December 2011

Top News on 19 December 2011COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES

Monday 19 December: 15.00 -18.30

Tuesday 20 December: 09.00 – 12.30 and 15.00 -18.30

Brussels (room ASP 1 G 2):

Highlights:► Votes on draft reports on the multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna, on

amendments to the EFF regulation 1198/2006 and on the access of Venezuelan fishing vessels to the EEZ of French Guyana

► Consideration of draft report on the Protocol to the FPA with Guinea-Bissau

► Exchanges of views on some dossiers of the CFP reform package: CMO of fisheries and aquaculture products, discards in the context of the CFP reform proposal and on the external dimension of the CFP (INI-report)

► Consideration of draft opinions on “A resource-efficient Europe”, on the “EU biodiversity strategy to 2020” and on the 2010 discharge (Commission and CFCA)

► Workshop on “Ecosystem Flips: Regime Shifts in Marine Ecosystems”

Next Public Hearing:

25 January 2012: “CFP reform: Common organisation of the market in fisheries and aquaculture products”

Next Delegation Visit:20-23 Feb. 2012: Brittany/Bretagne (FR)

ContentOngoing dossiers: page 2

Studies & notes: page 6

Fisheries news: page 7

RAC meetings: page 21

International meetings: page 22

More Info@ EP Fisheries Committee link

@ DG MARE (European Commission) link

@ Polish Presidency of the Council link

@ FAO Fishery and Aquaculture link

@ ICES International Council for the Exploration of the Sea link

December 2011

MARCH2012

28/02/2012NLEAndres Barea

EU/Mozambique Fisheries Partnership Agreement: fishing opportunities and financial contribution. Protocol from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 20142011/0378(NLE)

TBCTBCCODCadecEuropean Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)2011/0380(COD)

Reports Rapporteur Type of procedure

PECH Committee

vote

Plenary session

voteFish stock conservation: multi-annual recovery plan for bluefintuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (amend. Regulation (EC) No 43/2009)2011/0144(COD)

Romeva COD 19/12/2011FEB2012

Proposal for a regulation amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 on the European Fisheries Fund, as regards certain provisions relating to financial management for certain Members States experiencing or threatened with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability2011/0212(COD)

Ferreira COD 20/12/2011FEB I2012

EC/Guinea-Bissau Fisheries Partnership Agreement: protocol for the period from 16 June 2011 to 15 June 20122011/0257(NLE)

Haglund NLE 24/01/2012FEB II2012

Access by Venezuelan fishing vessels to the exclusive economic zone off the coast of French Guyana. Unilateral declaration 2010/0392(NLE) (EP disagrees with proposed legal basis)

Rivellini NLE 20/12/2011 JAN2012

Fisheries restrictions and jurisdictional waters in the Mediterranean and Black Sea - ways for conflict resolution2011/2086(INI)

Salavrakos INI TBC TBC

Ongoing Dossiers

December 20113

Reports Rapporteur Type of procedure

PECH Committee

vote

Plenary session

voteEU/Chile Agreement: conservation of swordfish stocks in the South-Eastern Pacific Ocean 2010/0084(NLE-AP)

Gallagher NLE/APP 30/11/2010 TBC

EC/Micronesia Fisheries Partnership Agreement: fishing opportunities and financial contribution2010/0290(NLE/APP)

Fraga NLE/APP TBC TBC

External dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy 2011/2318(INI)

Lövin INI 24/04/2012MAY II2012

Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy “Overarching communication”PECH/7/07310COM(2011)04172011/2290(INI)

Salavrakos INI 30/05/2012 JULY 2012

Proposal for a regulation on the Common Fisheries Policy2011/0195(COD)

Rodust COD 10/07/2012SEP2012

Proposal for a regulation on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products2011/0194(COD)

Stevenson COD 30/05/2012 JULY 2012

Proposal for a regulation establishing a multiannual plan for the Baltic salmon stock and the fisheries exploiting that stock2011/0206(COD)

Gróbarczyk COD 30/05/2012JULY2012

Proposal for a regulation amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea 2011/0218(COD)

Rosbach COD 21/03/2012APRIL2012

Ongoing Dossiers

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Ongoing Dossiers

Reports Rapporteur Type of procedure

PECH Committee

vote

Plenary session

vote

Common fisheries policy: conservation and sustainable exploitation PECH/7/07315COM(2011)04182011/2291(INI)

Haglund INI 24/04/2012 MAY II

"The small scale and artisanal fisheries and the CFP reform "PECH/7/073112011/2292(INI)

Ferreira INI 30/05/2012 JULY

December 20115

Ongoing Dossiers

TBC(REGI)

30/05/2012CODBesset

Structural instruments: common provisions for ERDF, ESF, Cohesion Fund, EAFRD and EMFF; general provisions applicable to ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund (repeal. Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006)2011/0276(COD)

Opinions Draftsperson Type of procedure

PECH Committee

vote

LeadCommittee

voteEU/Morocco Agreement: reciprocal liberalisation measures on agricultural products, processed agricultural products, fish and fishery products 2010/0248/NLE

Romeva i Rueda NLE-APP 19/09/2011 25/01/2012(INTA)

Multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-20202011/0177(APP)

Ferreira APP 24/04/2012TBC

(BUDG)

Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 COM(2011)0244

Rivellini INI 24/01/201229/02/2012

(ENVI)

2010 Discharge: EU generalbudget, Section III, Commission 2011/2201(DEC)

Milana DEC28/02/2012 26/03/2012

(CONT)

Discharge for 2010: Community Fisheries Control Agency2011/2234(DEC)

Chatzimarkakis DEC 28/02/201227/03/2012

(CONT)

Resource-efficient Europe2011/2068(INI)

Trautman INI 24/01/201225/04/2012

(ENVI)

*Note on procedures:COD: Codecision; CNS: Consultation; INI: Own-Initiative; NLE: Non-legislative (incl. consent to international agreements); DEC: Discharge

December 2011

From the Policy Department ‘B’:

Studies and Briefing Notes

STUDIES REQUESTED: The role of China in world fisheries Application of the system of derogation to rules of origin for fisheries products from PNG and Fiji

BRIEFING PAPERS REQUESTED Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea Region (GFCM activities…) Update of the Commission study on the impact of cormorants on EU fisheries and aquaculture Fuel subsidies in the EU Evaluation of the CE 2007 impact assessment supporting its proposal to grant a derogation to

rules of origin on processed tuna in favour of Papua New Guinea and Fiji Rights-based Fisheries Management in Iceland

INTERNAL NOTES REQUESTED: Fisheries fleets in the EU Fisheries in Brittany / Iceland / Veneto (for delegations 2012)

WORKSHOP 2011: "Eco-system flips: Regime Shifts in Marine Ecosystems (20/12)

LATEST STUDIES AND NOTES PUBLISHED SINCE BEGINNING OF PARLIAMENTARY TERM: Special characteristics of small-scale fisheries in Europe Perspectives for the new European Fisheries Fund The North Sea Brown Shrimp Fisheries Industrial Fishery in the Baltic Sea Fisheries in Portugal+Azores / Poland / Bulgaria+Black Sea / Seychelles (for deleg. 2011) Interaction of seals and fish stocks (WS with 4 short studies) Natura 2000 and the Common Fisheries Policy Real-Time Closures Mitigation of incidental catches of cetaceans in EU waters Tools for fishing fleet management Jurisdictional waters in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea Evaluation of the Impact of «A strategy for the Sustainable Development of EU Aquaculture» Regulatory and Legal Constraints for European Aquaculture/EU Aquaculture Competitiveness Fisheries Management and Recovery Plans since 2002 The Impact of WTO and other Trade Negotiations on Fisheries Fisheries in the Basque Country / Sicily / Sweden (for delegations 2010) Fishing Fleet management systems in Third Countries Long-term impact of different fishing methods on the ecosystem in the Kattegat and Öresund

@ You can access the studies and other documents via this link

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Fisheries News in Brief

EP/Press service Agriculture and fisheries (News - Press service)MEPs reject extension of the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement and call for a better deal

14-12-2011

Parliament voted on Wednesday to reject a proposed extension of the controversial EU-Morocco fisheries agreement. It called on the Commission to negotiate a new, more environmentally and economically beneficial deal, which should take account of the interests of the Sahrawi population. The current protocol, which has applied provisionally since 28 February 2011, will cease to apply immediately.

MEPs voted in favour of a report drafted by Carl Haglund (ALDE, FI) which called on Parliament not to extend the current arrangements, mainly for economic, ecological and legal reasons. In so doing, they rejected a Fisheries Committee proposal to extend the contested protocol, by 296 votes to 326, with 58 abstentions.

"This should not be seen as a hostile move towards our partners; it should rather be seen as us taking ourselves seriously on a very important issue," said Mr Haglund in the debate before the vote. Mr Haglund stressed that he is in favour of a future agreement with Morocco, but it must be a better one. "There is no doubt that we a l l want a good agreement", he added.

Mr Haglund argued that the one-year extension of the current protocol was unacceptable under the terms proposed by the European Commission because of its l o w cost-benefit ratio for the EU, the excessive exploitation of demersal stocks, the very limited contribution of EU funds to the development of local fisheries policy and the lack of proof that EU money benefits the local population of Western Sahara.

New protocol to be more sustainable

In a separate resolution, MEPs stressed that a new protocol must be economically, ecologically and socially sustainable and mutually beneficial.

In the future, the allocation of fishing opportunities should be based on scientific advice and EU vessels should be allowed to fish only surplus stocks. Financial support for the development of local fisheries must be used properly and more efficiently while monitoring of where the money goes must be improved.

MEPs also called on the Commission to ensure that a new protocol fully respects international law and benefits all affected local populations, including the Sahrawi people.

The resolution was approved with 544 votes in favour, 123 against and 33 abstentions.

What's next?

The rejected protocol, which has applied provisionally since 28 February 2011, will cease to apply immediately. Parliament expects the Commission to advance negotiations on a new protocol so as to avoid any provisional application in the future.

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Fisheries News in Brief

European Commission Press ServiceFisheries - Press corner

Maritime policy: new strategy for growth and jobs in the Atlantic Ocean area

25/11/2011

On Monday 28 November, in Lisbon, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, will present a new maritime strategy for growth and jobs in the Atlantic Ocean area, just adopted by the European Commission. The strategy identifies challenges and opportunities in the region and takes stock of existing initiatives that can support growth and job creation. The strategy will be implemented through an Action Plan in 2013. The Commission calls on stakeholders to help design concrete projects which would be able to benefit from EU funding. The Commission will facilitate the development of this Action Plan through a series of workshops and discussion groups that will be open to a wide array of participants - the 'Atlantic Forum'. The new strategy is developed under the EU's Integrated Maritime Policy and follows similar strategies for the Baltic, the Arctic and the Mediterranean areas. Commissioner Damanaki will present the strategy at the high-level Lisbon Atlantic Conference and Stakeholder Day, on 28-29 November, where a first discussion will take place.

Commissioner Maria Damanaki, in charge of maritime affairs and fisheries, said: "Europe urgently needs new far-sighted strands of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in a new low-carbon 'blue economy'. Emerging maritime industries have every chance to become one of the pillars of Europe 2020 strategy for growth and jobs. The collaborative platform offered through our Integrated Maritime Policy can help make the Atlantic region internationally renowned for its maritime excellence."

The Commission invites all stakeholders -national, regional and local authorities, the

industry, civil society, and think tanks – to contribute their expertise and ideas to the Action Plan through the 'Atlantic Forum'. It will comprise a set of workshops focused on the challenges and opportunities outlined in the strategy, and an online discussion forum. The Forum will be launched in 2012 and dissolved in 2013, after it will have contributed to the Action Plan. The strategy does not foresee additional funding for its implementation: actions will be supported from existing and future EU funds.

Great potential for 'blue growth'

The Atlantic Ocean has high potential for wind, wave and tidal energy. It is estimated that by 2020 around 20% of Europe's offshore wind capacity could be located in the Atlantic region. Sea-bed mining could help meet some of the EU's demand for raw materials. Offshore aquaculture is a promising sector, and one third of all the fish caught by the EU's fishing fleet is landed in the Atlantic ports.

But most of these opportunities are still in their infancy and need to be nurtured to grow into self-sustained industries. That is where the public authorities and other stakeholders in the region step in; and the EU can help ensure synergies on a transnational level. Much is already being done, but these actions need to be streamlined and reinforced through efficient use of existing and future EU funds.

For example, maritime spatial planning can boost aquaculture, as it gives investors greater legal certainty and prevents conflicts for marine space. Marine knowledge and the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODNET) can provide marine data that are indispensable for taking informed decisions. Better integration of maritime surveillance can help respond

December 20119

Fisheries News in Brieffaster to threats and emergencies, from natural disasters to piracy, making the Atlantic Ocean safer.

New industries, however, cannot develop without a skilled workforce. Clusters of academia and maritime industries should be supported and workers need assistance and re-training to help them move from declining industries, such as fisheries, to emerging ones. As regards tourism, the Atlantic region has a lot to offer to holidaymakers. Its culture, cuisine and natural beauty are assets to further exploit.

Background

Coasts, territorial and jurisdictional waters of five EU member states (France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom, and their overseas territories, i.e. the Azores, the Canary Islands, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Madeira, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin), as well as international waters fall within the strategy's scope. The strategy does not cover the North Sea or the Arctic Ocean. A separate strategy exists for the latter.

The development of the Atlantic Strategy dovetails with the Integrated Maritime Policy for the EU, which aims to coordinate all EU policies with a maritime dimension to ensure environmental sustainability and the quality of living conditions in coastal regions while promoting the growth potential of maritime industries. Strategies have already been adopted for the Baltic Sea, the Arctic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Fisheries: Commission proposes reduced fishing opportunities for the Black Sea for 2012

25/11/2011

The European Commission has presented its proposal for fishing opportunities for fish stocks in the Black Sea for 2012.

Only two Member states are concerned by the proposals: Bulgaria and Romania. The Commission proposes to cut the EU quota for turbot by 15%, to 74 tonnes. For sprat, the Commission proposes to keep the EU quota unchanged, at 11,475 tonnes. The EU quota for turbot is divided evenly between Bulgaria and Romania. For sprat, Bulgaria and Romania's national quotas are set at 70 and 30 % of the total EU quota, respectively. The proposal takes into consideration the advice by the Commission's Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) and will be discussed by EU member states ministers at the December Fisheries Council.

Questions and answers on the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

02/12/2011

The European Commission has proposed a new fund for the EU's maritime and fisheries policies for the period 2014-2020: What is the EMFF?

EMFF is the new financial instrument that will help deliver the growth, jobs and sustainability objectives of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and support the implementation of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP).

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Fisheries News in Brief

It will underpin the social dimension of the reformed CFP and will create added value for the on-land side of the policy, through, inter-alia, support to the development of aquaculture and to sustainable and inclusive territorial development. EMFF is part of the EU's multi-annual financial framework for 2014-2020. The envelope devoted to fisheries and maritime affairs over the period is set, in current prices, at €7.4 billion, though this includes partnership agreements with third countries and contributions to regional fisheries management organisations. The EMFF in itself has a budget of € 6.5 billion.

What are the priorities of EMFF?

The EMFF focuses on the long-term strategic objectives of the two policies: for the Common Fisheries Policy, contributing to sustainable and competitive fisheries and aquaculture; for the Integrated Maritime Policy, ensuring a consistent policy framework for the policy and contributing to a balanced and inclusive territorial development of fisheries areas. In line with the Europe 2020 strategy, these broad objectives for 2014-2020 are structured around four pillars in the EMFF:

•Smart, Green Fisheries to foster the transition to sustainable fishing, which is more selective, produces no discards, and does less damage to marine ecosystems. The support will focus on innovation and added value that can make the fisheries sector economically viable and resilient to external shocks and to competition from third countries.

•Smart, Green Aquaculture to make this industry economically viable, competitive, green and able to face global competition, while providing EU consumers with healthy and highly nutritional products.

•Sustainable and Inclusive Territorial Development to reverse the decline of many

coastal and inland communities dependent on fishing, by adding more value to fishing-related activities, and by diversifying to other sectors of the maritime economy.

•Integrated Maritime Policy to support priorities which generate savings and growth and cut across sectors, such as marine knowledge, maritime spatial planning, integrated coastal zone management, integrated maritime surveillance, the protection of the marine environment and of biodiversity, and the adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change on coastal areas.

In addition to these four pillars, the EMFF will include accompanying measures for data collection and scientific advice, control, governance, fisheries markets (including in outermost regions), voluntary payments to Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and technical assistance.

What will change with the new fund?

Compared to the current funding system under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), main changes will be:

•The financial support directed to scrapping of vessels will stop. The EU has tried this, and it hasn’t worked, because for each scrapped vessel another was being upgraded, effectively increasing the capacity of the fleet.

•The existing financial tools will be integrated into a single fund. This will result in a major simplification and cutting of a red tape, due to the alignment of different administrative rules.

•The funding will be linked to the key objectives of the CFP reform, through conditionality. In particular, funding of the EMFF will be conditional upon compliance of Member States and operators with the objectives and rules of CFP (further details below).

December 2011

Fisheries News in Brief

•The CFP will be integrated into the broader Maritime Policy to a much larger extent, opening up new possibilities for growth and jobs. •Close co-ordination with other funds will be ensured through the Common Strategic Framework.

Who will benefit and how?•European coastal and inland communities dependent on fishing will benefit from the new job and growth opportunities in fisheries, aquaculture and other sectors of the maritime economy, which in turn will have positive spin-offs on local growth and development. •European fisheries will get support to ease the implementation of the reform and reduce the innovation gap.•European aquaculture will get access to funds whenever it promotes green growth, innovation and competitiveness. •The European processing industry will benefit from stable supplies of wild and farmed produce.•European consumers will have access to healthy fisheries and farmed products with high nutritional value.•Scientists and researchers in the fields of marine environment, climate change, coastal protection, governance, social sciences, maritime economy, etc.•Companies engaged in coastal or offshore economic activities and the enterprises that provide services to them.•Authorities in charge of different aspects of maritime affairs, such as environmental protection, surveillance, or spatial planning.•Beneficiaries will benefit from simpler rules.

How is environmental sustainability ensured?The existing measures have been streamlined and reviewed so that they are more strongly linked to environmental sustainability. Overcapacity remains the

major problem of the CFP and one of the key drivers of overfishing. But as scrapping to remove overcapacity had proved ineffective, the EMFF will instead deploy its financial resources towards sustainable fishing.

The EMFF will support the transition to Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and facilitate the gradual introduction of a discard ban. To this end the EMFF will support, for example:

•more selective gears and fishing techniques,

•investments in equipment on board and port facilities necessary to use the unwanted catches,

•marketing measures (quality schemes supporting sustainable fishing and aquaculture products, similar promotion campaigns) and processing.

•The participation of fishermen in the protection and restoration of marine biodiversity and ecosystems, in the framework of sustainable fishing activities (including collection of marine litter, management, restoration and monitoring of NATURA 2000 sites and of other Marine Protected Areas etc).

In addition, the budget for data collection and scientific advice (to increase the number of stocks for which scientific advice is available), and the control (to ensure better compliance) will be substantially increased.

Worldwide fisheries represent around 1.2% of the global fuel consumption. There is a need to increase resource efficiency and reduce emissions to contribute to the Europe 2020 target on climate change. Accordingly, the EMFF will support some measures to mitigate climate change.

What about support to innovation?

For both the catching and the farming sectors, supply, marketing and commercialisation is currently organised in

December 2011

Fisheries News in Brief

such a way that fishing and aquaculture businesses are generally not involved in selling and marketing of their products.

N e w measures with a strong focus on innovation have been included in the EMFF to promote the development of new or improved products and processes and to improve management and organisation systems. These will help the catching and aquaculture sectors to add value to their products, reduce the environmental impact of their activities and lower production costs. This support is particularly important for the small scale coastal fleet and for aquaculture enterprises.

Other measures will stimulate co-operation between scientists and fishermen, with the view of achieving more sustainable fishing. The support for community-led local development in fisheries-dependent areas will also help disseminate the innovation at the local level.

The EMFF will seek to promote new forms of aquaculture with high innovation and growth potential, such as offshore and non-food aquaculture (for example the cultivation of algae). Multifunctional aquaculture is an opportunity to diversify the income of aquaculture enterprises through complementary activities, such as angling, tourism, environmental services, direct sale or educational activities.

What about the social dimension?

In line with the Europe 2020 priority of inclusive growth, the EMFF will promote social cohesion and job creation in fisheries dependent communities, in particular through diversification into other maritime sectors. The community-led approach to the sustainable development of fisheries areas will be reinforced. Spouses of fishers will be able to get support for training or other economic activities related to fishing and to their role in the family business (i.e. helping

them to better deal with paper work or to acquire new business skills).

Small-scale coastal fleets are important for employment and often hold together the social fabric of coastal communities. The EMFF proposes to give them privileged access to all measures. This will be done by

applying a higher aid intensity rate. Small-scale fleets will also be able to receive professional advice on business and marketing strategies, for example to start up a non-fishing business. Support for innovation is particularly important, as the majority of small-scale coastal fleet are micro-enterprises with restricted access to funding.

What about Maritime Policy?

Almost 7% of the EMFF envelope is set to support the Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP), which facilitates coordination across borders and across sectors and brings about cost-effective synergies and money savings.

Funding will mainly focus on those initiatives that benefit various sectors across the board but cannot be accomplished by any single sector-based policy or single Member State. These are maritime spatial planning, integrated maritime surveillance and marine knowledge.

Maritime Spatial Planning provides a stable legal framework to manage marine areas, resources and services in a sustainable way. It can accelerate maritime investments and lower legal and administrative costs for companies. EMFF could finance activities which support the implementation of maritime spatial planning in cross-border regions.

Integrated Maritime Surveillance helps public actors to share data and thus cope with real time events at sea more efficiently. It avoids costly duplication of resource-consuming maritime surveillance activities. Integrated surveillance means better use of public

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Fisheries News in Brief

money. EMFF could finance the creation of a decentralised information sharing environment to improve maritime surveillance.

Marine Knowledge 2020 aims at pooling together Europe's fragmented marine knowledge into a resource database that is freely accessible to the public. EMFF would help finance the establishment of this d a t a b a s e , known as EMODNet. Entrepreneurs and academics need coherent and good-quality data to develop their business and research, and thus increase Europe's competitiveness. Marine Knowledge 2020 will save around €300 million a year for the EU.

Managing maritime affairs in an integrated way meets the objectives of Europe 2020. It means applying EU law better, spending public money better and maximising the effect of the various policies affecting the sea. Funding will also support the development of integrated maritime governance at sea-basin level. Sea-basin strategies identify links and synergies between the Member States' maritime-related policies and they streamline funding from Member States and different European sources on specific measures.

How will you ensure that the money is correctly spent?

In line with the Multi-annual Financial Framework Communication, conditionality must be introduced into all EU programmes and instruments so that Member States and beneficiaries demonstrate that they use the funding received to make progress toward the policy priorities set at EU level.

The EU financial assistance under the EMFF will be made conditional upon the compliance of Member States and operators with the objectives, rules and targets of the Common Fisheries Policy, in particular control obligations, the rules against illegal,

unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU Regulation) and the data collection obligations of the Member States. In practice:

•Fishermen committing serious infringements, in terms of fisheries control or fishing vessels which are on the IUU list, will not receive any subsidies or, if they have already received them, will have to return the money.

•The Commission will apply interruption, suspension and financial corrections to Member States that do not comply with their obligations in terms of control and data collection.

•In addition, Member States will have to set-up the necessary pre-conditions for the proper implementation of the EMFF: capacity to provide the EU with data on fisheries necessary for proper management, to control fishing activities and to ensure strategic approach to aquaculture activities.

Last but not least: funding under the EMFF will be subject to new transparency rules: Member States will have to publish in a single website a list of operations supported under the EMFF along with the amount of EU contribution for each operation. This list will be updated at least every three months. This is particularly important to prevent that beneficiaries involved in illegal fishing receive funding. Crucially for this purpose, details in the list will include the community fleet register number of the vessel whenever the operation is linked to a fishing vessel.

What about simplifying and cutting red tape?

The integration of five CFP and IMP financial instruments into a single fund will be a major simplification, because rules and procedures will be streamlined and unified. In practice, four sets of financial decisions, reporting, monitoring and evaluation procedures will be replaced by a single one.

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Fisheries News in Brief

The main administrative burden of the current European Fisheries Fund was the setting upof the Management and Control System. The proposal for the "Common Provisions" Regulation, adopted on 6 October 2011 (IP/11/1159), within the reform of the cohesion policy, envisages a management and control system which is the same for all Common Strategic Framework (CSF) funds. This approach will significantly reduce the amount of the time necessary to set up management and control systems and will speed up project implementation. Because the delivery mechanism will be aligned with that of the EU's rural development fund, Member States will be able to manage the EARDF and EMFF Operational Programmes through the same administrative bodies. Administrative costs will be further reduced by the unified approach in terms of management and control, including reporting, evaluation and monitoring.

Fisheries: 2012 fishing possibilities agreed between the EU and Norway

02/12/2011

A new agreement for the management of shared fish stocks in the North Sea has been concluded between the European Union and Norway after a week of negotiations.

The total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for the shared stocks in the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat were set. The agreement on the exchange of reciprocal fishing possibilities in each others waters was also reached. The level of that exchange will be significantly higher for 2012, compared to 2011. The EU and Norway also agreed to introduce a discard ban and harmonised technical measures for the Skagerrak, with

details to be finalised in 2012. The TAC for North Sea cod was set at 26,475 tonnes and additional 12% was allocated to continue fully documented fisheries trials. The remaining North Sea TACs were set as follows: 39,166 tonnes for haddock, 79,320 tonnes for saithe, 17,056 tonnes for whiting, 84,410 tonnes for plaice, and 405,000 tonnes for herring.

The TAC for mackerel will be agreed following the negotiations with Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The TAC for cod in Skagerrak was set at 3,783 tonnes, for haddock and whiting in Skagerrak and Kattegat – at 2,409 tonnes and 1,050 tonnes respectively, for plaice in Skagerrak – at 7,950 tonnes. The TACs for herring and sprat in the Skagerrak and Kattegat were set at 45,000 tonnes and 52,000 tonnes, respectively.

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European Commission welcomes adoption of the 2011 UN resolution for Sustainable Fisheries

08/12/2011

The European Commission welcomes the adoption of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on sustainable fisheries. The outcome for the EU is very satisfactory as all EU proposals have been included in the Resolution. In addition, the EU worked closely with other Parties successfully contributing to the incorporation of their proposals to the final resolution. This year focused on the review on the measures for the protection of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems from the impacts of bottom fishing and the long term sustainability of the deep sea fish stocks. European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki said: "We welcome this UN Resolution on sustainable fisheries. I am particularly pleased about the increased protection of the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, which was strongly pushed by the EU. Now it is important that all parties live up to the commitments made".

The Resolution recognizes the importance of different types of marine scientific research in seabed mapping of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems and also in the adoption of conservation and management measures to prevent significant adverse impacts on such ecosystems.

Flag States, regional Fisheries Management Organizations or Arrangements (RFMOs/As) and States participating in negotiations to establish such organizations or arrangements have from now on to consider the results of marine scientific research in order to adopt conservation and management measures to prevent significant adverse impacts from bottom fishing on vulnerable ecosystems.

UNGA invites FAO to consider undertaking technical guidance on encounter protocols and related mitigation measures. FAO is also invited to develop guidance for conducting assessments for vulnerable marine ecosystems, including cumulative fishing and environmental impacts and to support and facilitate work on deep-sea high seas stock assessments to ensure sustainable fisheries.

The resolution also contains a number of agreements:

For the first time there is a reference to marine mammals and other species with regard to the need for States to collect data in relation to by-catch and to promote further research on selective fishing gears and practices and on the use of appropriate by-catch mitigation measures.

There is a call on States to further study, develop and adopt effective management measures, taking into account best available scientific information on fishing methods, including fishing aggregating devices, to minimize by-catch.

There is a reference to the establishment of national shark sanctuaries and other measures to protect sharks.

There is an invitation to FAO to look into the potential effects on the incidental release of genetically engineered aquatic fish species on the health and sustainability of wild fish stocks. States are encouraged to make more progress within FAO on Flag State Performance.

The amended NAFO Convention is welcomed and Contracting Parties are encouraged to approve the amendment with a view of its early coming into effect and RFMOs are encouraged to hold performance reviews on regular basis.

The Parties agreed to have the next review of

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the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems measures in 2015. The main administrative burden of the current European Fisheries Fund was the setting up

Fisheries: Commission welcomes European Court of Auditors report on fishing overcapacity

12/12/2011

Today, the European Commission welcomed the report, by the European Court of Auditors, evaluating whether EU measures have contributed to adapting the capacity of EU fishing fleets to available fishing opportunities.

The Court concluded that current measures have failed. Overcapacity of the fishing fleet continues to be one of the main reasons for the failure of the Common Fisheries Policy in ensuring sustainable fisheries. A new approach may be needed or existingmeasures must be better enforced. The Commission shares most of the observations and the recommendations of the Court. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki said: “The report of the Court of Auditors reinforces my conviction that business as usual is not an option. We need new ideas. In our proposals for a new Common Fisheries Policy we want to break with the past. We are addressing through a system of tradeable fishing concessions at national level and with safeguards to avoid concentration of ownership. In the new financial instrument, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, we propose to no longer finance scrapping of vessels, but instead spend the money on projects which will make a real difference."

Council of the European Union /Press service (News - Press service)

17/12/2011

PRESS RELEASE,3137th Council meeting, Agriculture and Fisheries, Brussels, 15-16 December 2011

Total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2012 The Council reached a political agreement on fishing opportunities for 2012 for EU vessels in Union and certain non-Union waters on the basis of a Presidency compromise, drawn up in agreement with the Commission. This agreement concerns fish stocks which are not subject to international negotiations or agreements and stocks subject to international negotiations or agreements (14751/11; 16650/11). The Council will adopt this Regulation, following finalisation by the legal/linguistic experts, at one of its forthcoming meetings.

The following table sets out the indicative values of the principal TACs for 2012 compared with those for 2011 and the Commission proposal.

Please see the link

As regards data poor stocks, the Council and the Commission agreed that lack of reliable data impairs analytical advice for fish stocks. Member States should improve data availability to the relevant scientific bodies and to ensure that such data are consistent with the needs of the analytical assessments, in order to facilitate sustainable management of the relevant fisheries. For stocks where ICES has identified data deficiencies, the cause of these deficiencies and appropriate actions should be identified.

Concerning the long term plan for cod (regulation 1342/2008) the Council, the Commission, France, Germany and the United Kingdom agreed on a common interpretation of the article 13 for the establishment of fishing effort.

December 201117

Fisheries News in Brief

In addition to the fishing opportunities 2012for the Black Sea on which the ministers reached a political agreement in this Council session (see below), the fishing opportunities 2012 for the Baltic Sea were already adopted on 30November 2011.

According to Article 43(3) of the Treaty, the Council adopts measures on a proposal from theCommission on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities.

As the existing provisions in the area of the proposal are applicable until 31 December 2011, withthe exception of certain effort limitations which are applicable until 31 January 2012, the regulation will apply from 1 January 2012 on.

Fishing opportunities for 2012 in the Black Sea

Ministers reached a political agreement on a regulation fixing for 2012 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks applicable in the Black Sea (17396/11) on the basis of a Presidency compromise, drawn up in agreement with the Commission.

The Council will adopt this regulation, after finalisation by the legal/linguistic experts, through a written procedure.

The main element of the Presidency compromise endorsed by the Commission is a roll-over in the EU total allowable catches (TACs) in the Black Sea for turbot and sprat.

The following table sets out the indicative values of the TACs in the Black Sea for 2012 compared with those for 2011 and the Commission proposal.

0%11.4750%11.47511.475Black Sea(SPR/F3742C)

SpratSpratSprattussprattus

-15%740%86,486,4Black Sea(TUR/F3742C)

TurbotTurbotPsettamaxima

comparisonCouncilTAC 2011 /CommissionProposal 2012

COMMISSIONproposalfor 2012

COUNCILcomparison2012/2011

COUNCILTACs 2011

COUNCILTACs 2012

ICES fishingzone

Espècesnomfrançais

SpeciesEnglishname

SpeciesLatinname

December 201118

Fisheries News in Brief

The Council, the Commission and the Member States concerned agreed that it was appropriate to establish adequate measures such as inspection schemes and benchmarks to address misreporting and illegal fishing for turbot in the Black Sea. Such measures should be developed jointly by Member States concerned and the Commission in 2012.

In addition, the Council and the Commission agreed that regional cooperation on fishing in the Black Sea should be established to promote sustainable stock management in this area and that they would each take actions in line with their competence.

According to Article 43(3) of the Treaty, the Council adopts measures on a proposal from the Commission on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities in the Black Sea.

As the existing provisions are applicable until 31 December 2011 the regulation will apply from 1 January 2012.

Measures against countries allowing non-sustainable fishing

Ministers were briefed by the Commission on a proposal for a regulation on certain measures in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks

Several Member States supported this initiative, whilst stressing that the EU should always favour negotiations. However, if those negotiations failed, many Member States could see the need for a specific tool of this type that would allow the EU to act against third countries taking unilateral decisions on shared fish stocks.

The Commission was proposing to develop a specific instrument to tackle situations like the one that was currently threatening the stock of North-east Atlantic mackerel. That instrument was aimed at protecting fish stocks for under EU responsibility from the unsustainable fishing practices of countries that were resisting any joint management of those stocks.

The EU market for fish products could provide an incentive for some countries to engage in opportunistic and unsustainable fisheries. The EU should be allowed to restrict such trade as a means of protecting fish stocks. The Commission proposal sets out a mechanism that will:

• ensure that the measures are proportionate;

• guarantee respect of international law;

• allow the third countries concerned to be heard and to have an opportunity to rectify their action;

• empower the Commission to adopt measures;

• provide for a rapid termination of the measures wherever appropriate corrective actions havebeen adopted.

December 2011

Meetings of the Regional Advisory Councils

CFPLondonFGNSRAC31/01/2012

AmsterdamDemersalWorking groupNSRAC22/02/2012

Morocco and Mauritania fisheries agreementsBrusselsExtraordinary

mtgLDRAC31/01/2012

BrusselsCoord. mtgALLQ1 2012

Date RAC Type Place Main issues

11-12/01/2012 BSRAC EXCOM Copenhagen

23-24/01/2012 BSRAC MIRAC Hague Regular annual meeting btwICES and RACs

26/01/2012TBC PELRAC EXCOM

+ WGs AmsterdamHorizontal issues. Herring, mackerel, horse mackerel, Blue whiting

Q4 2011/ Q1 2012 NWWRAC FGTechnical conservation measures and discards, alternative measures to discards ban

1rst half 2012 NWWRAC FocusGroup

Northern Hake (response non-paper, STECF considerations)

7-8/02/2012 NSRAC EXCOM

Feb 2012 PELRAC EXCOM+ WGs Amsterdam Evaluation of 2012

28-29/2/2012 MEDRAC GA+ WGs GA, new FEPs, AIS, recreational fisheries

28-29/02/2012 NSRAC WGs Skagerrak & Kattegat

07/03/2012 NSRAC WG Spatial Planning

27/03/2012 MEDRAC EXCOM Rome

Abbreviations:

→ NWW RAC: North Western Waters Regional Advisory Council (link)

→ SWW RAC: South Western Waters Regional Advisory Council (link)

→ NS RAC: North Sea Regional Advisory Council (link)

→ MED RAC: Regional Advisory Council for the Mediterranean (link)

→ LD RAC: Long Distance Fleet Regional Advisory Council (link)

→ BS RAC: Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council (link)

→ NS RAC: North Sea Regional Advisory Council (link)

→ PEL RAC: Pelagic Regional Advisory Council (link)

→ MIRAC: ICES/RAC meeting

→ GA: General Assembly, EXCOM: Executive Committee, WG: Working Group, FG: Focus ·Group

December 2011

Main International Meetings and Events

Date Organisation Type of meeting Venue

March 2012

Tbc Joint Baltic Sea FisheriesCommittee (JBSFC) Extraordinary session Tbc

06-07 EU-Faroes consultation (Tbc) Bilateral Tbc

Norway/Coastal States/NEAFC/Russian Federation

December 2011

Regional Fisheries Organisations and other international meetings

Date Organisation Type of meeting Venue

January 2012

30/01-03/02 SPRFMO 3rd Preparatory Conference Chile

February 2012

tbc ICCAT Compliance Committee tbc

tbc NAFO Possible Performance review Working Group Halifax, Canada

March 2012

04-09 IOTC WG on Allocation Maldives

06-07EU-Faroesconsultation (tbc)

Bilateral tbc

April 2012

tbcMeeting on Sharks MOU signatories

Multilateral (CMS parties) tbc

18-20 IOTC 9th session of the Compliance Committee Freemantle, Australia

22-26 IOTC Indian Ocean Tuna Commission-16th Session

Freemantle, Australia

23-25 OECD 109th Session COFI Paris

December 2011

Fisheries Partnership Agreements

COUNTRY

EXPIRATION DATE OF CURRENT

PROTOCOL

JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING NEGOTIATION

Date LocationEstimated date and place for starting

negotiation

MIX

ED

AG

RE

EM

EN

TS

Morocco 27/02/2012 20-21/10/2011 Brussels

Mauritania 31/07/2012 31/03-01/04 2011 Brussels

Noukchott,5th round beginning of December 2011

Guinea Bissau 15/06/2012 14-15/11/2011 Brussels Brussels,

16-17/11/2011

Greenland 31/12/2012 21-22/11/2011 BrusselsIlulissat Sep. 2011Brussels Nov 2011Copenhagen 31/1-2/2/12

WE

ST A

FRIC

A

Cape-Verde 31/08/2014 08-09/12/2011 Praia

Ivory Coast 30/06/2013 Brussels

Gabon 02/12/2011 Libreille, 13-14/10/2011

São Toméand Principe End 2013 2nd half of 2011

IND

IAN

OC

EA

N

Comoros 31/12/2013 06-07/10/2011 Comores

Mauritius No protocol in force Spring 2012

Madagascar 31/12/2012 tbd tbd

Mozambique 31/12/2011 tbd tbd

Seychelles 17/01/2014 February 2011 Mauritius

PA

CIFIC

Kiribati 15/09/2012 February 2012 Nadi, Fiji Nadi, Fiji, Feb 2012

Micronesia End 2016

Solomon Islands 08/10/2012 Apr/May 2012 Nadi, Fiji Nadi,Fiji,

Apr/May 2012

December 2011

Composition of the Fisheries Committee

COMMITTEE ON FISHERIESFull Members

COMMITTEE ON FISHERIESSubstitute Members

ANDRES BAREA Josefa ES S&D BESSET Jean-Paul FR Greens/EFA

ANTINORO Antonello IT EPP BILBAO BARANDICA Izaskun ES ALDE

ARSENIS Kriton GR S&D BONSIGNORE Vito IT EPP

CADEC Alain FR EPP CAPOULAS SANTOS Luis Manuel PT S&D

CHATZIMARKAKIS Jorgo DE ALDE CHRISTENSEN Ole DK S&D

FARAGE Nigel GB EFD COZZOLINO Andrea IT S&D

FERREIRA João PT GUE/NGL DAVIES Chris GB ALDE

FRAGA ESTEVEZ Carmen ES EPP DODDS Diane GB NI

GALLAGHER Pat the Cope IE ALDE GARRIGA POLLEDO Salvador ES EPP

GRÓBARCZYK Marek Jósef PL ECR GIRLING Julie GB ECR

HAGLUND Carl Christoffer FI ALDE GRELIER Estelle FR S&D

HUDGHTON Ian GB Greens/EFA GROOTE Matthias DE S&D

IOTOVA Iliana Malinova BG S&D HIGGINS Jim IE EPP

KUHN Werner DE EPP ITURGAIZ ANGULO Carlos José ES EPP

LE PEN Jean-Marie FR NI LE HYARIC Patrick FR GUE/NGL

LÖVIN Isabella SE Greens/EFA NICULESCU Rareş-Lucian RO EPP

MATO ADROVER Gabriel ES EPP NITRAS Slawomir Witold PL EPP

MILANA Guido IT S&D ROMEVA I RUEDA Raúl ES Greens/EFA

PATRAO NEVES Maria do Céu PT EPP ROSBACH Anna DA ECR

RIVELLINI Crescenzio IT EPP SANCHEZ PRESEDOO Antolin ES S&D

RODUST Ulrike DE S&D SALAVRAKOS Nikolaos GR EFD

STEVENSON Struan GB ECR TSOUKALAS Ioannis GR EPP

TRAUTMANN Catherine FR S&D WATSON Graham GB ALDE

WALESA Jaroslaw Leszek PL EPP

BUREAU

Chair Ms Carmen Fraga Estévez

3rd Vice-Chair Mr Guido Milana

1st Vice-Chair Mr Struan Stevenson 4th Vice-Chair Mr Carl Christoffer Haglund

2nd Vice-Chair Mr Alain Cadec

COORDINATORS

EPP Mr Antonello Antinoro GUE/NGL Mr João Ferreira

S&D Ms Ulrike Rodust EFD Mr Nigel Farage

ALDE Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher ECR Mr Marek Jósef Gróbarczyk

Greens/EFA Mrs Isabella Lövin

COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES SECRETARIAT

Telephone: 34469 (BXL) 77002 (STR)

E-mail: pech-secretariat@europarl.europa.eu

Fax: 44909 76769

December 2011

Next Fisheries Committee Meetings

Tuesday, 24 January, 15h00 -18h30

Wednesday, 25 January, 9h00 -12h30 and 15h00 -18h30

Thursday, 26 January, 9h00 – 12h30

Tuesday, 28 February, 15h00 -18h30

Wednesday, 29 February, 9h00 -12h30 and 15h00 -18h30

Wednesday, 21 March, 9h00 -12h30 and 15h00 -18h30

Tuesday, 24 April, 9h00 -12h30 and 15h00 -18h30

Wednesday, 25 April, 9h00 -12h30

Wednesday, 30 May, 9h00 -12h30 and 15h00 -18h30

Tuesday, 19 June, 15h00 -18h30

Wednesday, 20 June, 9h00 -12h30 and 15h00 -18h30

Tuesday, 10 July, 15h00 -18h30

Wednesday, 11 July, 9h00 -12h30 and 15h00 -18h30

2012