Britannia Radio

This shows that like The Bourbons in years gone by the eurocrats 
learn NOTHING!

The trouble with the Fisheries Policy is that it is crazy and even 
the commissioner described it as 'obscene'.  Have they not noticed 
that the destruction of fish stocks - which is in any case grossly 
exaggerated - takes place in EU waters!!   Contributing to this is 
the lunatic policy that boats catching the wrong species for which 
their quota may have been exhausted  have to throw perfectly good cod 
and others back into the sea DEAD!

The Norwegians, who have good sustainable fish stocks, manage with a 
more sensible policy, In this - purely for instance -  such over-
quota fish are landed but do not not get full market price.  This is 
not the moment to outline the full policy but it works, unlike the 
Brussels policy which is destroying an industry unnecessarily.

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EU OBSERVER   18.9.08
Brussels aims to slash EU fishing fleet
RENATA GOLDIROVA

The European Commission has called for an immediate shake up of EU 
fisheries policy as both the ecological balance of oceans and the 
sector's economic profitability are at stake. Overfishing has been 
identified as the number one problem.

"In its current form, the common fisheries policy does not encourage 
responsible behaviour by either fishermen or politicians," EU 
maritime affairs and fisheries commissioner Joe Borg said in a 
statement on Wednesday (17 September).

He argued that the currently used management tools rewarded narrow-
minded, short-term decision making, while they penalised those 
fishermen acting responsibly.

The common fisheries policy - formally established in 1983 - has seen 
revision every 10 years. The latest reform dates back to 2002 and is 
up for review at latest in 2012.

Mr Borg listed a number of obstacles that stood in the way to achieve 
"truly sustainable fishing in EU waters." The list is topped by the 
overcapacity in the EU fleet as at present, the fleet is capable of 
catching between two and three times the maximum sustainable yield.

The problem persists, despite the number of vessels declining in 
recent years - falling from 97,600 fishing boats in 1999 to some 
88,000 in 2007.
According to AFP, the commission considers a cut of 40 percent 
necessary. Earlier this year, it stated that 88 percent of EU fish 
stocks were overexploited and suggested a new way of quota 
calculation for 2009.

In addition, fishermen must be made responsible and accountable for 
the sustainable use of a public resource, while the goal of 
ecological sustainability must be placed before economic and social 
sustainability, the commissioner says.

The ideas will be discussed at an informal meeting of fisheries 
ministers on 29 September. It is expected, however, that the 
discussion may see a clash of views, as member states tend to fight 
for the highest quotas possible.