Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) said in a resolution passed this week that reforms to the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) must ensure that stocks are fished sustainably, so that fishing can continue. The policy must also do more to help fishermen, MEPs added, in recognition of the public goods provided by the industry, such as creating jobs for coastal communities and providing secure food supplies for EU citizens.
Given that multi-annual plans are vital tools to preserve fish stocks, MEPs called on the European Commission and the European Council to swiftly resolve the current deadlock among member states over the long-term management plans, such as that for the western stock of Atlantic horse mackerel, which has been blocked in the Council since November 2010.
Long-term management plans should apply to as many fish stocks as possible and must be decided jointly by the Parliament and the Council, under the ordinary legislative procedure, MEPs said.
MEPs underlined that sustainable, environmentally-friendly and properly-managed fisheries could make a greater contribution to achieving the EU2020 strategy goals and also to EU food security, employment and the maintenance of dynamic fishing communities. Fishermen should be encouraged to use environmentally-friendly fishing practices by "positive discrimination" measures, such as giving them better access to EU funds. Parliament also asked the Commission to ensure that fishermen would be permitted to have other sources of income without being financially penalised.
The fisheries sector (including aquaculture) is estimated to generate €34.2 billion (US$45.9 billion) in annual earnings and sustains more than 350,000 jobs in the EU.