C 493/68
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
27.12.2022
Tuesday 7 June 2022
22.
Notes that for stocks for which the total allowable catches are increasing, for example in the case of good stock management or a successful recovery plan, Member States could consider distributing the additional quotas based on economic, social and environmental criteria, in line with Article 17; 23.
Stresses that artisanal and traditional fisheries and their associations, such as fisheries Cofradias, are a fundamental feature of the local society, economy, culture and tradition in many coastal areas and islands across the EU and believes, therefore, that they should receive special attention and treatment, including ad hoc quotas, especially in the event of an increase in overall stock quantity due to good stock management or a successful recovery plan; 24.
Considers that using all types of criteria referred to in Article 17 (economic, social and environmental) when allocating fishing opportunities is an important element to fully achieve the objectives set out in the CFP Regulation, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the biodiversity strategy for 2030; recalls that it is the Member States that are responsible for developing and implementing the allocation criteria; 25.
Recalls that quality data on the environmental, social and economic impacts of recreational fisheries is often lacking or incomplete, meaning that criteria of an environmental, social and economic nature cannot be developed as required under Article 17; 26.
Urges the Commission to improve and strengthen the collection of such data for recreational fisheries through an improved data collection framework and other policy instruments; 27.
Calls on the Commission to ensure that each Member State concerned allocates fishing opportunities in accordance with the CFP Regulation and particularly Article 17, using transparent and objective criteria including those of an environmental, social and economic nature; considers that each Member State, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, should make sure the criteria are sustainable and balanced to take into account local specificities and challenges that need to be tackled; 28.
Considers that the types of fisheries and the realities they face vary greatly across the EU and that there are therefore no one-size-fits-all criteria of an economic, environmental or social nature that can be applied uniformly throughout the EU; 29.
Recalls that Member States and POs have in several countries created quota reserves which could be distributed to fishers on the basis of environmental, economic and social criteria; 30.
Calls on the Member States to incentivise fishers to use the most sustainable and environmentally friendly fishing practises, methods and innovations; believes that such incentives should be considered while designing the allocation method in accordance with Article 17 and encourages Member States to take into account climate and ecosystem considerations in their allocation processes, on the basis of a set of transparent criteria; recalls that, according to Article 17, Member States must endeavour to provide incentives to fishing vessels deploying selective fishing gear or using fishing techniques with reduced environmental impact, such as reduced energy consumption or habitat damage; 31.
Calls on the Member States to incentivise operators, through their allocation processes, to establish and strengthen social dialogue with unions and workers’ organisations as well as to fully apply collective bargaining agreements in order to promote social sustainability and fair working conditions within the fisheries sector; 32.
Recalls that Member States must endeavour to provide incentives to fishing vessels deploying selective fishing gear or using fishing techniques with reduced environmental impact; notes that some Member States are providing such incentives; calls on other Member States to provide such incentives; 33.
Emphasises that the allocation of fishing opportunities using criteria such as a lower environmental impact and considering an operator’s history of compliance can contribute to restoring fish populations to a sustainable level and improving biodiversity protection; 34.
Calls on the Member States, in line with Article 17 of the CFP Regulation, to support the entry into the business of young and new fishers, in order to lower barriers to entry, correct market failures, and ultimately facilitate much-needed generational renewal in the fisheries sector; calls on the Member States, furthermore, to use all the opportunities within the EMFAF to address the issue of generational renewal;