Debate: Securing the objectives of the landing obligation under Article  of the common fisheries policy
Date: MONDAY, 17 MAY 2021
Speaker: Nicolas Schmit
Language: EN

The common fisheries policy highlights the need for measures to reduce the levels of unwanted catches and to eliminate discards, since they constitute a substantial waste and negatively affect the sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources and marine ecosystems, and thereby the financial viability of fisheries. As your report rightly notes, the landing obligation is key in that respect by avoiding and reducing unwanted catches and by ensuring that catches are landed. In the management of the landing obligation, it is necessary that Member States do their utmost to reduce unwanted catches. To this end, the improvement of fishing techniques to make them more selective must have high priority.  The Commission is certainly aware that the full implementation of the landing obligation is a challenge for the fishing sector. That is why there was a phasing—in period, which would have allowed the industry to adjust and develop measures to avoid unwanted catches, notably by adopting more selective fishing methods. The phasing—in period also provided an opportunity for Member States to implement harmonised controls to ensure control and enforcement of the landing obligation during fishing activities at sea. Let’s not forget that, in 2013, when the common fisheries policy was reviewed, both co—legislators signed up for the landing obligation, and let’s not forget that this is what the European citizens had asked for to address wasteful practices of discarding unwanted fish.  I agree that, unfortunately, there continues to be little or no data on whether overall discard rates are reducing. This, and the lack of compliance, as indicated, for example, by the Commission’s audits, and the compliance evaluation reports of the European Fisheries Control Agency, make it difficult to assess whether or not the reality at sea corresponds to a real change in behaviour and the adoption of more selective fishing techniques, as should be the case.  However, intense cooperation and exchanges between Member States, fishermen and women, and EU scientists, the Parliament and the Commission have taken place and have helped us reach a better and, in some instances, a common understanding of both the challenges and solutions in implementing the landing obligation. Nevertheless, without effective control and enforcement, the landing obligation will not be successfully implemented. Traditional controls, such as inspections at sea, inspections at landing, inspections at marketing and aerial surveillance, are incapable of ensuring control and enforcement of the landing obligations. It is the responsibility of Member States to ensure the detailed and accurate documentation of catches and to ensure control enforcement and inspections of activities. I fully share your concern that implementation of, and compliance with, the landing obligation remains too weak. I also share your conclusion that innovative control tools have an important role to play. The Parliament’s support of the Commission’s proposal on the revised control regulation in this regard is vital and I welcome the result of the vote in plenary last March in favour of mandatory CCTV for high-risk vessels above 12 metres, based on the risk analyses at regional level. There is no viable alternative to remote electronic monitoring systems.  The need for a regionalised approach is also central. Indeed, regionalisation is one of the cornerstones of the common fisheries policy. The principle of regionalisation also applies to the new technical measures regulation, which provides the necessary regional flexibility to change, amend and introduce measures that are adaptable to local specificities. This regionalised approach is also relevant when it comes to the financial support for Member States under our European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) for implementing the landing obligation. The new fund will support innovation and investments that contribute to the implementation of the landing obligation with a higher aid intensity rate than the one that applies to other operations. This covers investments in selective fishing gears with 100%, and in the improvement of port infrastructures and in the marketing of unwanted catches with 75% each.  As in every year, the Commission will soon report on the state of play of the common fisheries policy, including on the implementation of the landing obligation. With regard to your call for information on the socio-economic impact and the effects on safety and working conditions, let me stress that the Commission relies heavily on information provided by the Member States, and Member States need to ensure the reliability of this information. With regard to your demand for legislative changes, I have to say that there are no plans to launch a reform of the common fisheries policy. We are seeing positive results in the current system and we must provide some stability to the way we manage fisheries in Europe. What we will do is to prepare, by 31 December 2022, the report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the functioning of the common fisheries policy. The landing obligation will be taken into account in this report as it is the cornerstone of our policy for achieving sustainable fisheries. In this regard, your report is very timely and relevant, and will be duly taken into account. Thank you once again for this report. The Commission looks forward to our continued cooperation on this important aspect of our common fisheries policy.