability, quality and control that are imposed on European fleets.
In particular, it calls for particular attention to tariff quotas, such as those affecting tuna, and to trade policy in relation to agreements with third countries.
The external dimension of fisheries policy was another of the topics highlighted at the meeting. Cepesca expressed its concern about the lack of human and technical resources in the Directorate General to exercise a coherent and effective external fisheries policy, especially in the field of Regional Fisheries Organisations (RFOs), Sustainable Fisheries Agreements (SFPAs) and International Ocean Governance.
In the opinion of the sector, if the EU wants to defend its fishing interests on the international stage, it must provide more resources and capacity to its technical services.
Cepesca has also called for the fishing sector to occupy a central place in the future European Ocean Pact. In this regard, he told the commissioner that he will, "be alert to the orientation that DG Mare seems to be following under the influence of the 'Blue Manifesto', promoted by environmental organisations," and that he will request that fishing, as a sustainable activity and fundamental for food security and employment in coastal areas, be recognised as a strategic pillar in European ocean policy.
