{"id":18878,"date":"2021-10-27T07:29:03","date_gmt":"2021-10-27T07:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifeplatform.eu\/?p=18878"},"modified":"2022-04-12T06:29:43","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T06:29:43","slug":"eu-holds-key-to-just-transition-to-low-carbon-low-impact-fishing-industry-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeplatform.eu\/ma\/eu-holds-key-to-just-transition-to-low-carbon-low-impact-fishing-industry-report\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Holds Key To Just Transition to Low-Carbon, Low-Impact Fishing Industry \u2013 Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brussels, 26 October 2021.<\/strong> <\/i>The EU and its member states must transition to a more ecologically, socially and economically sustainable fishing industry \u2013 and already have the means to do so, according to a new report published today.<\/p>\n

The report,\u00a0How the EU can Transition to Low Environmental Impact, Low Carbon, Socially Just Fishing<\/i><\/a><\/span>, published by the Our Fish Campaign and Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) finds that by activating Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), and allocating fishing quotas based on transparent and objective criteria of an environmental, social and economic nature, the EU can achieve a just transition to a low-carbon, low-impact fishing fleet.<\/p>\n

The report proposes criteria and processes which the European Commission and EU member states could harness in order to achieve this goal, such as the reallocation of an increasing share of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) over a period of eight years, which should include prescribed minimum allocations of fishing opportunities to the small-scale low-impact fishing fleet, indicators such as use of selective fishing gear, marine seabed impact, carbon cycle impact and history of fisheries and environmental compliance.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor many years, the systems used by Member States to allocate their fishing quotas have led to the concentration of fishing opportunities in the hands of a few big players, to the detriment of small-scale low impact fishers and the marine environment,\u201d said\u00a0Brian O\u2019Riordan, Executive Secretary<\/strong>, Low Impact Fishers of Europe. \u201cThe current system is not fit for purpose, rewarding as it does those who fish the most. Rather we need a system that rewards those who fish the most sustainably and provide the greatest benefits to society.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe EU has several tools and processes at its disposal to right this historic wrong. Next year the European Commission must report on the implementation of the CFP, and this provides a once in a decade opportunity to reset European fisheries policy on a correct course, beginning with a just reallocation of quota\u201d, continued O\u2019Riordan.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnsuring a healthy ocean is a crucial component of humanity\u2019s response to the climate and biodiversity crisis\u201d, said\u00a0Rebecca Hubbard, Programme Director with Our Fish.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThe EU\u2019s Common Fisheries Policy has the ingredients needed to realise a transformation of EU fishing to one that minimises impacts on protected species and marine ecosystems, increases carbon sequestration and maximises social benefits for coastal communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just need to accelerate this transformation by incentivising good practice with priority access to quota and fish\u201d, said Hubbard. \u201cThe European Commission can, and considering the current climate and biodiversity crisis, should, urgently help to accelerate this transition, while EU member states need to demonstrate political will and commitment to doing the necessary work to secure a healthy future for our fish populations and coastal communities\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsidering its numerous small scale fleet, with a significant part operating with low impact methods and with great social and economic importance, Portugal must be a leader member-state in the implementation of the Article 17\u201d, said\u00a0Gon\u00e7alo Carvalho, Executive Coordinator of Sciaena<\/strong>. \u201cThis will be a key element in enabling a transition to fisheries that contribute to safeguarding marine ecosystems and strengthening coastal communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrance Nature Environnement supports the use of Article 17 of the CFP in order to move towards more sustainable fishing\u201d, said\u00a0Michel Morin, member of France Nature Environment\u2019s expert fisheries working group<\/strong>. \u201cThe follow-up of scientific advice and the improvement of transparency in the allocation of quotas should be a priority, especially for small-scale fisheries.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a huge discrepancy between the current situation of fishing in France and the declarations of the European regulations in favor of fishermen such as ourselves who fish exclusively by line, and who meet all the criteria laid down in Article 17: contribution to the local economy, selective fishing gear, reduced impact on the environment, low energy consumption,\u201d says\u00a0Ken Kawahara, secretary of the Association des Ligneurs de la Pointe de Bretagne<\/strong>, \u201cThe situation regarding the allocation of fishing rights has not changed at all since 2013, and many small-scale fishing vessels still have to be content with fishing the few species that are allowed to them while some industrial trawlers have thousands of tons of quotas.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the report, Spain has used some environmental and social criteria beyond the historical catches to allocate its quotas. \u201cHowever, these are just exceptions,\u201d explained\u00a0Cecilia del Castillo, Fisheries Campaigner at Ecologistas en Acci\u00f3n<\/strong>. \u201cSince Spain is currently drafting its new law on fisheries, it must do its best to include a more ambitious language and suitable criteria to ensure the implementation of article 17 of the CFP. Spain has now the opportunity to bet for a fair transition towards less harmful fisheries. This opportunity must not be wasted\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment there is a lack of political will and clear procedures in the European Union to implement the common fisheries policy,\u201d says\u00a0Sascha M\u00fcller-Kraenner, executive director of the Deutsche Umwelthilfe<\/strong>\u00a0in Germany. \u201cThe Common Fisheries Policy\u2019s Article 17 gives fishermen who use environmentally friendly and sustainable fishing methods the first access to fisheries resources, instead of environmentally harmful fishing methods such as bottom trawling. The current biodiversity and climate crisis makes it imperative to act quickly: some fish populations are in such a poor condition that they can no longer be fished. Therefore we call on Germany\u2019s incoming fisheries minister to finally implement Article 17 and to take ecological criteria into account when allocating fishing quotas.\u201d<\/p>\n

ENDS<\/p>\n

Download the report:<\/b><\/p>\n