 Policy background of Fisheries Management and Stakeholder Involvement
On January 1st 2003 the revised Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)1 became EU law and signaled many profound changes to the way in which, not alone fisheries but the entire marine environment, was managed in the European Union. It had been apparent for over a decade that all was not well with the state of fish stocks in European waters but this was only a reflection of the situation world-wide where there was mounting concern that all natural resources were being exploited in a non-sustainable manner.
The European Union was a signatory of the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity which brought with it an obligation to enforce measures to halt the rapidly increasing loss of biodiversity and led to increased awareness of the requirement for ecosystem-based management of resources such as fisheries.2 Previously, fisheries management had been undertaken with a "top-down" approach; it was species specific and took little account of any other species, particularly if they were non-commercial. Plans were short term, usually put in place on an annual basis, and relied heavily on data which, by the very nature of the business, was inadequate. It is now widely accepted that long-term sustainable resource management must factor in ecological and socio-economic elements in addition to transparent and logical governance.
A move to this regimen marked a major shift in emphasis from the short-term, single species to a longer-term approach based on multi-annual plans targeting not one species but a group of interdependent species.
However, this approach needs more than data collection and enforcement to make it work - in an ecosystem -based management structure the fishermen are an intrinsic part of the management process.
A number of innovative approaches to fisheries management have been implemented in other developed countries that involve, among other things, greater stakeholder participation in management decisions, longer term planning, clearer and stronger access rights, and different techniques for controlling fishing activities. These innovations all need to be investigated to determine which elements would be suited to the European situation.
Regional Advisory Councils
In its efforts to broaden the stakeholder base and give a wider perspective to its new consultative vision the EU also took the step of setting up seven Regional Advisory Councils (RACs).
The establishment of RACs is intended to increase the participation of those affected by the CFP in the fisheries management decision-making process. Essentially, RACs consist of a wide range of interest groups, the majority of which are from the fishing sector. The European Commission and Member States' administrations are not members but have observer status.
Legislation in the form of Regulation 2371/2002 and Council Decision No 2004/585/EC provide guidance for their establishment and development and set out the links between RACs and the rest of the policy making structure.
The remit of the RACs is:
A. To contribute to the CFP's goal of ensuring exploitation of living aquatic resources that provides sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions. To this end they will (in particular) advise the Commission on matters of fisheries management in respect of certain sea areas or fishing zones.
B. They shall be composed principally of fishermen and other representatives of interests affected by the CFP.
C. A RAC shall cover sea areas falling under the jurisdiction of at least two Member States.
D. RACs may:
- Submit recommendations and suggestions, of their own accord or at the request of the Commission or a Member State, on matters relating to fisheries management to the Commission or the Member State concerned;
- inform the Commission or the Member State concerned about problems relating to the implementation of Community rules and submit recommendations and suggestions addressing such problems to the Commission or the Member State concerned;
- Conduct any other activities necessary to fulfill their functions.
E. RACs will also be consulted on Commission or Member State proposals for emergency measures on the conservation and management of fish stocks, or protection of the marine ecosystem from fishing activities.
Summaries
The summaries (Technical Leaflets) relating to fisheries management and stakeholder involvement are:
- Managing fisheries in a virtual environment in order to provide more reliable scientific advice to stakeholders [EFIMAS]
- Policy and knowledge in fisheries management [PKFM]
- Sharing responsibilities in fisheries management [RESPONSIBLE]
References
1. Council Regulation (EC)2371/2002. 20 December 2002. On the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy. Official Journal of the European Union, L358(31/12/2002) (2002) 59-80.
2. Convention on Biological Biodiversity. Rio de Janeiro, June 1992. .http://www.cbd.int/convention/convention.shtml
|
Policy 
